He's been playing great in Chicago and he's a proven #1. Garon not yet.
Thibault looks great in Chicago cause he faces so many shots a night. With less shots he wouldn't look as good. Also he never proved to be able to face the media pressure of Montreal. Injuries and wearing down late in seasons have been problems. Garon would be my pick for his potential.
He's been playing great in Chicago and he's a proven #1. Garon not yet.
Most Hawks fans I know have given T-Bo mixed reviews. Some nights he is awesome but others he lets the team down big time. I think I would probably gamble with Garon myself, although in some respects I guess T-Bo is the safer choice.
To say Tbo couldn't handle the pressure of Montreal is an absurd and unfounded claim.
Also, now, as a more mature player, and clearly out of the shadow of being the heir apparent to Patrick Roy, that situation, had it existed, would be very different.
Thibault has proven *so* much more then the grossly over-rated (in these circles) Matheiu Garon.
I'm not neccesarily down on Garon by any stretch, but he seems to be a large product of super hype on this board.
If you are a Montreal youngters, it's incredible the amount of slack you are cut and praise is handed out gratitiously.
However, conversely, if you are a Hab veteran, the opposite is true.
I liked T-bo and felt he really got an unfair rap in Montreal. But if you're asking me "in the real world" who I'd take today, it'd be the younger Garon. But if you let me take the T-bo of 5 years ago and eliminated all the Roy-replacement scrutiny, I'd take T-bo.
Garon. If there is any goalie that can pull a Kiprusof I think its Garon. I was a big fan of him in montreal and even in hamilton. I wish him the best of luck in L.A.
T-Bo, by a fair margin. He played rather well, if not very well for us. However the mystique of Roy and the complete and utter chaos that was the Montreal Canadians during his time here has given us the myth of 'Thibault, the goalie who couldn't stand the pressure of MTL'. His durability is quite a concern due to having stepped into the NHL at 18 but he has quite better resume than Garon at this point in time, comparing them at the same age of course. Garon is alright, he was solid as backup but he is overhyped and overrated on these boards, not surprisingly since it is hfboards but still I think he'll be good fit for LA, I see him and Roman alternating.
Interesting debate. I'll say Garon by a hair. The thing with T-Bo is that he does so many face plants into the ice that it gets very frustrating to watch him. I understand the concept of playing the percentages and that most shots are going to be lower to the ice, but come on. Until he can learn how to stand or at least kneel, in which I think he could really do quite well, I'll go with a cheaper Garon.
Tomas Vokoun is the Ex-Hab I think we'd all take if we couldn't have Theo.
Thibault was very young when he played for the Habs. Guy is now a 10 year NHL veteran and he's only 29. He wasn't even 25 when he was traded...
That being said, he doesn't seem durable enough to be a #1 that plays 60+ games. He always wears down as the season goes on, be it injuries or his play in general. He's one of the best goalies in the NHL in the first half of the year. Chicago should really try and operate a tandem with him and Lieghton or Anderson when the NHL starts up again.
Garon seems to have the physical makeup of a #1. He's bigger than both Theo and Thibault by a fair margin. He doesn't have a lot of NHL experience, but he deserves a shot at a larger role. Sometimes he overplays a shot and leaves other areas exposed, but that could be worked out in time. I'd choose him if we wanted a true #1 goalie that plays a lot. If we have someone else that can play 35+ games in tandem, than Thibault would be a good choice.
Of course, Vokoun is a #1 goalie with game-stealing potential. He's the best ex-Hab goalie in the NHL by far.
I admit i hated T-BO too .
