I was glad to hear that Feaster mentioned during the press conference that there were too many high quality scoring chances allowed this year and that the goalies were hung out to dry.
I also find it interesting that so many people do not want to see him back simply for the symbolic nature, what it represents. The reality is that the main problems with this team are the skaters, the overall defensive game, and these are the guys that need to play together. The goalie sits back and tries to stop whatever the team allows through. A thankless task here.
Other things made it different this year. The team had a new coach and new system, you expect an adjustment period, but in a short year the first half is really like the first quarter of a normal season. Factor in an injury early, plus the off ice distractions which accompany a family addition. Halfway in to this season, the team has a philosophical shift and it is pretty much given that they are going to torpedo the whole thing. Everybody is playing on eggshells, waiting for the shoe to drop. What a mess. It became a self fulfilling prophecy rolling up to the trade deadline.
Joey MacDonald did a serviceable job but has real issues with rebound control, and apparently balance, positioning for the second save.
This is a league where teams have taken flyers on guys like Roloson, Tim Thomas, Khabibulin, etc. It also is the league where Bryzgalov is good in Anaheim, great in Phoenix, and lousy in Philly. Bobrovsky is bad in Philly and great in Columbus. Mike Smith is good in Dallas, bad in Tampa, and great in Phoenix.
Kipper showed this year in games that he can be pretty darn good, but there is a point where the team allows too many unstoppable scoring chances (time and space in the slot, and backdoor chances). Even everybody's new buddy Joey MacDonald talked about these things.
I would like to see Kipper back with a team where they have weeded out the skaters who don't have the smarts and compete to give him the chance that he needs in order to give them a chance to win
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