It was addressed the second they signed Corey to the extension. If he was playing anywhere near the level he did last year, no one would *****.
Don't blame management, blame the guy ego is playing like ****.
The idea that Crawford might have a sophomore slump this year wasn't a foreign concept. We just watched Howard do it last year. I blame Crawford for his season but I blame management for accepting it, spreading it on a plate with a side of Ray and forcing it down my throat telling me it's good when it tastes like a rancid pile of decomposed garbage.
The idea that Crawford might have a sophomore slump this year wasn't a foreign concept. We just watched Howard do it last year. I blame Crawford for his season but I blame management for accepting it, spreading it on a plate with a side of Ray and forcing it down my throat telling me it's good when it tastes like a rancid pile of decomposed garbage.
Yes, I understand that first part. If we dig up some summer threads, I state that as my only worry I had coming into the season.
But what were they supposed to do? Not sign him after last year's very good season?
Looking at the free agent list from the summer, there is no one there who at that point I think would be that much better for the price.
Yes, I understand that first part. If we dig up some summer threads, I state that as my only worry I had coming into the season.
But what were they supposed to do? Not sign him after last year's very good season?
Looking at the free agent list from the summer, there is no one there who at that point I think would be that much better for the price.
While I understand your point and that we need to sign him, we also should have explored our options elsewhere. This is the sort of problem you plan for in advance because the chances of a slump are 50/50, and when they do happen, some goalies usually don't come out so well. Bowman only waits for the problem to arise and then addresses it...
Yes, I understand that first part. If we dig up some summer threads, I state that as my only worry I had coming into the season.
But what were they supposed to do? Not sign him after last year's very good season?
Looking at the free agent list from the summer, there is no one there who at that point I think would be that much better for the price.
I don't blame them for signing Crawford. I was all for it. They were way overconfident in him though to assume he could carry a tandem. Washington had two really good young goalies performing well in the NHL and gave Vokoun a one year deal at 1.5M to be sure they had someone they could count on just in case. Good thing too because guess what, Neuvirth has been bad this year. Vokoun has stated numerous times in his career he'd like to play in Chicago. We could have had him but didn't even get in on the bidding. Epic fail IMO. It could be rectified by trading for him now IF they would do it. The return we give up, well, that goes on Stan's head for neglecting the issue in the offseason.
Nabokov is playing well this year behind a team alot worse then Hawks and is UFA this summer so his costs to acquire via trade wont be alot. Also brings extensive playoff experience (Including 2 trips to WCF)
For a lot of the year I thought the d was the biggest issue but I've slowly been changing my mind. The d could be better but I think coaching and goaltending are much bigger issues. I couldn't disagree more with the people that say even Tim Thomas would look terrible behind this defense. Emery is the definition of mediocrity yet looks much better than Crawford. So I agree with giving emery the starts for the time being but they desperately need a goaltending upgrade. And a coaching one but I doubt that will happen.
And I'm sure it's been mentioned but is bizarre that this is the fourth season in a row the backup has outplayed the starter and may take over the starting position. In each case too the team just seemed to play better, especially defensively, with the backup in net. Not sure what's up with that.
For a lot of the year I thought the d was the biggest issue but I've slowly been changing my mind. The d could be better but I think coaching and goaltending are much bigger issues. I couldn't disagree more with the people that say even Tim Thomas would look terrible behind this defense. Emery is the definition of mediocrity yet looks much better than Crawford. So I agree with giving emery the starts for the time being but they desperately need a goaltending upgrade. And a coaching one but I doubt that will happen.
And I'm sure it's been mentioned but is bizarre that this is the fourth season in a row the backup has outplayed the starter and may take over the starting position. In each case too the team just seemed to play better, especially defensively, with the backup in net. Not sure what's up with that.
Huet was a starter over Bulin? Weird, I don't recall that.
Huet was a starter over Bulin? Weird, I don't recall that.
Huet was given #1 job at start of year despite horrid preseason
Then his play struggled and him and Khabby were going back and forth. The Hawks gave Huet the WInter Classic (Disaster) and from the moment Khabby took over he was undisputed starter outside of his injured stretch for 2nd half of season
So yes Huet was the starter going into 08-09 season
Huet was given #1 job at start of year despite horrid preseason
Then his play struggled and him and Khabby were going back and forth. The Hawks gave Huet the WInter Classic (Disaster) and from the moment Khabby took over he was undisputed starter outside of his injured stretch for 2nd half of season
So yes Huet was the starter going into 08-09 season
Word, I thought Bulin had secured it through pre season.
Honestly, I think you're nuts if you expect Crawford to get traded before December.
Bowman will probably treat this as a down year like he did with Stalberg and Scott and just ride Corey into next season and see if he turns into Jimmy Howard.
That said, draft compensation for offer sheeting Cory Schneider at $3.2M -- high enough that I don't think the Canucks would match -- is only a 1st and a 3rd, which we'd probably be using to draft a goalie anyway...
You know, at this point we could and why not try if Emery sucks. Cap hit would be negligible at this point.
Yeah, if we aren't trading for anyone, then we should. Cristobal probably wants to showcase himself for NHL teams anyway, assuming he wants to return to the NHL. And re-entry isn't an issue because we have more cap space than we'll ever spend. If he sucks, then we don't play him anymore and end the experiment. We'll know right away. Huet is hot and cold. When he's on though, he's capable of playing better than Crawford and Emery are.
Though we lost against Calgary, I liked Emery's play and particularly his spunk. You could see how pissed he was at the team in front of him and he took a (calculated) shot at one of the Flames who got too close to him in his crease with a scrum going on not far away. I just wish some of the other lambs on this team had the same fortitude. I don't think anyone knows how he will do if Q plays him for an extended period, at least the rest of this road trip, but I'd like to see it.
, we really are in a pickle...
