The Detroit Goalie Conundrum
With the recent play of Jimmy Howard, and struggles of Ty Conklin I began to think about an article I wrote awhile back on Chris Osgood and his tenure with the Red Wings.
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It seems to take a special type of person to play in goal for Detroit, while the Cheveldae's, Joseph's and Legace's have tried, only one has not succumbed to the presure and scrutiny that the others could not handle.
-- Saying goodbye is never easy to do, whether you change jobs, schools or move to a new city. There's a good chance that you have built a relationship with a few people along the way. Sports are by comparison the same.
To a sports fan, watching a longtime team member leave can be just as hard. Growing up a lifelong Red Wings fan, I have Spent the better part of the last three decades getting to know some of the most loyal, hard-working and talented players the NHL has seen.
Chris Osgood is one of those players. Like it or not, he has cemented himself in our hearts as well as the NHL and Red Wings record books.
He's the same type of blue-collar player that Michiganders and Wings fans around the world have grown to love, just as much as their superstars.
Looking back over the years, he has been an easy target. We've seen the blown leads, playoff losses and soft goals. He shrugged off the taunts, and ignored the media when they said he was the product of the team playing in front of him. His hall of fame credentials have been debated, yet through it all he has never turned his back on Detroit, even if it has him.
In his 17 year NHL career he has amassed 401 wins, 3 Stanley cups (2 as starter), 2 William Jennings Trophies (96, 08) and is a 3-time all-star (96, 97, 08).
On March 6, 1996 he became only the 2nd goalie in NHL history to score a goal by actually shooting the puck into the net.
He valiantly fought the larger, possibly stronger Patrick Roy in the 2nd of the now famous bench clearing brawls of the late 90's Wings-Avs rivalry.
He ranks 10th all-time in wins (401), 24th in shutouts (50), 24th in goals against average (2.49), 8th in playoff wins (74) and 4th in playoff shutouts (15).
He is 2nd among Red Wings Goalies behind Terry Sawchuk in regular season games played (565), wins (317) and shutouts (39), and 1st in Playoff games (110), Wins (67) and shutouts (14).
Osgood belongs in the Hall of Fame. He is not the product of the team that played in front of him. Curtis Joseph had the same great team and couldn't get the job done. Fuhr, Roy and Brodeur all played behind great teams, yet their hall credentials have never been questioned. Two words... Eddie Giacomin
but this is not a resumé for the hall. It's a thank you to a man who held one of the hardest jobs in all of sports. He was the goalie that this franchise needed where so many had failed before him. Osgood gave us memories, good and bad that we will share with our children and grandchildren. He will stand in line with Red Wings greats like Yzerman, Lidstrom and Sawchuk, and not in their shadows.
From the baby-faced 21-year-old that wept in his locker stall after the game seven loss to the sharks in 94, all the way to the seasoned vet who helped mold his replacement.
He's helped a team give a fallen city hope when all looked lost. He may never enter the hall of fame, and his number might never be raised to the rafters of the Joe, but it will be in our hearts.
And for that I say, thank you. --
We have our new #1, but can Conklin or even MacDonald handle the pressure of playing for Detroit? Or does the search for a new backup need to begin?
@Josh Howard @Jordan_Reis you beat me to it... But I'd go with keeping Conklyn... Turco is as bad an idea as bringing in nappy...
@Jordan_Reis@D.M.N@Josh I'm with Jordan on this one, I always thought Turco was elite, just a shame who he played for. Nabby would've been a good backup to Jim too, but defnitely not a replacement. Then again, he was a choker on a team of chokers, but maybe on a team of winners...
Definitely don't see Mac as a competent NHLer, hes a perennial AHL goalie and thats where he should stay unless called up on the odd occasion. The idea of a Conks-Mac tandem to carry us through a season stretch or in the playoffs if Jimmy got injured straight up terrifies me.
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I think Turco would be ok, he played his worst hockey against the Wings so maybe he would be good with them. The Hawks D didn't really give him a shot.
Turco actually just signed with a team in Austria, but only for a 3-day tournament thats why I thought of him, I wonder if he would have to clear waivers to sign in the NHL?@D.M.N @Josh @Jordan_Reis
What are the laws on cloning these days? It's 2011 can't we just get 2 Howards some how?? They can put robots on Mars but can't grow a goalie in a lab? Priorities of the human race are all crooked...
ooo.. ooo.. pick me! I'm a Howard! I bet I could even fit into the gear! haha... if only! @D.M.N
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I know you don't much like Joey Mac and we've had some talk here lately about him, but I really thought he proved himself as a competent, capable backup last season. Exclude that 7 or 8 goal debacle and he had a good season with us a year ago. He's also doing well in GR (can't think of his stats right now but they up there with some of his better seasons).
And this "worst-case-scenario" if Howard gets hurt, yea we'll be screwed but so is any team who loses a Jim Howard Caliber/Non-ASG caliber goalie.
In Kenny we Trust.
I can't put my finger on exactly why I don't like Mac, but I just haven't been too impressed. I tend to be very harsh on goalies though.
Mac is an ok backup, but I just expect more from Detroit. Especially when they have the cash@brendanksullivan
You and everyone else in Detroit. No one thought Jimmy was going to be any good until recently. Some people still think he's not any good, but those are the people that never watch games. @Jordan_Reis
They will.. it's the Blues that still worry me. Consider me a worry wart on that front. They freak me the heck out. @Jordan_Reis
I wish that whole team would slump into oblivion. I watched the end of the game last night against San Jose and just about vomited all over myself. @Josh Howard
I don't wish that on anyone... but if I did... it would be Chicago. Their D isn't bad on paper? On paper, we're "too old" so what's that tell ya. ;) @Jordan_Reis
I kind of hope Crawford turns out like Steve Mason, I wish Chicago would have invested even more in him than they did.
There defense isn't bad on paper, just the ice. ZING!@Josh Howard
I think he could be fine with a decent D in front of him, but it seems he's just not got "IT" this year. Seems to be a ton of flash in the pan goalies in the league. Just take a look at the Masons. @Jordan_Reis
I know Crawford's not even in the top 30 when it comes to GAA nad has a sub .900 SV%. There are just too many "fans" in Chicago to vote for him even though he's the worst starting goalie in the league @Josh Howard
Exactly... I'm thinking they look at contract amounts rather than play. Can't wait to see what the totals for this next week are. Suck it Chicago!
I was talking this weekend with someone who had ties inside the organization and the general consensus is that Conklin is toast. It makes me sad to hear that. However, what they are simply doing is using Conklin and MacDonald as placeholders until someone else comes along to backup Jimmy. They are thinking more longterm rather than the here and now. That's what I was told... by someone who is in the know.
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That makes sense, Kenny doesn't panic. I would hope that he makes the move soon though as Jimmy can't start 70 games and still have enough in the tank for the playoffs.
Internally they have a Kid in the OHL that has jumped to the top of the goalie prospects named Petr Mrazek that I have been pretty excited about, he's only 19 though so that's a long shot at this point.
I'm not sold on MacDonald.
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I'm totally sold on Joey Mac. Big Mac proved to me that he had what it takes to play as a solid backup. The only game that I was embarassed by him was that damn blowout. Other than that, he held his own and gave us a chance to win... more so than say Conklin right now. Mrazek is good according to this source, but they aren't going to let him come up until he's completely ready. I'd say around 4-5 years when Jimmy needs more help to keep healthy as age sets in. I see no reason why Jimmy couldn't play 65 games this season, but I'm totally with you on 70. In a way, I think that's why these blowouts are significant. He definitely doesn't have to work near as hard in those types of games. Though, mentally it's still stressful because he's trying to keep them from gaining any ground on us. I think Conklin keeps getting starts here and there until he reaches about 4-5 more. Then, the rest is Jimmy. Maybe that's enough?
@Jordan_Reis @Josh Howard @thebiglachovsky Thank you sooooo much NYI, that's actually one of the reasons I don't hate that team.
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Pat LaFontaine is a local boy that the Wings wanted, but islanders took 3rd overall. We ended up settling for Steve Yzerman with the 4th pick @Josh Howard @thebiglachovsky
agreed. no clue who LaFontaine is, but I've heard stories. No ones deserves to have a career cut short by injuries... unless your name is Pronger. @Jordan_Reis @thebiglachovsky
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As much as I hate the guy, its sad when a career like his is derailed by injuries, it happens too much. LaFontaine would have been the leading American scorer had his career not been cut short by concussions.
To be fair some of the Crosby hate is not his fault, but Bettman's man-crush on him@Josh Howard @thebiglachovsky
Me either... though I was looking forward to tomorrow. Not so much now. It's just not the same winning against the Penguins without Crosby. His clock is ticking when it comes to actually putting up numbers. How many seasons can he sit out half of and be considered a top forward? Honestly!
Good idea. I can't wait for the 30th. is seems weird to go almost half the year without facing them.
Just saw on ESPN that Crosby is out indefinitely with concussion-like symptoms. Kind of seems like his career may follow Lindross or LaFontaine at this point. Sad...@Josh Howard @thebiglachovsky
Our whipping boy should be Chicago... I'd prefer to elevate our own players. They might make mistakes or not be perfect, but they are OUR players. :) @Jordan_Reis @thebiglachovsky
Big E is here to stay at least for a while. Get used to it. He's ridiculous at times, but they seem to know something we don't. Anyone remember back when no one wanted Kronner here because he couldn't capitalize on HIS opportunities on the ice? I think it's sort of like that. With salaries going up, E is okay for what we are getting. Not saying he's perfect, but I've seen worse. Let's not forget how much people overpaid for average D-men in the offseason. If he's the worst player on our team... I'm okay with that. You guys seem to forget that we won a cup with "terrible" Brett Lebda.
E has been a direct contributor to some of out losses this year, yet he has played a bit better, but not $3+ Mil good. Heck not even $2+ mil good.
Cheli and Kenny seem to think that he will be the next coming and its hard to argue with those guys cause they are usually right, but we have Commie who can make those mistakes for much less, and Smith.
If we could make any deal that involved sending E out of town I'm in. whether is be for a backup or forward.
how bad would it be for that deal to bite us in the ass though, what if we shipped Ericsson off to Philly in a deal and he turned into a top unit guy. It hurts when it happens with a Quincy but it would really sting if it happend with a guy we invested so much into
@Jordan_Reis@Josh Howard After the issues we've had the past few years, I'll drink to that! If we can ditch E-52, I think I will be completely complaint less.
Yes, Nabokov is the only proven winner (at least in the regular season) that has a good contract, maybe because Kenny did all the work on that one anyway and Snow swooped in and snatched him. If we went after a big contract it would have to be a rental @thebiglachovsky @Josh Howard
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Agreed, Mac needs a chance and I'm not suggesting bringing Mrazek up. I was just pointing out that he is really our only option internally that could be a future stud.
I still am not impressed with Mac, if you look at the games he won they were against bottom feeders like Columbus and Florida.
I love that we can have this debate. The Wings have so few issues that we are spending an off day talking about our backup goalie
@Josh Howard@Jordan_Reis I agree, however I'm not keen on dropping big cash on a big name. If we do ditch Conks or Mac, I would like it to be on someone who can get by us a few games and save the cash space for a top defense man for when the inevitable happens.
We have the money, but the cost for a Bobrovsky or Nabokov could be much less now when we could take it or leave it as apposed to if we had to get a deal done @Josh Howard
@Josh Howard@Jordan_Reis I have to agree. I don't think it makes much sense to bring anyone up that has never played an NHL game when Macdonald not only has played in the NHL, but did quite well (ad nauseum, the blow out against St. Louis) wearing our sweater last year. I would, at the absolute very least, like to see Big Mac get the next non-Howard start to give him a shot to really prove he is capable. If he is terrible and stinks up a few games, I think we start actively pursuing a back up who gives us a chance to win games.
ahhh.. but there lies the kicker. If we couldn't get the job done with those two, we have more than enough cap space to get someone pretty badass. Remember that sniper everyone said we needed? Seems Filppula didn't take too kindly to the trade talk and decided he'd pot a few more goals. Huds heard us talking and decided the same. I bet IF something were to happen, we'd find someone to get the job done. Who knows.. maybe Nabby would come back this direction? The possiblities are endless. I'm not worried. @Jordan_Reis
I just worry that IF (knock on wood) something happened, could we really rely on a Conklin - MacDonald Tandem? I'd hate to see Kenny have to make a move in those circumstances when teams know we have our hands tied @Josh Howard
