NHL W. Conference Finals: Red Wings defeat Blackhawks 4-1

[Drew Doughty]

huet is a lot better than osgood. osgood is terribad hiding behind one of the best teams since the lockout. he also tends to play well in the playoffs. not surprisingly this is a time when the games tend to be tighter and lower scoring. seriously he had an .887 sv% this year, he's awful.

 

To be fair this was Osgoods worst season of his career. He came off a season that he played way above his norm. I believe he is probably somewhere in the middle.

 

I mentioned somewhere earlier that the Hawks should let khabibulin and havlat go. Try to sign Neidermayer.

 

even at his best, I'll take Huet over Osgood. I think the Wings make a killing by playing average goalies behind their all-star team though. What a money-saver.

[Drew Doughty]

I don't want a starting goaltender who gets rest not because he's tired, but because he sucks for long stretches.

 

Huet is not a good goaltender for obvious reasons. The announcers discussed them quite a bit in the last game, and they've been painfully clear all season to those of us who watched most of the games. He flops way too early. He's slow post to post. He doesn't recover well in goal-mouth scrambles. Did we see any improvement over the course of the season in any of these areas? I didn't.

 

does it matter why he rests? he's going to get the rest anyway.

 

i thought the announcers, especially pierre mcguire -- one of the biggest loons in hockey -- were ridiculously harsh on him. they have been since he was with Montreal.

[kujay]

huet is a lot better than osgood. osgood is terribad hiding behind one of the best teams since the lockout. he also tends to play well in the playoffs. not surprisingly this is a time when the games tend to be tighter and lower scoring. seriously he had an .887 sv% this year, he's awful.

 

To be fair this was Osgoods worst season of his career. He came off a season that he played way above his norm. I believe he is probably somewhere in the middle.

 

I mentioned somewhere earlier that the Hawks should let khabibulin and havlat go. Try to sign Neidermayer.

 

No doubt, Khabi doesn't come back. And I'm fine with that. Given Huet's contract, you can't give Khabi the type of money he will get. Not that he'll get a ton, but these are going to be lean times with the new cap.

 

Havlat too. We got a contract year season out of Havlat, both in terms of production and in terms of effort. He busted it for long stretches this year and actually made it onto the ice for a ton of games, but it's his walk year. He's not stupid. And even then, it was obvious when he took games off. He gave very little effort defensively and was nearly invisible sometimes. For the money he will get, we can't have that.

[kujay]

I don't want a starting goaltender who gets rest not because he's tired, but because he sucks for long stretches.

 

Huet is not a good goaltender for obvious reasons. The announcers discussed them quite a bit in the last game, and they've been painfully clear all season to those of us who watched most of the games. He flops way too early. He's slow post to post. He doesn't recover well in goal-mouth scrambles. Did we see any improvement over the course of the season in any of these areas? I didn't.

 

does it matter why he rests? he's going to get the rest anyway.

 

i thought the announcers, especially pierre mcguire -- one of the biggest loons in hockey -- were ridiculously harsh on him. they have been since he was with Montreal.

 

Most starting goaltenders get a game off here and there to rest. If Huet goes into a slump, does Crawford/Niemi start 4-5 games in a row? How does that work? And then Huet comes back and is rusty for another couple games until he gets hot again?

 

Screw that.

 

If the season ends tonight and Huet has a bad game, the Hawks have a big problem on their hands heading into next season. The diehard Hawks fans, the STHers, etc., hate Huet.

[Drew Doughty]

I don't want a starting goaltender who gets rest not because he's tired, but because he sucks for long stretches.

 

Huet is not a good goaltender for obvious reasons. The announcers discussed them quite a bit in the last game, and they've been painfully clear all season to those of us who watched most of the games. He flops way too early. He's slow post to post. He doesn't recover well in goal-mouth scrambles. Did we see any improvement over the course of the season in any of these areas? I didn't.

 

does it matter why he rests? he's going to get the rest anyway.

 

i thought the announcers, especially pierre mcguire -- one of the biggest loons in hockey -- were ridiculously harsh on him. they have been since he was with Montreal.

 

Most starting goaltenders get a game off here and there to rest. If Huet goes into a slump, does Crawford/Niemi start 4-5 games in a row? How does that work? And then Huet comes back and is rusty for another couple games until he gets hot again?

 

Screw that.

 

If the season ends tonight and Huet has a bad game, the Hawks have a big problem on their hands heading into next season. The diehard Hawks fans, the STHers, etc., hate Huet.

 

fans are dumb, this isn't news to anyone.

 

I think you would probably just alternate him game to game and see how he plays when he's in a slump. When he's hot, though, he'll play every single game. He did it for Washington down the stretch last year. I'm sure he did it at times for Montreal, too.

[kujay]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/playoffs/2009/news?id=4209247

 

All the expected scratches for both teams are indeed out for tonight.

[NewUserName]

huet is a lot better than osgood. osgood is terribad hiding behind one of the best teams since the lockout. he also tends to play well in the playoffs. not surprisingly this is a time when the games tend to be tighter and lower scoring. seriously he had an .887 sv% this year, he's awful.

 

To be fair this was Osgoods worst season of his career. He came off a season that he played way above his norm. I believe he is probably somewhere in the middle.

 

I mentioned somewhere earlier that the Hawks should let khabibulin and havlat go. Try to sign Neidermayer.

 

even at his best, I'll take Huet over Osgood. I think the Wings make a killing by playing average goalies behind their all-star team though. What a money-saver.

 

agree...and as mentioned Osgood does seem to step it up in the playoffs

[NewUserName]

I don't want a starting goaltender who gets rest not because he's tired, but because he sucks for long stretches.

 

Huet is not a good goaltender for obvious reasons. The announcers discussed them quite a bit in the last game, and they've been painfully clear all season to those of us who watched most of the games. He flops way too early. He's slow post to post. He doesn't recover well in goal-mouth scrambles. Did we see any improvement over the course of the season in any of these areas? I didn't.

 

does it matter why he rests? he's going to get the rest anyway.

 

i thought the announcers, especially pierre mcguire -- one of the biggest loons in hockey -- were ridiculously harsh on him. they have been since he was with Montreal.

 

Most starting goaltenders get a game off here and there to rest. If Huet goes into a slump, does Crawford/Niemi start 4-5 games in a row? How does that work? And then Huet comes back and is rusty for another couple games until he gets hot again?

 

Screw that.

 

If the season ends tonight and Huet has a bad game, the Hawks have a big problem on their hands heading into next season. The diehard Hawks fans, the STHers, etc., hate Huet.

 

Think everyone would have said the same thing about Khabibulin at this point last season.

[NewUserName]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/playoffs/2009/news?id=4209247

 

All the expected scratches for both teams are indeed out for tonight.

 

crap, Lids is riding the bike

[kujay]

I don't want a starting goaltender who gets rest not because he's tired, but because he sucks for long stretches.

 

Huet is not a good goaltender for obvious reasons. The announcers discussed them quite a bit in the last game, and they've been painfully clear all season to those of us who watched most of the games. He flops way too early. He's slow post to post. He doesn't recover well in goal-mouth scrambles. Did we see any improvement over the course of the season in any of these areas? I didn't.

 

does it matter why he rests? he's going to get the rest anyway.

 

i thought the announcers, especially pierre mcguire -- one of the biggest loons in hockey -- were ridiculously harsh on him. they have been since he was with Montreal.

 

Most starting goaltenders get a game off here and there to rest. If Huet goes into a slump, does Crawford/Niemi start 4-5 games in a row? How does that work? And then Huet comes back and is rusty for another couple games until he gets hot again?

 

Screw that.

 

If the season ends tonight and Huet has a bad game, the Hawks have a big problem on their hands heading into next season. The diehard Hawks fans, the STHers, etc., hate Huet.

 

Think everyone would have said the same thing about Khabibulin at this point last season.

 

Khabi has shown he can play huge when it matters.

[jersey cubs fan]

Khabi has shown he can play huge when it matters.

 

How many years ago was that?

[Drew Doughty]

I don't want a starting goaltender who gets rest not because he's tired, but because he sucks for long stretches.

 

Huet is not a good goaltender for obvious reasons. The announcers discussed them quite a bit in the last game, and they've been painfully clear all season to those of us who watched most of the games. He flops way too early. He's slow post to post. He doesn't recover well in goal-mouth scrambles. Did we see any improvement over the course of the season in any of these areas? I didn't.

 

does it matter why he rests? he's going to get the rest anyway.

 

i thought the announcers, especially pierre mcguire -- one of the biggest loons in hockey -- were ridiculously harsh on him. they have been since he was with Montreal.

 

Most starting goaltenders get a game off here and there to rest. If Huet goes into a slump, does Crawford/Niemi start 4-5 games in a row? How does that work? And then Huet comes back and is rusty for another couple games until he gets hot again?

 

Screw that.

 

If the season ends tonight and Huet has a bad game, the Hawks have a big problem on their hands heading into next season. The diehard Hawks fans, the STHers, etc., hate Huet.

 

Think everyone would have said the same thing about Khabibulin at this point last season.

 

Khabi has shown he can play huge when it matters.

 

Huet was huge for the Caps down the stretch last year. he was also decent, though certainly not spectacular, in the playoffs.

[kujay]

Khabi has shown he can play huge when it matters.

 

How many years ago was that?

 

He didn't have a lot in front of him the first couple years in Chicago.

[kujay]

Huet was huge for the Caps down the stretch last year. he was also decent, though certainly not spectacular, in the playoffs.

 

Unfortunately for us, since Tallon paid him based on that one hot streak.

[Drew Doughty]

Khabi has been terribly average thus far in the playoffs this year.

[Drew Doughty]

Huet was huge for the Caps down the stretch last year. he was also decent, though certainly not spectacular, in the playoffs.

 

Unfortunately for us, since Tallon paid him based on that one hot streak.

 

and the fact that he was a quality goaltender for two seasons in Montreal.

 

edit: 3 seasons, actually. he also had a decent season with the Kings prior to the lockout. I barely remember it, but it apparently happened.

Edited May 27, 2009 by Drew Doughty

[NewUserName]

Khabi has shown he can play huge when it matters.

 

How many years ago was that?

 

He didn't have a lot in front of him the first couple years in Chicago.

 

The perception of him was that he was finished though. Goalie is a very fickle position with NHL fans. Huet can easily become a fan favorite with a hot start next season. Personally I still think the Campbell signing is a much bigger future disaster for the Hawks.

[jersey cubs fan]

Khabi has shown he can play huge when it matters.

 

How many years ago was that?

 

He didn't have a lot in front of him the first couple years in Chicago.

 

So? He still was nothing special, and he couldn't stay on the ice. I don't get being upset at one guy for sucking over a few game stretch, but being perfectly fine with a guy who has to miss half the season for health reasons. Does anybody think Khabi would have been around for much of these playoffs if he didn't have Huet playing half the games?

 

And your point just emphasized what I said before, it's the quality of the team that matters most. Even if Khabi was great earlier in his Hawks career, the team wasn't any good, and he wasn't able to carry them. The most important guys on the ice are the best skaters on each team. Pittsburgh wins because of Malkin and Crosby, Detroit wins because of the list of quality guys that's too long to name. Not one team was carried deep into the playoffs this year because of a goalie standing on his head. The best teams advanced, and many quality big name goaltenders looked pedestrian and their teams lost.

[Drew Doughty]

Khabi has shown he can play huge when it matters.

 

How many years ago was that?

 

He didn't have a lot in front of him the first couple years in Chicago.

 

So? He still was nothing special, and he couldn't stay on the ice. I don't get being upset at one guy for sucking over a few game stretch, but being perfectly fine with a guy who has to miss half the season for health reasons. Does anybody think Khabi would have been around for much of these playoffs if he didn't have Huet playing half the games?

 

And your point just emphasized what I said before, it's the quality of the team that matters most. Even if Khabi was great earlier in his Hawks career, the team wasn't any good, and he wasn't able to carry them. The most important guys on the ice are the best skaters on each team. Pittsburgh wins because of Malkin and Crosby, Detroit wins because of the list of quality guys that's too long to name. Not one team was carried deep into the playoffs this year because of a goalie standing on his head. The best teams advanced, and many quality big name goaltenders looked pedestrian and their teams lost.

 

cam ward. this isn't a typical year for the playoffs, either. it's been a lot more high-scoring than I can remember.

 

note that the last part is just perception and I could easily be wrong.

[jersey cubs fan]

Khabi has shown he can play huge when it matters.

 

How many years ago was that?

 

He didn't have a lot in front of him the first couple years in Chicago.

 

The perception of him was that he was finished though. Goalie is a very fickle position with NHL fans. Huet can easily become a fan favorite with a hot start next season. Personally I still think the Campbell signing is a much bigger future disaster for the Hawks.

 

That's absolutely true, not only is it just a much bigger and longer contract, but at least at goalie you can try and overcome an overpaid vet with a potentially underpaid kid. You still need multiple other defensemen. One underpaid kid isn't going to help much.

[jersey cubs fan]

cam ward. this isn't a typical year for the playoffs, either. it's been a lot more high-scoring than I can remember.

 

He's 8-10 with a 2.67 GAA and .915 SV%, basically in the middle of everybody. Thomas and Hiller may have been the only candidates, but each of their teams lost in the 2nd round.

 

I'm not saying goalies aren't important, I'm saying the emphasis on goalies winning cups for teams is overstated.

[kujay]

The perception of him was that he was finished though. Goalie is a very fickle position with NHL fans. Huet can easily become a fan favorite with a hot start next season. Personally I still think the Campbell signing is a much bigger future disaster for the Hawks.

 

He can become a fan favorite, no doubt. I'm a Blackhawks fan first, so if he does well, I will support him. But I'm not a "I love my guys no matter what" kind of guy like Cardinals fans. If he sucks, he sucks. And I don't have any sympathy for the guy because he's making a ton of money.

 

I agree with you about Campbell, but I think he's got the opportunity to become more sound in his own end.

[Drew Doughty]

cam ward. this isn't a typical year for the playoffs, either. it's been a lot more high-scoring than I can remember.

 

He's 8-10 with a 2.67 GAA and .915 SV%, basically in the middle of everybody. Thomas and Hiller may have been the only candidates, but each of their teams lost in the 2nd round.

 

I'm not saying goalies aren't important, I'm saying the emphasis on goalies winning cups for teams is overstated.

 

I'm guessing his stats were pretty awesome until he ran into the buzzsaw that is Pittsburgh. Goalies can only go so far, for sure. Except in the very rare case of JS Giguere (the man that this argument seems to be built around lately), you need more than just a star goalie to go deep in the playoffs and you don't even necessarily HAVE to have one.

[kujay]

cam ward. this isn't a typical year for the playoffs, either. it's been a lot more high-scoring than I can remember.

 

He's 8-10 with a 2.67 GAA and .915 SV%, basically in the middle of everybody. Thomas and Hiller may have been the only candidates, but each of their teams lost in the 2nd round.

 

I'm not saying goalies aren't important, I'm saying the emphasis on goalies winning cups for teams is overstated.

 

I'm guessing his stats were pretty awesome until he ran into the buzzsaw that is Pittsburgh. Goalies can only go so far, for sure. Except in the very rare case of JS Giguere (the man that this argument seems to be built around lately), you need more than just a star goalie to go deep in the playoffs and you don't even necessarily HAVE to have one.

 

Ugh. Of course. But you're not going to win the Cup without some really big saves at important moments. Huet, make it happen. And when you get pulled again tonight, don't sit on the bench and smile when Crawford gives one up.

[Cynosure]

Wow... Red Wings "fans" at their best!

 

http://www.mouthpiecesports.com/media/sarah-spain-goes-undercover-as-a-red-wings-fan-21240/