Quote:
Originally Posted by HartAttack
And, when you really look at the depth Calgary has in net (Taylor, Brust, Irving), could any or all 3 of these guys end up starting goaltenders in the NHL? I think yes. If they are given a legitimate opportunity, meaning they have more than 1 or 2 games to prove they're worth their salt, or they're sent down to the farm...
Just look at the history of goaltenders. How did Craig Anderson become an above average starting goalie? What about Mike Smith or Ray Emery? These were back-up goalies, sometimes 3rd stringers, who couldn't cut it with the very limited opportunity they were given. And look at these guys are among the top of NHL goaltenders today (at least in the top 10-15).
Anyway, when Kipper comes back I hope he plays well. But we do not NEED him to make the playoffs; we need above average goaltending, which might not be coming from any of the 2 goalies we appear to be riding into the sunset (Kipper/MacDonald).
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Calgary doesn't have Brust but even if they did none of Brust, Irving or Taylor look like they could be a starter. Irving is by far the closest but the team doesn't seem to want to give him a shot and it likely is that it doesn't work out.
Emery seemed to be a young guy groomed to be the starter in Ottawa for awhile and didn't really work out at all and certainly isn't in the top 15 goalies in the NHL.
Seems risky to pin hopes on the guys we have being the exceptions (Smith, Anderson) and not the rule (1000's of other back-up 3 stringers that don't do crap).