Who starts in net game #1?

[FanIn80]

I really think the focus this year needs to be on developing the younger players. Wins are secondary to me. Maybe even tertiary.

Play all the kids all the time, and shield no one. At deadline we should have a better idea of their value. Sell the vets for picks, but package the kids we don't want with them to bump the picks up a round. Get more kids at the draft. Let the kids who played this season (the ones good enough to keep) mentor the new batch of kids we just drafted. Now we're learning which second-year kids have leadership potential...

3 years from now, we could have a leadership group from among the third and second year kids that are now wearing the C and As. Plus three solid years of drafting as many players as we can, with at least a few of them being top 10 (or even, heaven forbid, a top 5 with a couple top 10s).

That would be an exciting process to watch unfold. Just imagine... an actual, real, live rebuild.



Anyway, I hope it's Wolf but it will probably be Vladar.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

It'll be Vladar, and I suspect he gives up five on 27 shots.

…… come on now.

[redmile04]

Originally Posted by Burning Beard

It doesn't really matter who is starting. Both goalies will get a fair shake this year.

Exactly, it will be Vladar since he played the final preseason game but doesnt matter too much as we have a b2b coming up days after so both will get in quickly. Maybe wolf for the BOA, get him initiated asap

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

I really think the focus this year needs to be on developing the younger players. Wins are secondary to me. Maybe even tertiary.

Play all the kids all the time, and shield no one. At deadline we should have a better idea of their value. Sell the vets for picks, but package the kids we don't want with them to bump the picks up a round. Get more kids at the draft. Let the kids who played this season (the ones good enough to keep) mentor the new batch of kids we just drafted. Now we're learning which second-year kids have leadership potential...

3 years from now, we could have a leadership group from among the third and second year kids that are now wearing the C and As. Plus three solid years of drafting as many players as we can, with at least a few of them being top 10 (or even, heaven forbid, a top 5 with a couple top 10s).

That would be an exciting process to watch unfold. Just imagine... an actual, real, live rebuild.



Anyway, I hope it's Wolf but it will probably be Vladar.

Playing 'all the kids all the time' and 'shield(ing) no one' is not how you develop kids. Look at BUF, look at the Decade of Darkness. Just because it's a rebuild, doesn't mean you should just abandon structure and abandon the team concept and professionalism.

Have patience, and let the kids be developed properly, at a pace that makes sense for them. The rebuild will take care of itself.

[Locke]

I'm not going to lie, I am worried about Wolf.

He seems like a talented kid but he is going to get hung out to dry....a lot.

That can mess with your head.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Playing 'all the kids all the time' and 'shield(ing) no one' is not how you develop kids. Look at BUF, look at the Decade of Darkness. Just because it's a rebuild, doesn't mean you should just abandon structure and abandon the team concept and professionalism.

Have patience, and let the kids be developed properly, at a pace that makes sense for them. The rebuild will take care of itself.

Yup, you can argue the Flames have over seasoned prospects in the past but I think that is mostly overblown. Phillips was being unfairly treated by the Flames until it was clear he wasn't. Tossing any somewhat viable prospect into the NHL is how the Oilers develop prospects and a team never wants to go Full Oilers.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by Locke

I'm not going to lie, I am worried about Wolf.

He seems like a talented kid but he is going to get hung out to dry....a lot.

That can mess with your head.

I am mostly worried he is going to keep getting beat over the shoulder.

[Textcritic]

I think Wolf gets the season opener in Vancouver, and Vladar gets the HNIC game on Saturday.

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[KelVarnsen]

Hopefully a goalie.

[Textcritic]

I think people are sleeping on Vladar a bit. Three years ago, he was a petty prom8sing prospect, who was jockeying with Jeremy Swayman for starts in Boston. He was injured last year, and had a terrible season. Ball counts, he looks demonstrably better in Camp since coming back from surgery. I think he still has some NHL upside, and if he is healthy all year, this may be the time for him to finally show it.

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[Paulie Walnuts]

Based on the lines looks like Vladar gets the start.

Wonder if they shelter Wolf, and let Vladar get the hard starts and get steamrolled.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Based on the lines looks like Vladar gets the start.

Wonder if they shelter Wolf, and let Vladar get the hard starts and get steamrolled.

That is usually how most teams have played their backups the past few years. I suspect that Wolf and Vladar will get a near-even split in starts for the first month or two.

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[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

That is usually how most teams have played their backups the past few years. I suspect that Wolf and Vladar will get a near-even split in starts for the first month or two.

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The last real tandem I can remember for us was Stink Eye Smith and David Rittich, and before that Ramo and Hiller.

It's been a while.

[Young Guns]

Originally Posted by Locke

Andrei Medvedev.

No one would see it coming...

Least of all him!

4D chess.

Pretty sure everyone would see him coming

[kehatch]

It should be Wolf. It will probably be Vladar.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Who's the EBUG this year?

Just curious.....

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by kehatch

It should be Wolf. It will probably be Vladar.

Why? I love how people are passionate about Wolf, and we all want him to turn out to be great, but what has he accomplished in the NHL to deserve being handed the keys?

[D as in David]

Originally Posted by Bonded

I am mostly worried he is going to keep getting beat over the shoulder.

A lot of those attempts will hit him in the noggin; also messing with his head.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

Why? I love how people are passionate about Wolf, and we all want him to turn out to be great, but what has he accomplished in the NHL to deserve being handed the keys?

Also the total disdain for Vladar, presumably because he is over 25.

And yet, widespread love for Cooley, who is older than Vladar and has accomplished much less.

IT's just bizarre.

[Icon]

I think by the end of the season both goalies have 41 starts.

But I'm interested to see if they full on alternate each game, or if we see more of a ride the hot hand scenario. It probably doesn't matter, just curious how they'll approach it.