lilidk
Registered User
- Mar 4, 2008
- 9,914
- 3,625
Problem with this team in the net. Jimmy probably has career worst season . Team fill not comfortable with backups. Red Wings needs to trade for proven keeper and split his time with Howard
I think Howard is a decent goalie. Backup is clearly a problem. Mrazek should be up next year. Would not give Howard more than 4 year contract
he hasn't been that bad. he's had bad games yes but he's also had a few great games. to start the year the team played no D his numbers fell. they started to play D again and he's looked good most nights great a few brilliant once or twice and horrible once or twice. its called being a middle of the league goalie.
that being said I hate the thought of him being locked up long term for a big cap hit. pick one or the other bro.
Especially with Petr Mrazek playing incredable down in Grand Rapids right now
last 5 Games, 2.01 GAA, .931 Save%, 136/146
so lets assume Mrazek needs two more years in the AHL (he doesn't) Howard gets his 6-7 year deal. that means at minimum we have 4-5 years with both Howard and Mrazek in net. first year Mrazek as a full time backup fine second year part time backup really challenging for starting spot, third year Howard is a burden because of his cap hit.
A 4 year deal is what he deserves even if its at 5.5 million it gives us an out once he's past his prime and Mrazek is ready to be a full time starter.
also this just popped into head, what if Paterson pans out? his stats aren't great but he is the only bright spot on his team and stands on his head most of the time. in 3 years he will be 2 years into Grand Rapids. being about ready to play a part time backup role in Detroit
I'm rambling at this point. in short. the team doesn't need better goal tending it was one bad game, the rumored extension he's getting is a bad move and I wonder if he said long term or no deal. Mrazek will be in Detroit full time sooner than expected. and Paterson could be the straw on Howard's back.
you realize trading goaltenders is a thing that is allowed right?
I don't recall Howard losing us any games this season. He's always solid and far less frustrating than Osgood was at times. I don't like the idea of a long-term contract, but if some of you would rather he walk, let me ask you a really basic question:
Who is available who is better? We are at a point in the NHL where almost all of the goalies are on par with each other. No one really needs to trade their goalies, so you're looking at letting him walk for nothing right now.
I like Mrazek, too, but he's still a prospect. You don't dump a reliable workhorse because you think some kid is going to be elite his first season in the league.
Howard is the best starting goalie this team has had since Hasek. And with Mrazek in the pipes, we'll be fine for a long, long while.
Goaltending has cost us 2-5 points so far this season, but the Wings will not trade for a goalie.
I'd rather have Tim Thomas for 1-2 years than Jimmy Howard for 6-7.
and make no mistake,these are Goalie prospects you're talking about,at this point it's still far from guaranteed that Mrazek will ever be as good as Howard let alone better
Howard played for 4 years in Grand Rapids, from the time he was 21 til he was 25. during the time his save % hovered around .912 and his GAA around 2.65.
Petr Mrazek, in his 1st year starting at age 20 has his stats currently at .920 Save % and 2.24 GAA. from a stats stand point comparing the too at a similar stage in their careers Mrazek is better. not that being said I didn't watch Howard in GR, I do watch Mrazek and he is great. his physical tools are there and even better than that he a the perfect goalie mind set.
you are correct there are no guarantees that Mrazek will be a good or better than Howard, but there is evidence that supports my prediction that he will be better than Howard. and I really do worry that he is going to get an NMC.