I thought he was excellent for you guys last season and plays the puck very well. But with Vokoun signed it seams he has been lost in the shuffle. Neuvirth is pretty good as well...
Holtby is a kid who played very well in limited duty in the nhl. When he becomes relevant is when its his turn. If Holtby spends all of this season in the minor leagues, he remains a head of the growth curve for most quality goalie prospects.
Holtby's a pretty nice goalie prospect, one of my favs. Seems to have a bit of cockiness to him too, which is a nice change of pace from those emotionally frail goalies we see so much of today.
Depends on what you're defining as relevant. He was relevant enough that GMGM had confidence in him to trade Varly instead of bowing to his demands. I think next year he'll start out as the back up but fight Neuvy for the starting role.
I watched Holtby play in Hershey last year, he's a strong goalie with a bright future ahead of him. Him being in the minors right now is not necessarily a bad thing... no need to rush him, I think he'll only improve.
he is #3 at a position where its very rare that the 1 and 2 make it thru a full season healthy. He is the backup that gets to play regular in the minors and be sharp when his chance to play in the nhl comes up. Frankly, I'd say his situation is better than where Neuvirth sits getting to play only occasionally with little opportunity to play even once a week.
Unless Vokoun lights it up this year, and the Caps win the Cup, isn't it assumed he will be gone and Neuvy and Holtby compete for the top spot next year? I thought I read that somewhere when Vokoun was signed.
i think its assumed that vokoun is gone regardless of the outcome of the season. if the caps win the cup, vokoun stands to make big bank and the caps couldnt make that work salary cap wise. if vokoun fails to have a playoff impact, it doesnt make sense to keep him.
i reserve a scenario where things go very well for the team and vokoun and tv wants to stay more than make bank and creates a salary scenario where the caps can keep him. i think thats unlikely, though.
i dont see any value in leaving either of the kids as a long term backup goalie. if the idea is that vokoun signs a serious two year contract, holtby would be better off to play in the minors than to sit and watch nhl games from the bench. playing as little as he has this season has not looked good on neuvirth and wont look good on holtby either.
I remember watching Holtby play in his first WHL game, got called up from AAA. They lost - the Blades were awful on defense [thanks to cement footed d-men like Evan Haw] - but he made a ridiculous ammount of saves, was sold on him after that.
Just went and found his stat line from that 1 game (only game he played during the season)
59 minutes, 4 GA, 49 saves, .925 SV%
It was incredibly impressive. Wish him nothing but the best.
I really think Neuvy needs to be traded. The problem we have is that we have 3 goalies that are shaped to be #1 goalies. I dont think this problem is solved just by Vokoun being elsewhere next year. The best solution is to trade Neuvy and get something of value for him. He clearly plays like crap as a backup.
When the Czech mob kidnaps Vokoun and forces him into the KHL, just kidding!...Not really. I know everyone thinks Vokes is the second coming of Jesus, and he is good, but I honestly thought (and still think) it should have been Neuvirth-Holtby this year. Vokoun can be good, but he can also be quesitonable and streaky (remind you of any forwards?). It's just my opinion, but we should let him walk after this year. Holtby is untapped talent that needs a back up/starting job next season. I also think Neuvy should be starter, ofr atleast two or three seasons. Unless Holtby turns into Thomas, Miller (2008), etc.
