Quote:
Originally Posted by Pierre "Monster" McGuire
When Ward said, "This is Danny's net right now," I couldn't really blame him. The AHL is weird in that a goalie playing back-to-back games is not abnormal like it is in the NHL.
So, when Taylor stopped 26 shots on Friday night and made some spectacular saves on top of it, it was a no brainer for Ward to put him back in. After letting in a couple of weak goals in the first period, I was wondering if Ward would give Brust a shot, but he didn't and Taylor rebounded pretty good.
It wouldn't surprise me one bit to see Taylor back in net on Friday against Chicago. The Wolves, like the Heat, are 2-0-0 so they're a better team than the Rivermen. So, thinking like "mysterious" Ward, do you burn a couple of games by putting Irving in as the backup just in case Taylor isn't good OR do you keep it as is with Brust as the backup because Brust "might be more capable than the other two [goalies]" ( link).
It's so hard to predict what Ward will do and it's futile to try. But I do agree with you guys; sitting in the rafters is not helping his development. Period. Truly, I don't know what the answer is. Do you put Irving in even if it means some lost games or do you put a fairly consistent winning goaltender in for the good of the team and the development of the other prospects.
Such a tough situation. |
If the organization believes that putting Irving in equals lost games then they shouldn't put him in net. But if they think that then he has no business backing up Kipper in the NHL.
I don't agree that putting Irving in net puts the Heat at a greater chance of losing. My belief (and it is just a gut feel) is that Taylor was the starter to end the season so Taylor is the starter until he loses the position. When I hear Ward saying "it is Taylor's net" I am not hearing he won it in camp so he gets the start. I am hearing he is the starting goalie for the Heat dating back to last season so it his net.
Which would be fine if the guy sitting in the rafters wasn't a high Flames prospect expected to be the NHL back-up as soon as the season starts up again.
In my opinion it needs to be the other way around. It is Irving's net until he loses the position.
If he did something in camp or practice that lead him to lose the position to Taylor then so be it. Ward and the Heat are doing the right thing. But if Taylor is getting it by default on the merit of last season then that is a poor decision IMO.