GAA mean nothing. SV PCT is the most important stat to see how a goalie is playing
Of course, when it's not something against Huet, it means nothing to you.
Get a grip will you? He has a .939 sv% in his last 7 games, is that not an indication how good he has been?
I could also rebring up that start regarding Huet and active goalies since the lockout and save percentage, but you'll disregard it or flat out ignore it too.
Oh, and watch Huet best Khabibulin in all statistical categories this year...mark my words.
I've been scared to come into this thread until now. I'm glad everyone can see Huet is finally starting to shake his slump. Here's to hoping he can keep up what he's doin'!
When Huet is off is his game, he can't just skake off a bad goal. He lets it eat away at him and then his confidence to stop anything at all just evaporates. He plays the angles poorly, is terrible side to side, constantly out of position and even when he's playing well he just looks out of place in the net. Regardless if our team game is good he just looks bad all the time.
That being said I don't particularly like Niemi's style (or lack of) as well. His glove hand is awkward and he looks very herky jerky when he moves around. Most likely he will be our future #1 as he is young and will grow into his style. I never thought Hasek would be the goalie he was with the unorthodox approach he had. Face facts we need an experienced, reliable and somewhat proven playoff goalie if we have any chance at all this year. Turco, Vokoun, Roloson etc. The list goes on and on. Several ways to go about it as per discussed on these boards. Rocky and McCub want a Cup...well they know what they have to do.
Put Niemi in until he proves otherwise. This is the same thing that happened to Huet last year when Khavi outplayed him. We can't wait until Huet blows up in the playoffs to see if Niemi can handle the pressure. He needs at least equal time down the stretch.
When Huet is off is his game, he can't just skake off a bad goal. He lets it eat away at him and then his confidence to stop anything at all just evaporates. He plays the angles poorly, is terrible side to side, constantly out of position and even when he's playing well he just looks out of place in the net. Regardless if our team game is good he just looks bad all the time.
That being said I don't particularly like Niemi's style (or lack of) as well. His glove hand is awkward and he looks very herky jerky when he moves around. Most likely he will be our future #1 as he is young and will grow into his style. I never thought Hasek would be the goalie he was with the unorthodox approach he had. Face facts we need an experienced, reliable and somewhat proven playoff goalie if we have any chance at all this year. Turco, Vokoun, Roloson etc. The list goes on and on. Several ways to go about it as per discussed on these boards. Rocky and McCub want a Cup...well they know what they have to do.
In January, Huet is 4-1-1 w/ a .862 sv pct, facing 21.8 shots/gm
In January, Niemi is 3-1-0 w/ a .895 sv pct, facing 23.8 shots/gm
If this is a "What have you done for me lately" world, Niemi's sitting on the throne.
What's killing Huet's case w/ the public is that he gives up lazy goals... and Niemi makes incredible saves (see Zetterberg, OT, breakaway for example). If my money had to go on one of the two to stand on his head, it's Niemi without question. Niemi's solid when he faces weak shots with minimal traffic and when the defense hold whomever we're playing to 3-7 shots in the first period. if the other team gets a few quick shots early, they'll probably score in the first 10 minutes. Niemi, on the other hand, was magnificent facing 38 shots in Detroit Sunday and has stepped up in every big game he's played in.
Huet's also a confidence goalie, so everyone telling him he sucks and then him playing like crap isn't going to help anyone. In both of his last two games he's shown a lot of emotion - breaking the stick in Columbus, slamming the ice after a couple of goals Tuesday - so my concern is as much between his ears as it is between the pipes.
If I'm Quenneville, I spit the rest of the trip and continue to call it a rotation. However, I give Huet Edmonton and Carolina to fill out his half of the trip and let Niemi face Calgary, Vancouver and San Jose.
If I'm Quenneville, I spit the rest of the trip and continue to call it a rotation. However, I give Huet Edmonton and Carolina to fill out his half of the trip and let Niemi face Calgary, Vancouver and San Jose.
I'd at least have Niemi play in Vancouver and San Jose. Those are the two remaining "big games" on the road trip. Niemi is the goaltender I'd be more confident in a "big game" situation.
I'd at least have Niemi play in Vancouver and San Jose. Those are the two remaining "big games" on the road trip. Niemi is the goaltender I'd be more confident in a "big game" situation.
Quenneville named Niemi the starter for Thurs night after practice Wed FYI, which is why I included them in my list of games for Niemi
Quenneville named Niemi the starter for Thurs night after practice Wed FYI, which is why I included them in my list of games for Niemi
Oh, well thanks for clearing that up! I hadn't checked with the news today...I hope that doesn't mean Huet starts Saturday, because it seems Q won't start Niemi twice in a row.
The Sedins had another big night against Edmonton (granted it was the Oilers) but still. Niemi has to start against the Canucks. The Sedins will eat Huet alive with their tikky takky toe, behind the back, top shelf plays. I don't want to see another 7-3 beating on national tv again. How sad is it that basically our 6 million dollar man of a goalie instills no confidence in us as fans.
Honestly I've seen enough of Huet and his backasswards way of goaltending. Let Niemi run with a good stretch right now and really see what we got. If the Hawks make a move for a proven goalie it'll probably be before the Olympics i'm sure.
I posted this at another forum, and thought I'd share my theory here.
I'm starting to wonder whether Q might actually be considering a full switch, to come sometime after the Olympics. Notice that this past weekend, when it is obvious that both will play one of the two games, Q went with Huet in Columbus, while allowing Niemi the national spotlight for the NBC game in Detroit. If Huet was a true number 1, like Habby was, there's no way he is given the bigger of the 2 games. He could be trying to test Niemi to see if he's ready to play in the big games, and he certainty didn't disappoint.
Were just over half way through the year. If he keeps his current pace, he would be around 23-6-2. Hard to argue that it doesn't make him the number 1.
Right now Huet has 36 starts, to Niemi's 14, a pace of just over 5 Huet starts to every 2 for Niemi. So after the Olympic break, you go with 4 to 2. You go with that about 2 weeks, and if Huet is struggling and Niemi is stealing games in that time, you go to every other game. At this point, Huet is obviously shaken in his boots realizing the job might not be his, and hopefully that would lead to him playing well. But if it doesn't, you make Niemi the starter around March 28th or so, he gets say 6 of the last 8-9 starts and then goes into the playoffs from there.
The advantages I see from this are
1) You don't want to just yank the job from Huet immediately, rather you make him nervous by lessening his starts and hopefully he starts playing well AND
2) If this plan goes through, you go into the playoffs with a starter who has played right around 40 games, making him fresher than other playoff goalies who are in the 60-70 start range. I like this because Niemi has never played more than 49 games in his career to this point. Those 6 or so starts in the end can act as a little preseason and should be more than enough time to get him ready to being the regular and playing in the 4 games in 8 nights range needed in the playoffs.
I posted this at another forum, and thought I'd share my theory here.
I'm starting to wonder whether Q might actually be considering a full switch, to come sometime after the Olympics. Notice that this past weekend, when it is obvious that both will play one of the two games, Q went with Huet in Columbus, while allowing Niemi the national spotlight for the NBC game in Detroit. If Huet was a true number 1, like Habby was, there's no way he is given the bigger of the 2 games. He could be trying to test Niemi to see if he's ready to play in the big games, and he certainty didn't disappoint.
Were just over half way through the year. If he keeps his current pace, he would be around 23-6-2. Hard to argue that it doesn't make him the number 1.
Right now Huet has 36 starts, to Niemi's 14, a pace of just over 5 Huet starts to every 2 for Niemi. So after the Olympic break, you go with 4 to 2. You go with that about 2 weeks, and if Huet is struggling and Niemi is stealing games in that time, you go to every other game. At this point, Huet is obviously shaken in his boots realizing the job might not be his, and hopefully that would lead to him playing well. But if it doesn't, you make Niemi the starter around March 28th or so, he gets say 6 of the last 8-9 starts and then goes into the playoffs from there.
The advantages I see from this are
1) You don't want to just yank the job from Huet immediately, rather you make him nervous by lessening his starts and hopefully he starts playing well AND
2) If this plan goes through, you go into the playoffs with a starter who has played right around 40 games, making him fresher than other playoff goalies who are in the 60-70 start range. I like this because Niemi has never played more than 49 games in his career to this point. Those 6 or so starts in the end can act as a little preseason and should be more than enough time to get him ready to being the regular and playing in the 4 games in 8 nights range needed in the playoffs.
Thoughts?
I think Quenneville's gotta be thinking about a switch, but he also has to respect experience when we get into late April/May. Those of us on the Niemi bandwagon also too quickly forget the game in which Huet stood on his head vs. Detroit in the Conf Finals last year... so let's not sell short Huet's ability to play well in a big game.
I'm going to stick w/ that Detroit game as a frame of reference when I say let's also not forget that Huet can get up for a huge game without playing for three weeks, too.
I like most of your plan, but I'm going to take it one step further... Here's what I would do in March:
Tue Mar 2, 2010 Blackhawks @ Islanders - Huet
Wed Mar 3, 2010 Oilers @ Blackhawks - Huet
Fri Mar 5, 2010 Canucks @ Blackhawks - Niemi
Sun Mar 7, 2010 Red Wings @ Blackhawks - Huet
Wed Mar 10, 2010 Kings @ Blackhawks - Niemi
Sat Mar 13, 2010 Blackhawks @ Flyers - Huet
Sun Mar 14, 2010 Capitals @ Blackhawks - Niemi
Wed Mar 17, 2010 Blackhawks @ Ducks - Niemi
Thu Mar 18, 2010 Blackhawks @ Kings - TBD (if Niemi wins 3/10, start him here)
Sat Mar 20, 2010 Blackhawks @ Coyotes - Huet
Tue Mar 23, 2010 Coyotes @ Blackhawks - Niemi
Thu Mar 25, 2010 Blackhawks @ Blue Jackets - Huet
Sun Mar 28, 2010 Blue Jackets @ Blackhawks - TBD (if Huet wins TR, start him here)
Tue Mar 30, 2010 Blackhawks @ Blues - Huet
Wed Mar 31, 2010 Blackhawks @ Wild - Niemi
That gives us, in 15 games, 6 for Niemi, 7 for Huet and two games to be determined by the previous game's performance. That's a 50-50 split, but with Niemi clearly taking almost all of the harder games against likely playoff teams (except Detroit, but I would rather Niemi start vs VAN on Fri night than vs DET at home on a Sunday)
