So you think making an NHL goalie should fist pump after making a save on a 2-on-1, even while the other team has pressure in their zone?
Really, you don't see the problem in that?
Is Mrazek doing that now? He's really getting out of control...
Joyful exuberance may just be the death of hockey.
Goaltender Petr Mrazek, a fifth-round pick in 2010, made the most headlines and further solidified his status as the organization’s top goaltending prospect by almost leading the underdog Czech Republic to the semifinals.
The 19-year-old Ottawa 67’s stopper turned in a 52-save round-robin gem in a 5-2 win over the U.S. that helped eliminate the Americans from medal contention. He then made 43 saves in a heartbreaking 2-1 overtime loss to Russia in the quarterfinals.
The awesome thing about tournaments like the WJC is the passion the players have when they don their national uniforms and play for their country. This seems even more obvious with the European players. I think it's cool to see guys get so emotional like Mrazek. These guys aren't robots and they still have a couple more years until they'll become masters of the soulless "take it one day at a time" no-quote that the newspapers find endlessly fascinating.
So you think making an NHL goalie should fist pump after making a save on a 2-on-1, even while the other team has pressure in their zone?
Really, you don't see the problem in that?
So you think making an NHL goalie should fist pump after making a save on a 2-on-1, even while the other team has pressure in their zone?
Really, you don't see the problem in that?
I didn't see the actual play so I could be mistaken but I find it hard to believe that it's really as bad as you're making it out.
Was Mrazek aware of where the puck was at the time, and whether there was immediate danger? Did the fist pump cause him to be out of position and in danger of being scored on?
So you think making an NHL goalie should fist pump after making a save on a 2-on-1, even while the other team has pressure in their zone?
Really, you don't see the problem in that?
If he's winning games and making stops I don't care if he drops his pants and uses hip thrusts to make saves with his jock. Hell, he can skate laps around the rink while they battle in the corners so long as he makes enough saves to win.
If he's winning games and making stops I don't care if he drops his pants and uses hip thrusts to make saves with his jock. Hell, he can skate laps around the rink while they battle in the corners so long as he makes enough saves to win.
Right. OK.
Antics are just fine, right? Showboating? Showing up opponents?
Sure. If that floats your boat.
Anyway, that's not even the point, because I'm pretty sure he'll grow out of those juvenile theatrics.
The bigger issue was that he was diving and flopping around from side to side, overplaying shots on goal, etc, trying to be acrobatic and spectacular ... trying to hard, IMO ... getting carried away (part of the juvenile thing).
And in the end, he didn't win. He lost more than he won.
He was 2-3.
Two wins. 3 losses.
He stood on his head to beat the US, which delighted the Canadian crowd. His antics while beating the Americans made him a sensation in Edmonton.
He was good in a losing cause against Russia. But the Russian goalie was better, when it came down to crunch time. And he didn't act like a clown in the process.
Of all people, I'm shocked you'd bring up W/L record as I'm fairly certain you have mentioned many times in the past that it's a team stat, not a goalie stat.
So Howard should instantly be paid 10m - he is the hands-down best goalie in the NHL. He leads in wins. So no question about that!
Has anybody ever said that Mrazek is an NHL-starter RIGHT NOW?! I cannot remember that. Sure he has things to learn. And overplaying situations is surely a part of that. As it is for many if not all young goalies!
As for being the inferior goalie in the quarters... We are talking a 1:2 ot-loss here, aren't we?! How big of a margin can there have been in terms of goalie performance? Especially keeping in mind that the russian squad is expected to be the better overall team...
The whole world raves about another late-round steal and talks about the obvious talent. He is pegged to be one of the top-goalies of the OHL for the 2nd year in a row now and often chips in 45+-save-wins there. Does that necessarily mean he will be an NHL starter?! Hell, no. A lot of work still has to be done. And EVERYBODY knows. The Wings-staff, the fans around the rinks and Mrazek himself. So why is it so hard to simply say that he was one of 5 wings who had a pretty to very good WJC and just be happy about this?! We are not talking about a 1st overall pick here, who is expected to start the NHL-team at age 19 or 20. We have a team with a VERY solid and youngish goalie. So Mrazek will have 5-6 years to develop nicely - easily!
He has the fundamentals and appearantly the big-game mindset as his whole appearance at the WJC shows. That separates him from a McCollum. So it is more likely then not at this point in time, that he will eventually become a pretty decent NHL-goalie. So why complain?!
One may like his emotions or take them as unsportsmanlike. But that still does not make him a bad goalie. I don't like Roy - but I would take the 20-year old Patrick Roy for the Wings! No problem!
As of now, Mrazeks confidence and value increased during the WJC - that's almost more than Detroit could have hoped for. His reflexes and reactions are good, his rebound control and positional play need improvement; didn't the Red Wings had a goaltender prospect with a similar development status a few years ago? What happened to him?
As of now, Mrazeks confidence and value increased during the WJC - that's almost more than Detroit could have hoped for. His reflexes and reactions are good, his rebound control and positional play need improvement; didn't the Red Wings had a goaltender prospect with a similar development status a few years ago? What happened to him?
McCollum's confidence is shot and it doesn't seem like Larsson is going to play for the Red Wings if he does ever make it to the NHL.
When do the rights for HTD and Larsson expire?
McCollum turned into a disaster. Larsson got sick of waiting for his time. I think technically we still have the rights to Larsson but I'm not sure he was all that impressive, either, in the end. We really need to replenish goal, since they take so long to mature.
Anyway, that's not even the point, because I'm pretty sure he'll grow out of those juvenile theatrics.
The bigger issue was that he was diving and flopping around from side to side, overplaying shots on goal, etc, trying to be acrobatic and spectacular ... trying to hard, IMO ... getting carried away (part of the juvenile thing).
So to summarize, you're convinced that he's going to grow out of the juvenile theatrics, but the juvenile acrobatics are cause for alarm?
McCollum turned into a disaster. Larsson got sick of waiting for his time. I think technically we still have the rights to Larsson but I'm not sure he was all that impressive, either, in the end. We really need to replenish goal, since they take so long to mature.
Journeymen veteran goalies will always be available. The point is to get a solid number one goalie you can rely on for 5-10 years. During that time you could be developing prospects to replace later on, but getting a Thomas-Rask duo is extremely rare.
Howard's doing the job (brilliantly IMO), McCollum needs Mrazek's cockiness, he's too....Canadian, too nice. If he concedes a goal, that's it, you've lost him for the game. He's going to think about it even when the game has ended. Mentally he's just weak. His chances of being an NHL backup is slim to none at this point.
Mrazek is getting everyone excited. He will mature. The fist pumping, dancing, etc will disappear with age. But if he can keep that confidence and energy throughout his career, he's set. Yeah, he has work to do on his technique. That's what goalie coaches are for.
Larsson seemed to be the next contender for a spot in Detroit, but he ****ed off to Sweden and I don't see him coming back. HTD too. Not with Detroit anyways.
Then we got Pearce who is nothing more than a backup at best. MacDonald is a decent backup and Conklin is the definition of average backup.
We did try out Sadikov (who is 6'4" ) and another goaltender ("cookie cutter technique" as Malik stated), but I didn't see anything develop from that.
I think this draft we'll see a lot of big centers, defenseman (offensive and defensive) and a goalie being drafted.
Of all people, I'm shocked you'd bring up W/L record as I'm fairly certain you have mentioned many times in the past that it's a team stat, not a goalie stat.
You're the one who said you don't care about his antics as long as he's winning games. I simply pointed out he lost more than he won.
So Howard should instantly be paid 10m - he is the hands-down best goalie in the NHL. He leads in wins. So no question about that!
Has anybody ever said that Mrazek is an NHL-starter RIGHT NOW?! I cannot remember that. Sure he has things to learn. And overplaying situations is surely a part of that. As it is for many if not all young goalies!
As for being the inferior goalie in the quarters... We are talking a 1:2 ot-loss here, aren't we?! How big of a margin can there have been in terms of goalie performance? Especially keeping in mind that the russian squad is expected to be the better overall team...
The whole world raves about another late-round steal and talks about the obvious talent. He is pegged to be one of the top-goalies of the OHL for the 2nd year in a row now and often chips in 45+-save-wins there. Does that necessarily mean he will be an NHL starter?! Hell, no. A lot of work still has to be done. And EVERYBODY knows. The Wings-staff, the fans around the rinks and Mrazek himself. So why is it so hard to simply say that he was one of 5 wings who had a pretty to very good WJC and just be happy about this?! We are not talking about a 1st overall pick here, who is expected to start the NHL-team at age 19 or 20. We have a team with a VERY solid and youngish goalie. So Mrazek will have 5-6 years to develop nicely - easily!
He has the fundamentals and appearantly the big-game mindset as his whole appearance at the WJC shows. That separates him from a McCollum. So it is more likely then not at this point in time, that he will eventually become a pretty decent NHL-goalie. So why complain?!
One may like his emotions or take them as unsportsmanlike. But that still does not make him a bad goalie. I don't like Roy - but I would take the 20-year old Patrick Roy for the Wings! No problem!
Is he a big game goalie? Based on what? The win over the USA? The loss to Finland? The loss to Russia?
He won a round in the playoffs for Ottawa in his rookie OHL year? the first round loss last year?
I think it's way to early to say it's "more than likely" he'll be a good NHL goalie.
A good prospect had a coming out party at the WJC and raised his profile in a pretty big way. But the comparisons to Hasek and Roy aren't fair to anyone — mostly him.
Is there anywhere .... ANYWHERE ... where I have said there is cause for alarm?
Nope.
I feel pity for people like you when you try so hard to make other people look stupid.
Excuse me for rephrasing. I'll try to be as verbatim as possible.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Captain Bob
Anyway, that's not even the point, because I'm pretty sure he'll grow out of those juvenile theatrics.
This sounds pretty much like you're brushing off his "juvenile theatrics", calling it a non-issue based on the assumption that he will grow out of them.
Quote:
The bigger issue was that he was diving and flopping around from side to side, overplaying shots on goal, etc, trying to be acrobatic and spectacular ... trying to hard, IMO ... getting carried away (part of the juvenile thing).
And this sounds pretty much like you're making a bigger deal of his "juvenile acrobatics", which seems to imply that you put it in a wholly different category.
So are those two traits of Mrazek's a function of the same personality issue that he is bound to grow out of? Or is it worth brushing off one and focusing on the other, as your post seemed to do?
) and another goaltender ("cookie cutter technique" as Malik stated), but I didn't see anything develop from that.
