Quote:
Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan
The biggest concern I have with your brilliant idea of just slotting him in as backup is the potential injury concern to Markstrom. Assuming Vladar is gone, since he is the easiest to move, let's assume Markstrom is injured. That leaves us with Wolf and Dansk as our goalies. I am not comfortable with that tandem at all. Whether Wolf is one of the best goalie prospects or not, you need some sheltering when first entering the league. How do you think Saaros became one of the best? Eased in by Rinne. Shesterkin/Lundqvist, remeber that? Let us do the same with Markstrom and Wolf, Wolf will eventually surpass him if he continues his current trajectory, and he will surpass him rather quick too. Right now we need to focus on either utilizing Vladar as the backup and a trade chip for another desperate team, because injuries do happen. Not all teams have the luxury of a top goalie prospect more than capable of playing the backup spot.
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These teams weren't pushing highly regarded goaltender prospects down the board behind what is essentially a career backup in Vladar. Saaros and Shesterkin both had good years as starters in the AHL and came in as full time backups the following year. With 3 goalies this season, Wolf would be lucky to get 12 starts at the NHL level, and that is simply not good enough from a development stance and from the chance to maximize his RFA years.
Even if Wolf had to be the #1 guy due to an injury next year, does it really matter? I'd highly doubt he'd be any worse than the goaltending the team got from Markstrom and Vladar last year.
People need to stop assuming the worst and come to grips with the fact that an exceptional young goalie can and will rise to the occasion if you show confidence in him. There's a lot more to lose IMHO by not moving him along the path to significant starts in the NHL this season than there is by giving him spot starts.