Re: 2009-2010 NHL Season Thread 2: Its all going up in flames!
But don't you think that, if Ozzie was still the reliable goaltender he was a few years back, Babcock wouldn't be doing what he's doing with Howard? Hot hand or not, it's always wise to use two goaltenders, even if it is once every 5 or 6 games.
Ozzie doesn't give up the occasional softie. He gives up a TON of them the past two years. Last year, he and Turco were neck and neck for the worst #1 goaltender in the NHL and then the playoffs come around and suddenly he plays very well. ***? That's a risky streak to have because it's a hell of a lot easier for a coach to turn to a goaltender who has been consistent all season long and say "You're our man all the way" than it is to hand it to a streaky goaltender who just started coming around in the last month of the season. How do we know he'll sustain it? If he does, for how long? I dunno. Detroit has two Osgoods: One is the dominant force that has gotten his name on the Cup all those times (along with quality goaltending even in the years he didn't win the Cup) and the other is the product we've seen him produce the last 2 years.
It is ridiculous how injured the Wings are, but let's face it. It takes an entire team, including its depth, to win it all.
Osgood is a veteran presence, sure, and I suppose he's not going to hurt anyone being a highly paid backup but...
I'll concede to that but I don't think Osgood is like Patrick Roy. He's not going to be great up to the day he retires. Every goaltender, most of the great ones even, faded in their final years. Grant Fuhr, Richter, CuJo, Potvin (Ok, Cujo and Potvin might not fit with the others but...), Belfour, Barrasso, even Hasek.
To me, it's too bad. Osgood is on his decline and the question Holland has to ask is if he is worth keeping around or, if there is any value left in Osgood, should he get what he could.
Of course, Holland knows what he's doing so I'm sure he'll do what's right.
But don't you think that, if Ozzie was still the reliable goaltender he was a few years back, Babcock wouldn't be doing what he's doing with Howard? Hot hand or not, it's always wise to use two goaltenders, even if it is once every 5 or 6 games.
Ozzie doesn't give up the occasional softie. He gives up a TON of them the past two years. Last year, he and Turco were neck and neck for the worst #1 goaltender in the NHL and then the playoffs come around and suddenly he plays very well. ***? That's a risky streak to have because it's a hell of a lot easier for a coach to turn to a goaltender who has been consistent all season long and say "You're our man all the way" than it is to hand it to a streaky goaltender who just started coming around in the last month of the season. How do we know he'll sustain it? If he does, for how long? I dunno. Detroit has two Osgoods: One is the dominant force that has gotten his name on the Cup all those times (along with quality goaltending even in the years he didn't win the Cup) and the other is the product we've seen him produce the last 2 years.
It is ridiculous how injured the Wings are, but let's face it. It takes an entire team, including its depth, to win it all.
Osgood is a veteran presence, sure, and I suppose he's not going to hurt anyone being a highly paid backup but...
I'll concede to that but I don't think Osgood is like Patrick Roy. He's not going to be great up to the day he retires. Every goaltender, most of the great ones even, faded in their final years. Grant Fuhr, Richter, CuJo, Potvin (Ok, Cujo and Potvin might not fit with the others but...), Belfour, Barrasso, even Hasek.
To me, it's too bad. Osgood is on his decline and the question Holland has to ask is if he is worth keeping around or, if there is any value left in Osgood, should he get what he could.
Of course, Holland knows what he's doing so I'm sure he'll do what's right.
