Dealing with situation in goal will be high on Dudley’s summer to-do list
The common logic surrounding how to build a quality hockey team is to start in goal and work your way forward. To this point, many Thrashers fans will point to the area between the pipes as to why the first decade of play has led to the results they have. The lack of a solid, dependable, stable situation in goal has played a major role in nine out of ten seasons ending after the 82 scheduled games.
In keeping with this line of thinking, I do believe that how new GM Rick Dudley handles the goaltending situation here in Atlanta will go a long way in determining how the team he ices this coming season will fare. And, just after whom he picks for a new head coach, it could be the most important decision he makes during this offseason. So let’s discuss some of the options available to Dudley and Co.
Opie and the Moose Redux?
To date, Dudley does not have a goalie signed to play next fall. Veteran netminder Johan Hedberg will become a UFA on July 1 while Ondrej Pavelec will be an RFA. So what are the chances the new GM opts to bring back the pair for another season as the goalie tandem in Thrasherville? Well, it’s a situation he has said he is comfortable with.
Johan Hedberg played in 47 games for the Thrashers last season, starting 42 of them. He will be a UFA Juy 1 (AP Photo/Don Heupel)
After the first couple of months, Moose handled the bulk of the work last season and performed admirably…starting a total of 42 games and playing to a record of 21-16-6 with a .915 SV%, 2.62 GAA and 3 shutouts. Opie started the season well, but then fell off during the winter month before ending the season on a better note. Overall the young Czech went 14-18-7 during 40 starts and had a .906 SV%, 3.29 GAA and a pair of shutouts.
I don’t think it’s a stretch to think the team will look to re-sign Pavelec and have him return next year…the question is whether or not he’ll return as a starter or backup.
My guess would be that Hedberg… who’ll be 37-year old by that time… would start the season off as the main man in net with the plan of working Pavelec into that top spot as the year progresses. This was much the same idea the Thrashers had five years ago heading into the 2005-06 when they looked to Pasi Nurminem to help wean the young Kari Lehtonen into the starter role. What happened, of course, was that Pasi’s career came to a premature end when he injured his knee that summer…and Kari was pressed into the role sooner than desired.
But There Are Other Options Out There
However, there are other options out there. One such would be to make a trade for a quality keeper, but that would mean parting ways with quality talent on this end as well. Such a scenario could see talent such as, say, a Bryan Little or a Toby Enstrom caliber asset departing in exchange for such a goalie…maybe even taking with them a pick and/or prospect depending on the deal.
But to me, the better way to bring in a proven starter would be to see what could be obtained in the free agent pool this summer. There are several to choose from, but here are just two possibilities that could fit the bill…one a proven vet and the other is a young star with much promise.
Nabokov The Proven Veteran
First, the proven commodity…Evgeni Nabokov currently employed by the San Jose Sharks. This native of Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan will be 35 years of age on July 25 and is slated to be an unrestricted free agent this summer. He is coming off a contract that paid him $5.375 million this past season. If I had my wish, this is the man we would see ‘tween the pipes this coming October here in Thrasherville.
In his ten-year career, he is 293-178 with 29 ties and 37 overtime losses. He has a .912 SV% and 2.39 GAA with 50 shutouts. To put that into some sort of perspective, Nabokov has only 15 fewer victories and 14 more shutouts than the Thrashers have as an organization…both having played 10 seasons.
In the past three years, his regular season numbers are 46-21-8 with a .910 SV%, 2.14 GAA and 6 SO in 2007-8…41-12-8 with a .910 SV%, 2.44 GAA and 7 SO in 2008-09…and 44-16-10 with a .922 SV%, 2.43 GAA and 3 SO this past season.
After he and the Sharks ousted the Colorado Avalanche Saturday night, he is now 36-33 lifetime in the playoffs with a .916 SV%, 2.19 GAA and 7 shutouts. That’s right…his career saves percentage and goals allowed stats are actually better in the playoffs than those in the regular season.
This post-season has been no exception as he has been stellar again so far. In the six games vs. the Avs, Nabokov netted a 1.76 GAA a .926 SV%. Tossed in was the 28-save shutout last Thursday night to help the Sharks take a 3-2 lead in the series.
Granted, Nabokov has backstopped a defense that allows much fewer shots on goal than the Thrashers’ blueline let up…in fact, during the past three seasons San Jose has averaged 27.6 SA/G while Atlanta has allowed 33.2 SA/G…but that serves only to accent the importance of procuring such a high-caliber goalie.
Of course the big question with Nabokov is…could he be persuaded to sign with the Thrashers? Well, I guess that all depends on how well Rick Dudley and [insert name of possible new head coach] can sell the organization. It also could depend on how much Dudley would be willing to pay the Calder Cup-winning/All-Star goalie.
Could Price Be Right For Dudley?
Another option to kick around is a younger goalie…someone like Montreal’s Carey Price. This 23-year old product of British Columbia is slated to become an RFA this summer.
Who would you like see as the Thrashers top goalie?
- Johan Hedberg (15%, 18 Votes)
- Odrej Pavelec (8%, 9 Votes)
- Evgeni Nabokov (40%, 48 Votes)
- Carey Price (19%, 23 Votes)
- None of the above (18%, 22 Votes)
Total Voters: 120
Loading ...He lost his starting role to Jaroslav Halak this past season, (who will be an arbitration eligible RFA this summer)…appearing in but 14 games since New Years after playing in 37 prior to that. He finished the season with a record of 13-20-5 with a .912 SV% and 2.77 GAA.
For his career, he is 60-48-18 with a .912 SV%, 2.73 GAA and 4 shutouts.
His rookie season saw him play to a 24-12-3 mark with a .920 SV, 2.56 GAA and 3 shutouts. In two rounds of playoffs that year he played in 11 games, going 5-6 with a .901 SV%, 2.56 GAA and a couple of SO. Last year when he and the Canadiens were swept in the first round by the Bruins, he had a .878 SV% and 4.11 GAA… but the Habs were allowing a Thrasher-esque 32.5 SA/G during that series.
Overall his post-season numbers are 5-11 with a .895 SV%, 3.19 GAA and those 2 shutouts from the spring of 2008.
Price’s current contract pays him 2.2 million and he will be 24-years old in August. He’s played his entire three-year career under the hot lights of the Canadiens’ fan base & press corps…maybe he’s one of those that could benefit from a change of scenery.
And What About The Chicago Connection?
And finally, we have one last option to consider…the goalies currently minding the nets for the Chicago Wolves. 26-year old Peter Mannino compiled a record of 26 wins, 5 losses, 3 shootout wins, and 1 shootout loss with the AHL Wolves this past season and had a .921 SV%, 2.34 GAA and 2 SO while Drew MacIntyre was 20-17-1-2 with a .917 SV%, 2.54 GAA with 3 SO. MacIntyre will be 27-tears old in June.
Mannino has 3 games of NHL experience as a New York Islander while MacIntyre has 2 with the Vancouver Canucks. Given that, I would prefer the Thrashers to stick with either Hedberg or shop for some other proven veteran.
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147 comments Add your comment
ex-STH
April 25th, 2010
8:22 pm
Nabokov may come here for the “4 year contract” that seems to be the signing contract for a UFA. What’s wrong with $7.5 the 1st year, $6.5 the 2nd, $5.5 for the 3rd and $4.5 for the 4th??? Or a nice round $25 mil for 4 years. Whats that $6.25 per year? Naby would be an idiot not to take that. And remember, he plays like 75 – 78 games per year!!!! After 2 years or so, Pavelec or Marrino would be a great backup or possibly take over as the starter for HALF the games. I say pay the big bucks for a SOLID STARTING GOALIE and others will come when the Thrash start winning. The offense is SOOOO close to being acceptable, it has to start with the goalie!
Rob, I believe Thomas signed for 4 years around $4.5 – $5 mil a year. He is NOT our answer. (He is too much like a perrenial backup with a great attitude like the Moose!).
ex-STH
April 25th, 2010
8:27 pm
The Thrash have plenty of $$$ under the cap without Kovy and Kovy’s $10+ mil
ex-STH
April 25th, 2010
8:28 pm
Sorry, meant Kozy’s $3.5 mil
Smoothie
April 25th, 2010
8:39 pm
I’ve read most of this and it’s a very good discussion of the goalie situation and the numerous possibilities available to management this off-season. Y’all have done a very good job of covering the pros and cons of just about every scenario. Thusly, I will keep this short and give my preferences:
1) Sign Dan Ellis — Ellis and Pavelec do battle “till the death”
2) Trade for Carey Price — MTL needs young defense prospects and they may like the idea of having two 1st round picks between 17 and 22; Price and Pavelec do battle and may the best man win
3) Re-sign Moose if neither of the first 2 scenarios transpire — again, make Pavs earn it in camp. Hope to hell he can, but if he can’t, then Moose gets 55 starts and Pavs gets 35-40. Also, by mid-season, have Duds place a call to his old employer to see how talks are progressing with Vokoun. If talks are stalling or breaking down, see if they would be open to a trade involving Moose, a prospect and a # 1 pick (contingent upon Vokoun signing a LT deal) and tell Pavelec he’s gonna have to wrestle the job away from his countryman.
Obviously, # 3 is the likely scenario and the second part is probably a long-shot. But it has as much chance as happening as Nabakov acutally taking any interest in Atlanta whatsoever. If not for agents, Nabakov wouldn’t even answer the phone when a private number with the area code 404 pops up on his phone this summer.
Lee
April 25th, 2010
8:43 pm
Nabokov has good young talent while still maintaining some NHL experience. His save percentage is 9.10. Not bad. Carey price is an option this year too. He’s really led this team to a new level and got them into the playofffs. But. Nabokov probably is more ready to take on a big challenge. And it’s not easy to be a goalie for a team like the thrashers. You HAVE to have patience.
Hokey Clisters
April 25th, 2010
10:08 pm
It’s going to be an interesting summer for the Thrashers. I hope Dudley has good sense when it comes to goalies. We will find out alot about Duds soon enough……does he think Pavelic is the answer and just needs the right coach or does he go goalie shopping? Obviously, Pavs was inconsistent this year with his reads and technique. I’m going to have to see what type of moves (or not) he makes before I can comment further. The only thing I know for now is that he wasn’t satisfied with the last coaching staff.
Brendan
April 25th, 2010
10:16 pm
Roberto Luongo just made the SAVE OF THE ENTIRE PLAYOFFS on Ryan Smythe. Who saw it? Someone find the U-Tube of it. It just happened seconds ago, though, to be fair. Luongo was trapped DEEP INSIDE his own net. He crawled on his stomach and hurled his glove hand forward to snatch the puck from the top corner of the net, while he had his pad vertically in the air.
Amazing!!!!
Brendan
April 25th, 2010
10:42 pm
WBF, thanks for that analysis on Marty Biron. From your description, it doesn’t really sound like he’s any kind of answer for the Thrashers. But like Ron Hainsey, he may be what’s left on July 3rd, should Atlanta still want to pluck a goaler from the free agent market.
Glovesave29, can I pin you down on which UFA netminder you’d want, (1) if price were no issue and (2) if a total goaltender budget (backup & starter) were $5 million or so? Believe it or not, I have zero interest in Marty Turco. Not only will that cost a lot, but I don’t think we’ll really see the result. But, I could be wrong.
Brendan
April 25th, 2010
10:59 pm
Okay, let me just ask it. Where are we, salary cap-wise, in terms of what’s committed for next season? I used to know this if awakened at 3AM on some idle Tuesday. But with the Spirit owning this team, I’ve let certain research aspects of this team slide. That said, we must have money for goaltending. Pavelec won’t cost a lot. Hedberg wouldn’t cost much. Look at the salary that might not be returning?
1. Kubina’s $5 million
2. Kovy’s $6.5 million
3. Colby’s $2.4 million
4. Artyukin?
5. Slater? ($750K)
6. Boulton? ($600K)
7. Hedberg? ($1.25M)
8. Popovic? ($600K)
9. Max Afinogenov? ($800K)
10. Kozlov’s $3.75
I’m too tired to do any math, so you guys do it. Don’t groan at me because you have homework. Just do it. Whatever the heck that adds up to … should be enough to go shopping for a UFA goalie. Of course, I haven’t heard what the salary cap limit is. At last check, it was $56.8 million, with a league MANDATED FLOOR of $40.8 million. I know Kane and Bogosian have some “bonus” money hitting our cap, but let’s also remember that Alexei Zhitnik won’t be hitting our cap anymore, either. Not that the cap hit was devastating, Alexei Yashin style.
Wayne stuck in AL
April 25th, 2010
11:28 pm
I’m sorry, Bill, but we could have the second coming of Patrick Roy and Martin Brodeur, but if we have D-men who are nothing more than human pylons and wingers who can’t backcheck, it won’t matter who’s in goal.
Adam
April 25th, 2010
11:31 pm
Brendan – 23m’ish +Artyukin
7 Forwards that need to be replaced/signed… a goalie tandem in the 8m range leaves 15m to sign those 7 plus 1 top 4 D-man.
Your Mammy
April 26th, 2010
12:10 am
The goalie position is not broke…so dont fix it….sign Hedberg as the starter, Pavelec as backup, then work on the rest of the mess.
World Be Free
April 26th, 2010
7:45 am
Wayne-agreed,
I hope the next “system” we receive from our new coaches is NHL-worthy. Anderson’s system did nothing for our goaltenders or our overall team defense. There were never any adjustments in Anderson’s system to protect a lead during any game in the season. Coaches have to coach as the games progress. Our coach stood around and yelled out “WTF”.
Smoothie-I like scenario #1 the best, though I think #3 is a possibility. I just don’t want to pay an old goaltender, like Nabakov to come in and try to be a #1. Not sure how much Nabakov has left in the tank. Your body starts to send you signals at 35 and nobody can avoid those signals unless your name is Darrell Green.
Stroz-this weekend reminded me alot of Kari. His counterpart in the NFL, Jamarcus Russell in Oakland just lost his job when Oakland traded for Campbell. Kari and Russell, two guys that have all the tools to be great that refuse to work at their respective crafts. Wasted talents.
Bunny Larocque
April 26th, 2010
8:26 am
Just exactly what “system” has done anything for this team’s defense? Even during the glory year, the Thrashers were 15th in GAA, 25th in shots allowed, Lehtonen’s save percentage was .912, while Moose’s was .898.
In 2007, would you have taken a 36-year-old Martin Brodeur as a free agent? The answer is of course you would have if that scenario was ever presented. He starts a tons of games, his record still solid but his success, like all goalies, has always depended upon the five guys in front of him or the system itself. If you watched the playoffs, he was ordinary to sub par. So, three seasons later you would have gotten 17 playoff games out of him and three straight first-round exits. So, was your team better off having signed him? The Devils never had a young kid ready to push Marty for the No. 1 spot and Lou still is adamant that Brodeur can still play. Of course, he can, but at what price fiscally and developmentally?
Are the Thrashers Cup contenders today? No. Will they be Cup contenders next year? No. Could they become Cup contenders in 2011-12? Quite possibly. So, at that point, do you want a 37-year-old goalie at $6 million in goal, or a 25-year-old in goal?
You don’t win the Cup in 2012 but make a nice run. Would your team be better off with the 25-year-old with invaluable playoff experience ready to lead your team in 2013 or having to start the process all over again by trying to find someone to replace your 37-year-old star who just pocketed $12 million and nothing to show for it?
That’s the real crux of the question isn’t it? It’s not about 2010-11 necessarily, but beyond. If your mindset is just making the playoffs, that’s one thing (see: 2006-07), but if your goal is overall development of a franchise, that’s another thing altogether.
Thanks to Stephane Fiset for sharing his blog space with me!
Red Light
April 26th, 2010
8:39 am
Wow, Stephane Fiset and Bunny Larocque made an appearance on Rawhide’s blog! Cool!
The word “choke” is overused Brendan and not applicable!
Nashville was down 3-1 on Saturday and as mentioned they scored three goals to take the lead and once they did could have salted it away had the final 90 seconds gone a little differently. I was incredulous that while on the power play and the clock clicking down that Shea Weber made a d-to-d cross ice pass rather than simply dumping the puck to the corner. I was flabbergasted that Erat tried to no-look a pass out in front rather than just hold the puck and let more time go off the clock. They were crucial mistakes with a man advantage not a choke.
A choke would have been missing a wide-open empty net goal with less than a minute remaining, not hustling back and watching the Hawks score the game-tying goal. That didn’t happen.
Labeling that loss a choke doesn’t do justice to the fact that the Preds never quit, stormed back and put the Hawks on the verge of being down 3 games to 2 and having taken two of the three games in Chicago. They final minute was brutal but I don’t think it’s right to say it was a choke. Stupidity yes. Bad coaching no. The players have to recognize the situation and make plays based upon the situation. They didn’t. screwed up and lost.
Red Light
April 26th, 2010
8:40 am
Leaving for Nashville at 2 pm. Can’t wait!
Dwayne
April 26th, 2010
8:46 am
is no longer the issue. Torchetti will coach and he will bring Chicago’s goalie coach with him. Mark it down.
As for the cap and how much the spirit clowns will spend depends on how far the Hawks go. I know a lot of yall do not care for basketball, but for the Thrashers best intrest, pull for the Hawks, I know it hurts, but just think of it as pulling for the Flyers to beat NJ.
Dwayne
April 26th, 2010
8:47 am
John Andersons system is no longer an issue…..sorry
glovesave29
April 26th, 2010
9:05 am
Bunny Laraque – ha! Great name, remember him well. He’d always suit up against the Flames and I’d be bummed that I would not get to see my boyhood hero, Ken Dryden play. That is, after all, why I play the net and wear number 29.
I think you are not looking at the big picture. If we sacrifice the team as a whole to make sure we are getting Pavs experience, that is one helluva a roll of the dice. What if he “craps out” and we have wasted that time? What if he pulls a Pasi Nurminen and never plays again? Make it even harder to attract FA’s with that mentality, too. Crowds grow even smaller…I mean why pay for a ticket to a team that is only there to give a goalie experience and not play to win? I just want the situation to be static one more season with Moose in the net. If his play improves, give Pavs 55% of the starts this season. Moose does his farewell tour. Gives Ondrej one more season to prove he hase the mental capacity and physical conditioning to be a full timer in the NHL. Give him a good goalie coach SOON and lets see if he can be a Matt Ryan and throw himself completely into his craft. A regular rink rat.
DWTOO
April 26th, 2010
9:09 am
IMHO:
1) Sign Dan Ellis and Pavs. Let them battle/rotate who’s got the hot hand.
2) Sign/trade – Carey Price and Pavs. See # 1. Think a change of scenery would do Price good. Similiar to trading Lehts.
3) Don’t sign or trade for a 35 yr. old. Might as well sign the Moose.
Joe Friday
April 26th, 2010
9:19 am
“I am intrigued by Dan Ellis”
What, do some of you have man crushers on Dan Ellis for his little twitters about his cute Starbucks runs and yogurt scarfing?!?
Step back and think about it. There’s a reason Dan Ellis is riding for the pines during the playoffs and isn’t the #1 goalie on a club like Nashville. Riddle me this, how exactly does our goaltending get improved by taking a guy who has no better #s than Moose and a guy who is a backup goalie on a club that’s going to be knocked out in the 1st round?
Aim high, this club has never had a true #1 that can steal games and won’t, unless we trade for an established goalie or sign Nabakov (who you know is actually starting for his club and just won a round in the playoffs).
Joe Friday
April 26th, 2010
9:21 am
“Leaving for Nashville at 2 pm. Can’t wait!”
Take me with you?
World Be Free
April 26th, 2010
9:22 am
Bunny, my point is that Anderson did not have a system that incorporated team defense or the design to protect a lead as the games progressed. My hope is that the next coach will incorporate a system that can be altered to protect a lead. That will be up to the next caoch. Most seem to favor Torchetti as the #1 coaching prospect; personally, I favor Ramsay becuase of his experiences as a player and long time coach. Whoever is slected will be an improvement over Anderson.
Red Light
April 26th, 2010
9:41 am
I know your point World Be Free, and as Bunny suggested, the system can protect your goalie and his numbers.
Glovesave29, I’m not saying give Pavs a chance forever, I’m just saying let him get another 40 games and then see where you stand. That’s fair, He’s only had 56 career starts over parts of three seasons and you can’t make a judgment based upon that few number of starts.
Joe Friday: Ellis had 37 starts in 2007-08 and that number has dwindled ever since. Maybe you forgot that he had a save percentage of .938 against Detroit facing 240 shots in six games during that season’s playoffs.
Finally, my crack research dept uncovered the Predators real problem: In their 32 career playoff games, the Predators are converting on just 9.44 percent of their power-play opportunities, 12-for-127 all time and 0-for-21 this year.
Red Light
April 26th, 2010
9:42 am
I’ll be disappointed if Ramsay isn’t offered the Thrashers head coaching position, and doesn’t accept it!
Old Time Hockey
April 26th, 2010
9:54 am
Why would anyone consider bringing in goalies who have had problems with other organizations (Emery, Biron, Price)? If you’ve got a solid #1 and you want to try to revive a career by bringing in a guy like that to back up someone…maybe. But with the goalie curse on this franchise, you need proven stability. Don’t know what the answer is right now, but trying to “rehabilitate” some of these guys would spell disaster. I really don’t think Weeks was the reason Kari was a lazy, immature, unprofessional goalie. That’s the risk of drafting kids…you just don’t know how they will develop mentally. Go out and find a goalie who is a gym/rink rat, who realizes that he will need to work hard every day to improve. Find 3 or 4 of them and decide.
Joe Friday
April 26th, 2010
9:55 am
“Ellis had 37 starts in 2007-08 and that number has dwindled ever since.”
So the answer in our goal is a guy riding the pines who last saw 37 starts three years ago? The backup on Nashville? And that improves our goaltending? Mmmmkay. Come on, fellas, you’re smarter than this.
World Be Free
April 26th, 2010
10:00 am
I would not go for Emery or Price.
Biron’s never been a problem for any team he has played for. Marty gets high marks from coaches, teammates, media and fans whereever he’s played. He’s just not a #1 goalie at this point in his career, so if you look to Biron as a keeper, he has to be a backup. But he’ll give you 15-20 games whenever you need them.
Problem with Marty is that he’s such a jacker you can’t shut him up!
LAC
April 26th, 2010
10:08 am
I guess my point of view is, Why bring back guys we have not won with in the past ?
Slater, Boulton, White(Buyout PLEASE), Thorburn come to mind.
We need fresh faces, not more of the same we have seen for years. Heck if that were the case bring back Ken Klee for pete’s sake !!!
We also need a Tough Guy upgrade… AKA… Derek Boogaard, He is 6′8″, 257 and a UFA, he won’t score, but who wants to tangle with him. Or maybe Raitis Ivanans, He is 6′4″ 256. Having those two to CRUNCH cindy crotchby would be very very nice, this would assure NOBODY would push us around without paying for it. They would be cheap to get, downside, they would provide little if any offense, but we need to be TOUGHER and a Tough guy upgrade IS important too !
Red Light
April 26th, 2010
10:15 am
Not saying Ellis is the answer, just pointing out his track record. I’m still in the give Pavelec a chance camp and that means I need a back-up. I’m willing to use Biron, Ellis or Moose in that role.
And no, we’re not smarter than that or we wouldn’t pay any attention to your posts! LOFL
ChippersLoveChild
April 26th, 2010
10:35 am
Biron, my money is on Biron.
Joe Friday
April 26th, 2010
10:38 am
“we’re not smarter than that or we wouldn’t pay any attention to your posts!”
Just make sure you bring your Fang Fingers tonight, you, you, you you you!
Red Light
April 26th, 2010
10:41 am
Fang Fingers? Nah. But, I do have my 10-gallon hat and Hoss Cartwright vest ready to go!
World Be Free
April 26th, 2010
10:57 am
LAC-can’t argue with you on needing new blood. Of the guys you mentioned, I would only consider bringing back Slater at the right price, though you could replace him with someone like Eric Belanger and get a better checker and face-off man.
Boulton gives you all he can as a fighter, but he’s not a heavyweight. Derek Boogaard, would be a major upgrade, nobody would mess with our players. He’d play the same role Goddard does in Pittsburgh. Everyone knows when Goddard is in the lineup and I bet Boogy could kick Goddard’s butt! His influence on how the other team plays may be worth what you don’t get in goals. It’s not like Boulton is a 20 goal man anyhow.
glovesave29
April 26th, 2010
11:13 am
You’re not going to make me go do research to find the hundreds of names across all sports that benefitted from a change of scenery, are you JF? Ellis is a strong and technically sound goalie. Not his fault he’s behind Pekka Rinne, just as it was with Bryzgalov behind Giguere and Hiller. Let us not forget the Rogie Vachon and Tony Esposito were cast aside by Montreal. You saying you wouldn’t take them because another team had no room for them?
I am not giving up on Pavs. He’s got good size and reflexes. He is technically unsound. Here’s where every one throws Hasek at me – but he was TECHNICALLY sound, he just was very unorthodox in his methods, so that arguement doesn’t work. I picked Ondrej’s game apart during the preseason with Bill, Darren Eliot and Matt McConnell over at the IceForum. We were all on the same page, in total agreement. That being said – I do not totally blame him, he is not being given the tools to succeed here – we all know where that blame lies.
glovesave29
April 26th, 2010
11:16 am
…but if you are going to be condescending – Marty St. Louis, Marc Savard, and Brett Hull couldn’t find a spot on Calgary’s roster – you take any of them? Dino Ciccerelli was considered a project coming out of juniors…think you might like him on your team. Things change…people change…that’s why you cannot only look at stats
Dwayne
April 26th, 2010
11:20 am
who needs boogard? or goddard? or bolts? We got Evander “don’t call me holyfield” Kane!!!!
Joe Friday
April 26th, 2010
11:21 am
Dude, if he can’t beat Rinne out and hasn’t been a starter in 3 years, that’s not a reclamation project at 30 years old, that’s just another backup. We already had one, Moose, that we forced into a #1 role. If you want to put another #2 backup in as #1, then might as well keep Moose, numbers are the same and he’s well liked on the team.
We need a true proven #1, something we’ve never had on this club. Ellis ain’t that guy.
Joe Friday
April 26th, 2010
11:27 am
lol, here’s Rinne, your next coming of Patty Roy:
Rinne 2.53 GAA .911 Save%
Ellis 2.69 GAA .909 Save%
Moose 2.62 GAA .915 Save%
Moose had a better save % than the Rinne with comparable GAA and Moose did it on a weaker team, yet Ellis who couldn’t beat our Rinne is an upgrade over Moose and going to be the true #1 we need? Hoo boy.
World Be Free
April 26th, 2010
11:32 am
Right now, Ellis is the most logical choice. He’s at the right age where he has an upside, not to close to an age where he might physically break down. His issue is that Rinne has simply beat him out in Nashville and let’s face it, Rinne has played pretty well this season. Ellis was a proven #1 until someone better beat him out and I don’t see a proven #1 with significant tread left on the tire out there that can be had this year.
Remember that Dominik Hasek was an afterthought in Chicago, traded to Buffalo for a bag of pucks, left unprotected in the 1992 expansion draft. It’s only when Grant Fuhr got injured in Buffalo that Hasek got a chance to be a number one goalie in the NHL. And the rest is history. I am not trying to equate Hasek with any goalie in the mix, just trying to say that sometimes a change in venue brings out the best in a goaltender. Look at Brygolov too. You just never know.
Now I’ll sit back and wait for ya’ll to punch holes in this one!
Joe Friday
April 26th, 2010
11:33 am
Nabokov just posted a 1.76 GAA (including the 5 he let in during one game), a .926 Save % and posted a shutout while winning the first round of the playoffs this year.
I rest my case, your honor.
Joe Friday
April 26th, 2010
11:34 am
“Now I’ll sit back and wait for ya’ll to punch holes in this one!”
lol, already did in the post right above yours. Rinne ain’t even an upgrade over Moose, much less Ellis.
FormerIslesFan
April 26th, 2010
11:37 am
Brendan,
Just a quick note here, since the post I’m responding to was from so far up in the blog. I agree with WBF’s assessment of Biron. He is NOT a #1 anymore at this point in his career. It would not serve us to have him unless we specifically want him as a tutor for Pavs, and I don’t think that’s what this signing is about.
On Roloson: Since you asked, Rollie signed a TWO year deal with the Isles last summer, so he under contract through the ‘10-’11 season. Considering DP’s health (or seeming lack thereof), the Isles will not be parting with Rollie any time soon.
My money is still on the Ellis/Price scenarios (although I would still LOVE Halak…I just don’t see him available anymore). Nabakov is unrealistic.
Here’s a unique thought that no one has mentioned: What about trading for Kipper in Calgary? We’ve talked about Iginla since Calgary may “blow up” the team. Why not consider that man with the flaming skull mask??
glovesave29
April 26th, 2010
11:37 am
Nabokov is a “me” guy. I want an “us” guy. That is why I have been saying all along to keep Moose one last season to wait to get Vokoun or Giguere next season. If we insist on making a change now, Ellis is the way to go.
Red Light
April 26th, 2010
11:57 am
Speaking of unrealistic FormerIslesFan…
I don’t see Calgary moving Kipper. He has just played too much hockey since the lockout, averaging 74 starts per season since 2005-06. He’s faced 10,427 shots and has a save percentage of .914. That’s certainly worthy of a $19 million investment over the next four seasons, although at 33 that makes a bit more sense than Nabokov at $6 million.
Adam
April 26th, 2010
12:06 pm
If Pavs is going to be the #1 goalie of the future, hopefully at the start of the 2011 season, then why pay over 12-18mil over 2-3 years for a guy that is going to want to be the starter and not want to be shifted into a backup roll after 1 season? The only way is if there is not a NTC in the contract. Even then it doesn’t make a ton of sense because you’ve got to find someone that will be willing to pickup the balance on an aging goalie.
Mason, Ellis or Moose (In that order) if the bill perfectly for us. I think under the right tutelage Pavs can be everything we expect him to be.
The team lost 15 games by 1 goal this year, of those 11 of them were from Oct-Jan. They also had 13 OTL’s. That’s 43 points!!! Cut those numbers in half and there’s another 21pts or 104 on the year. Good enough for 4th in the standings behind the division leaders. Anyone know how many of those where the blame can be put squarely on goal tending?
Do most of you really think we need to spend over 6 million a year on a goalie over 35 years old right now? I sure don’t. A well put together team that’s got the right frame of mind (ie no prima donna BS) and coached well from game #1 through game #82 will get the job done.
World Be Free
April 26th, 2010
12:08 pm
Joe, you are saying you’d take Moose over either goaltender in Nashville? Do you want a 35 year old goaltender that has won NOTING in his career despite playing most of his NHL on very good teams? I’d like to see how Nabakov would play and hold out on a team that’s not so good! I am not totally adverse to bringing Moose back, but I truly believe we have to move forward.
FIF, do you think SiPietro is done? If the Isle thisnk so, they may be another “player” in the number one goalie market this summer. I just don’t see Calgary moving Kipper; they have nobody behind him to take his place. Calgary already has created a flawed lineup, I don’t think they create another hole they can’t fill.
Nice wish though!
Brendan
April 26th, 2010
12:12 pm
Red Light, okay. It wasn’t a “choke” as you’ve defined it. But when a team has a man power advantage and merely need to kill the clock, they have to be more ’situationally aware’ than they were. Credit the Blackhawks and Kane with a great effort, but let’s agree to at least call it, “a missed opportunity.” Deal?
Russian
April 26th, 2010
12:16 pm
Does anybody want him as a Coach? I am just wondering.
http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=527084&navid=DL|NHL|home
FormerIslesFan
April 26th, 2010
12:19 pm
Red Light and WBF:
Hey, I’m not saying it’s a likely scenario (Kiprosoff), I’m just throwing it out there for consideration since no one else mentioned it (probably because it is such low probability). However, if I were Dudley, I would certainly put the feelers out there to Sutter (or whomever will be the GM in Calgary) to see what kind of interest it sparks.
As for DP, I don’t think he is finished and I think the Isles played it VERY cautiously this year. They could, specifically because they had Roloson and Biron in the house and did not have to push DP. When it became clear that DP was not 100%, even though he tried to come back, they shelved him. I think he is not done yet (but he might be able to see the end of the world from where he is standing).