Liv opts to go home to Sweden

http://www.hv71.se/nyhet.asp?sid=1529

his former Swedish side HV71 confirmed today that he has signed a 3-year contract

Well that bites. Best of luck to him.

He had his chance and didnt elevate his game. The SEL seems more suitable, even if his last seasons there weren't exactly great either.

No loss. Howard is the goalie of the future.

Kudos to Liv for giving it a shot at least. After a horrid start, he really turned things around. It still wasn't good enough though.

No loss. Howard is the goalie of the future.

Kudos to Liv for giving it a shot at least. After a horrid start, he really turned things around. It still wasn't good enough though.
Yes, he did get off to a bad start,but I think you need at least two years to see you are going to have a chance to make it here. I think he settled in nicely and was hoping to see him possibly back up a little next year if Dom retires...

Yes, he did get off to a bad start,but I think you need at least two years to see you are going to have a chance to make it here. I think he settled in nicely and was hoping to see him possibly back up a little next year if Dom retires...

Well at his age he either will hack it or he won't.

I think it was good that he did try, but accepting that's it's not for you is also a good move.

He'll go back, most likely be first goalie in HV and likely getting a spot on the national team again.

His 3 year deal with HV is reported to include an NHL clause but I don't think it'll be of much use.

Unless his year in NA has transformed him into a SEL monster, but we'll see next year.

No loss. Howard is the goalie of the future.

Kudos to Liv for giving it a shot at least. After a horrid start, he really turned things around. It still wasn't good enough though.

Indeed, It just wasn't meant to be

well, I liked him alot and wish him the best of luck in Sweden again

I don't think we've seen the last of him.

Another team that is in cap hell down the road and needs a solid goaltender will take a flyer on him, assuming he still produces in the SEL. Guys like Backstrom, Holmquvist, Norenna and Thomas are examples of this.

I don't think we've seen the last of him.

Another team that is in cap hell down the road and needs a solid goaltender will take a flyer on him, assuming he still produces in the SEL. Guys like Backstrom, Holmquvist, Norenna and Thomas are examples of this.

He´s competing for the job with a guy named Ersberg in HV-71, he´s probably not even a starting goalie there anymore:teach:

What a shame. He had the best goalie masks:cry: ever

Who's gonna goaltend in GR? WOuldn't Liv be the option next year?

Depends in Hasek. If he's back, Howard's in GR. If Hasek's gone, Howard stands a good chance of being in Detroit and I'm guessing they'll just sign a vet journeyman or something.

Back on the Liv thing, I think he went back to Sweden because he realized he wasn't in Detroit's plans and even being the #1 in GR next year was 50/50. At least back in Sweden he stands a better chance at being "the guy" and, as someone mentioned, that's probably pretty appealing for a guy his age.

Being in another country (far away from your own) with the sole purpose of playing hockey and you don't, it's tougher than if you're actually a citizen of the same country. It's even tougher if you're bad at the language, which most Swedes are not. But North America is North America and Sweden is Sweden.

I understand his decision. He knows what he has back home with everything that comes with it.

Apart from my speculations, Liv himself said in the article that Detroit wanted him to stay in NA, but HV71 made a better offer than Detroit did. He also says another reason is SEL is a better league than AHL.

Depends in Hasek. If he's back, Howard's in GR. If Hasek's gone, Howard stands a good chance of being in Detroit and I'm guessing they'll just sign a vet journeyman or something.

Back on the Liv thing, I think he went back to Sweden because he realized he wasn't in Detroit's plans and even being the #1 in GR next year was 50/50. At least back in Sweden he stands a better chance at being "the guy" and, as someone mentioned, that's probably pretty appealing for a guy his age.

Howard needs to be in Detroit, Hasek or no Hasek. Maybe he could play 25 games or so as a back up.
If Hasek is back, you trade Osgood for a 5th. With his salary, it's possible.

Then again, the Wings probably want Ozzie's experience if Hasek goes down ... But whatever.

Howard needs to be in Detroit, Hasek or no Hasek. Maybe he could play 25 games or so as a back up.
If Hasek is back, you trade Osgood for a 5th. With his salary, it's possible.

Then again, the Wings probably want Ozzie's experience if Hasek goes down ... But whatever.

Howard could get ten or so games just through call-ups, though. And when one of the goalies inevitably goes down to an injury. I just have a hard time seeing this turn into a bad situation unles Howard breaks his legs or something.

Depends in Hasek. If he's back, Howard's in GR. If Hasek's gone, Howard stands a good chance of being in Detroit and I'm guessing they'll just sign a vet journeyman or something.

Back on the Liv thing, I think he went back to Sweden because he realized he wasn't in Detroit's plans and even being the #1 in GR next year was 50/50. At least back in Sweden he stands a better chance at being "the guy" and, as someone mentioned, that's probably pretty appealing for a guy his age.

He will probably not be "the guy" in HV71, our new goalie, Erik Ersberg has shown himself capable of being much more solid than Liv so he has to learn how to be #2 for a while unless he has developed alot in NA.

got to see Liv played when he was down playing for Toldeo in the ECHL while on the road against Trenton looked great but, then again it was the ' E ' . Good luck to Liv all the best.

Howard needs to be in Detroit, Hasek or no Hasek. Maybe he could play 25 games or so as a back up.
If Hasek is back, you trade Osgood for a 5th. With his salary, it's possible.

Then again, the Wings probably want Ozzie's experience if Hasek goes down ... But whatever.

i like that idea, having howard back up for 25 games next year, i think he should play games in large numbers so he could like make 5 straight starts for detroit then go back to the farm for a while then come up again to make a few straight starts

Howard needs to be in Detroit, Hasek or no Hasek. Maybe he could play 25 games or so as a back up.
If Hasek is back, you trade Osgood for a 5th. With his salary, it's possible.

Then again, the Wings probably want Ozzie's experience if Hasek goes down ... But whatever.

Hasek= brittle. Osgood = very brittle. Howard is needed as a depth / insurance policy. Could he be in Detroit full-time next season? Absolutely. But could he use additional seasoning in GR, with potential, if not likely, call-up duty? Yes, I think that would be even better.

After the 07-08 season, Hasek will certainly be gone and Ozzie will be off the books. That gives Holland tons of flexibility. He can slot Howard as either the starter or backup, and he can sign whatever goalie he sees as the best compliment.

the way i see it. he couldnt win either way. he wasnt going anywhere in detroit and he will most likely be the backup for HV71. but i guess he wasnt willing to sign for another SEL team.

the way i see it. he couldnt win either way. he wasnt going anywhere in detroit and he will most likely be the backup for HV71. but i guess he wasnt willing to sign for another SEL team.

I'm not that sure that he'll be backup in HV.
Yes Ersberg was good last year, good but not stellar in any way.
And it was his first season with any serious play.

Liv can at least challenge him for the spot. And who knows, his year among the free and brave might have made his game better.

Well... I'm dissapointed. Liv left to early. I guess he is not strong enough mentally? Or perhaps he is missing family, relatives, friends etc?

He for sure at least had backup potential.

and there are worse things in life than being a backup goalie for Detroit Red Wings.

Fighting for a position as number 1 goalie in HV71?

I don't think we've seen the last of him.

Another team that is in cap hell down the road and needs a solid goaltender will take a flyer on him, assuming he still produces in the SEL. Guys like Backstrom, Holmquvist, Norenna and Thomas are examples of this.

Not to take anything away from SEL, but Bäckström, Norrena and Thomas played more in Finland than in Sweden. Bäckström and Thomas only played one season in SEL.