NHL Starting Goalies for 2006-2007??

Post by **Shadd666** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 1:16 am

I loved Hasek when he played with the Sabres and when he lead them to the Stanley Cup Finals (in 1998 or 1999 i think...far away from now...) and when he lead Czech Republic to the Olympic Gold Medal in 98...

But now...well...seems it's time for him to retire...

Great career however...

Post by **inSTAALed** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 2:28 am

It was time for him to retire before he joined the Senators

Post by **E5150_ca** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 2:49 am

inSTAALed wrote:It was time for him to retire before he joined the Senators

Tell that to his 28-10 record.

Post by **inSTAALed** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 6:01 pm

Can I tell it to his groin as well?

I think that record was more from the team in front of him than his individual play.

I would have taken Toskala over him in a heartbeat

Post by **E5150_ca** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 8:43 pm

inSTAALed wrote:Can I tell it to his groin as well?

I think that record was more from the team in front of him than his individual play.

I would have taken Toskala over him in a heartbeat

Following that same pattern, Erik Cole should retire because he injured his shoulder.

The Senators team showed exactly how 'good' they are in the playoffs.

Post by **Minstrel** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 9:22 pm

Cole broke his neck not his shoulder... and the problem with their playoff performance is they didn't have an NHL caliber goalie. Emery could be very good but he's too young to carry a team as he doesn't have the base talent level of a Toskala, Ward, Miller.

That aside though the groin is more of an issue since Hasek is not by any stretch of the imagination "young" and he couldn't return from it in over half a year last year. So, it shows that a potential recovery should it happen again this year could be catastrophic for his team to the tune of making/not making the playoffs. It's the same story as Belfour... oh no his back is stronger than ever! Well, we'll see...

I'm also not saying Hasek sucks; just that he is wildly overrated especially with regard to his past performances in which he did not win a Stanley Cup even behind a team that did little more than play defense; hell even Belfour pulled that one off with Dallas. Is he any better than Belfour? I really don't think so.

flea · Post by **flea** » Sat Aug 05, 2006 2:55 am

Poor Sens....and they really think Gerber can be the replacement for Hasek???

....and here I have to say that I like Gerber because he is from Switzerland, just where I was born....some long time ago

Gerber looked really good in the regular season, but when it counts, in the Playoffs, he stank bigtime!!!

...well, call me fool, but I think its a wise move by the RedWings to sign Hasek!!! Last season he was clearly the best goalie until his injury in the Olympic games and who knows?? Maybe the Sens would be now champions if Hasek remained healthy....

Right now the RedWings have Hasek and Osgood under contract for a combined 1,65 Millions $

....and if Hasek can remain heathy this move could decide the next Stanley Cup winner.....just in my honest opinion...

flea · Post by **flea** » Sat Aug 05, 2006 2:55 am

I edit here because it posted the same twice.....some strange debut mode came out....sorry about that

ADMIN NOTE: This is that 'DEBUG' error we are looking into with our server company. It says it can't send email which make syou think the message didn't go through, but it has So just ignore it if it happens to you, your post has gone through Sorry for the confusion.

Post by **inSTAALed** » Sat Aug 05, 2006 4:32 am

FWIW, Gerber played so poorly leading up to and in the playoffs because of a bad virus.

He lost somewhere between 10-15 pounds but continued to play for some reason.

Must be those crazy Swiss genes

Post by **Minstrel** » Sat Aug 05, 2006 8:29 am

flea wrote:Right now the RedWings have Hasek and Osgood under contract for a combined 1,65 Millions $ ....and if Hasek can remain heathy this move could decide the next Stanley Cup winner.....just in my honest opinion...

Well, you're partially right... it will decide that the next Stanley Cup winner won't be Detroit.

flea · Post by **flea** » Sat Aug 05, 2006 2:41 pm

inSTAALed wrote:FWIW, Gerber played so poorly leading up to and in the playoffs because of a bad virus.

He lost somewhere between 10-15 pounds but continued to play for some reason.

Must be those crazy Swiss genes

Ok, I didnt know that virus thing....and honestly I have to say that I was surprised by the poor image offered by Gerber in the playoffs, but I still believe that Gerber isnt the answer for the Sens....well, time will tell I guess...

....and speaking about my fellow Swiss companions: today I have booked my ticket to ZÃ¼rich for three weeks in december!!!

....cant wait to see my hometown again!!! And of course I will go also to some hockey games of the Swiss league....it has been a long while that I havent seen them live!!!

Minstrel wrote:Well, you're partially right... it will decide that the next Stanley Cup winner won't be Detroit.

LOL Minty!!!...at least Iam right in one point, right??

I surely respect your opinion Minty, but I still think it isnt a bad move by the RedWings. Hasek has demonstrated that he still has some quality hockey inside his body and with a good defense in front of him he could have again some great numbers next season!!
....and also I prefer Hasek and not Belfour, who also nearly ended up in Hockeytown...

Now a little offtopic for u Minty (as u are a Blackhawks fan): do u like the trade between your team and Philly??? Calder for Handzus.....do u like it for your team??? Just wondering...

Greets

Post by **Shadd666** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 1:26 am

Minstrel wrote:Well, you're partially right... it will decide that the next Stanley Cup winner won't be Detroit.

Hasek or not,i can't believe that the Wings should win...

I mostly wondering how they'll do without their soulmaster,mister Steve Yzerman... He lead the team for so many years in the mental aspect of the game (and in many other ways,of course

),that there will be big changes next season... Maby too big ones to have the team's stability needed to win a cup... But maybe i'm wrong...

Post by **Minstrel** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 1:49 am

That's a good point as well Shad; this could be the year that they really feel the loss of the guru Scotty Bowman behind the bench without Yzerman's additional wisdom/leadership that collectively is tough for a team that doesn't have a history as a big "band together to do what it takes at any cost" team anyhow.

I, unfortunately, see them a LOT and the early playoff exits have not been a surprise to me I've actually called them. I think it's harder to get players that are/should be so good to play hard every night when they look around the 'room and see other people that could be difference makers. I doubt people were looking around Carolina's lockerroom saying "I can coast tonight and we've got this one."

Post by **inSTAALed** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 2:10 am

We defined the word "team" this past season

Post by **Shadd666** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 6:51 pm

inSTAALed wrote:We defined the word "team" this past season

That's true,and that's the main point i loved in the Canes win...

It's good to see that no matter how much money they earn,some players are still able to stay at their place and become a part of a strong and united block. I'm upset with those teams (in any sport...) which are more and more bands of overpaid players more than a real TEAM!

Hopefully,some teams remain real teams,and it's always a pleasure to see them fight together,no matter what happens in the game,just because they all feel united by the jersey they wear... According to me,that's a part of the beauty of sport...

Post by **E5150_ca** » Wed Aug 09, 2006 2:40 pm

I'm a bit behind here, but feh, the boards came alive last few days.

Coming from someone who's seen the Sens at both their best and worst the last few years, I can honestly tell you why they won't be winning ANYTHING for the next few years. Their 'captain' Alfreddsson, is complete rubbish, and does nothing but coast when its time for him to step up. If they want to actually compete over the next few years, they either need to trade him away, or just strip him of the C (and give it to Redden), cause it's pretty clear that he can't lead a top team to the cup.

Post by **B. Stinson** » Mon Aug 21, 2006 10:00 pm

In Philly do you deal Esche hoping next year Nitty can put together a strong year?

I'm gonna be really mad if Esche is starting over Niitty this year. I was mad last year, but I accepted the argument that Niitty was still a rookie, and shouldn't be rushed. But now he has killed for us when he was called up a couple years ago, he was great last season, and then even in the Olympics he was still great. For me, Niitty is a no-brainer for starter. As for Esche, I'm kind of worried about him, because he didn't seem too happy last year whenever he had to sit. I'd like to see him stay as a backup, but I'm not sure he could handle it... and we'll end up having the local media talking about his outbursts and anger rather than the team - which I know from the T.O. vs Eagles situation, won't end well.

Post by **Minstrel** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 2:45 pm

This doesn't really resolve anything on the 'Master Chart' or anything but three restricted free agents have signed their teams this week, the latest being Ryan Miller getting a real nice raise for his work with the Sabres last year signing to make 2.0 this year 2.5 the next and 3.5 in the final year of his new deal.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=176820&hubname=nhl

Also recently signing were RFAs Bryzgalov with Anaheim and Kari Lehtonen with the Thrashers.

Post by **Minstrel** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 4:31 pm

Interestingly, even before Lalime was hurt the Hawks had invited Brian "Bobby" Boucher to Camp... Lalime is out with surgery currently but Boucher got the first start of preseason and shut out the "new look" Blues. So here's a little riddle for you; the NHL's cheapest franchise begins camp with two goaltenders who have full-time #1 goalie experience, and then bring in a third who is a free agent on a tryout basis.

If said team could sign both this free agent in camp with them AND add his salary to that of the guy they signed over summer AND combined their salaries would be approximately half of what they are paying the third guy, how long will this team continue to have the league's most expensive goalie?

Probable answer? If a deal is out there, let's say... tommorow. If not I'll still be very surprised if Khabibulin and his 6.8 million dollar contract remain in town once Lalime is healthy again. Beside how odd it is to have the team with the highest paid player in anything considering their long and storied history of frugality there is direct precedent for this kind of move.

In one of the worst deals evar the Hawks made a similar "correction" to signing someone to a big contract the year before and it not working out for them when they shipped Doug Gilmour out along with his 6 million dollar contract; to get the job done? They also agreed to pay half his salary AND give Buffalo a then 21 year old JP Dumont in return for Michal Grosucks (aka "The Deal Whose Name Shall Not Be Spoken") who played about three games before being paired up with one of the only servicable defensemen on the Hawks at the time Brad Brown and sent them both to the Rangers for 'future considerations'

Also extravagently out of character and signed the same year as Gilmour was defensemen Paul Coffey when everyone else knew he was too old to play but the Hawks decided to pay a premium for him anyway... hmmm the Hawks brought in Aucoin and overpayed him at the same time as Khabibulin and the team now has a lot of young capable d-men.... all I can say is watch history repeat itself my friends.

Post by **Shadd666** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 6:56 pm

Do they know what "learn from mistakes" means?...

Post by **Minstrel** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 11:12 am

Just to update myself here and we'll see if my prediction comes through or not, but the Hawks have officially signed Boucher to a one year deal today. So when Lalime returns from his injury in three months or so the Hawks will have Khabibulin, Boucher and Lalime.

Khabi is the league's most highly paid goalie and Boucher and Lalime have been full timers elsewhere and are on low money short term deals. I still say that means Khabi will find himself needing to get his goal mask repainted before the year is up, maybe even before the first month of the season is up even.

Kekkonen · Post by **Kekkonen** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 12:34 pm

Minstrel wrote:I still say that means Khabi will find himself needing to get his goal mask repainted before the year is up, maybe even before the first month of the season is up even.

But who'd take him? He has to show that last year just a fluke (brought about by a bad team and a couple of injuries) instead of proof that he's not cut out for the new NHL. And that will take more than a month. If someone takes on his $6.8 million dollar salary for the next three years, they'll want to make pretty darn sure that they're not getting a guy whose save % isn't anywhere near .900.

Post by **Shadd666** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 1:11 pm

Kekkonen wrote:But who'd take him?

Maybe the Hawks AHL affiliate team,after Khabi clears waivers because no one will want to take is huge salary. I don't see who would take the risk to trade for him. He's not a bad goaltender,but he is highly overpaid,compared to Kiprusoff's 3.5M$/yr or Brodeur's 5M$/yr. So the waivers might be an option... and if someone claim him, Mr. Wirtz will be all smiles to have less money to give to his players

If he isn't claim, the Hawks would send him in the AHL to have more space under the cap.

Post by **Minstrel** » Tue Oct 03, 2006 12:08 am

Never underestimate the risk teams are willing to take to find an answer in net; see Belfour, Ed and Hasek, Dominic

Especially when teams are coming down to the wire and maybe the choice between a struggling goaltending tandem and a veteran with a Cup ring means making or missing the playoffs and losing or maintaining a large portion of a fanbase by showing you're will to "do what it takes to win". There was no lack of suitors at last years deadline actually even off a terrible injury filled year.

Post by **Shadd666** » Tue Oct 03, 2006 1:26 am

You're right Minty,but 6.8M$ is 6.8M$! And in the cap area,it's a lot of money! So if Khabibulin doesn't deliver right on the ice,it won't be a big investissement for a strong goalie,but just a disastrous waste of money... Lalime is able to have a SV% of .900,so Khabi really has to do a lot better to show that he deserves his money. Else,it'd be better to say him 'bye bye'.

In the same way,the 4M$ of Aucoin seem a bit too much... So,if Khabi and Aucoin don't do better this year,Hawks will have 2 overpaid players that cost for 25% of the cap...

So i won't be surprised of a big move in Windy City this season...