Harding Available

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by Antithesis

I'm at a complete loss here. Is Harding's potential that much more exciting? I hope I don't sound like I'm just flailing my arms about in anger, because I'm not. I'm just really confused. How is trading away a first-round pick (highly thought of, and a Flames prospect to boot) for a low-rated backup reasonable, but Auld was "I just don't get it"?

I have 7 D-men that are under the age of 24 that are either in the NHL, or are very likely to be in the NHL soon

(Polak, Niskanen, Stralman, MacDonald, Falk, Sauve, Clark)

Add on to that, a bunch of others that have a lot of upside. The Flames are relatively deep on the back end, and it's unlikely that Erixon will be in the NHL within 2 years unless several D-men get traded (look at Pelech, who should've been in the NHL last year full time)

Harding is 26, and is probably the best backup that's never been a starter in the NHL, and is still younger than Kipper was when we got him.

If Backstrom has a set back, which can happen (Thomas), then Harding will have a chance to become the starter.

Starting goalies are worth a ton, so I figure if I can possibly get a good one for a cheap price when they're not quite in that position, then I'll jump on it. Toskala when I got him cost me an arm and a leg (which was market value) for what turned out to be a 1B starter that barely filled the void.

Then look at what I gave up for Halak, who is now the Blues starter. At the time, he was just a good backup and the price was cheap because of that (Knuble). Now he's one of the youngest starting goalies in the league.

If Harding can become a starter at any point, I win this trade hands down.

[JiriHrdina]

The rationale for wanting Harding is that he does have the potential to be a #1 - whereas at this point we pretty much know Auld won't be. That's the difference between the two.

However goalies are a gamble - there are only 30 starting jobs in the NHL and of those how many tenders are TRUE #1st - maybe 20? (don't have time to do a list).

So the chances that your guy actually becomes a #1 starter is remote.

But for that same reason my philisophy has always been to have a deep crop of #1 young goalies in hopes one of them actually takes that step.

And heck if two of them do then you have a tremendous trading chip....because I don't know if there is a more valuable asset than a young #1.

That all being said - I think the more years that pass by the chances get lower that Harding will ever be more than he is now - a pretty good backup.

So I guess I get the deal from both points of view.

[Swayze11]

True #1 goalies in the NHL:
1. Hiller
2. Rask
3. Miller
4. Kipprusoff
5. Ward
6. Turco
7. Vokoun
8. Backstrom
9. Brodeur
10. Lundqvist
11. Bryzgalov
12. Fleury
13. Luongo

Bubble #1 goalies:
1. S. Mason
2. Thomas
3. Lehtonen
4. Howard *debatable - could be a for sure #1 in some peoples eyes
5. Khabbibulin
6. Quick *same as Howard
7. Rinne
8. Dipietro
9. Roloson
10. Leclaire
11. Elliot
12. Leighton
13. Nittymaki
14. Niemi
15. Halak *debatable
16. Ellis
17. Giguere
18. Varlamov
19. Pavelac
20. C Mason
21. Price
22. Anderson

Potential future #1s
1. Deslarieus (sp?)
2. Harding
3. Emery
4. Greiss
5. Smith
6. Guustavson (sp?)
7. Neuvirth

flame away, I am sure I missed some and my opinions may differ from yours. My "potential #1s" list was more a list of guys who should be the next in line because of the organization they are in or the question marks that their team has at goalie.

[CMPunk]

Emery will probably never play again...and I'd put Thomas ahead of Rask

[Knut]

I think Chris Mason has established himself as a #1 . 57 and 61 GP the last 2 seasons with SV% at 0.916 and 0.913

Better than Turco..

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by Hesla

I think Chris Mason has established himself as a #1 . 57 and 61 GP the last 2 seasons with SV% at 0.916 and 0.913

Better than Turco..

One great season, one terrible season.

He needs to prove he's consistent.

[Swayze11]

I moved Anderson into the #1 bubble players. If he can do something similar to what he did last year he will be a for sure #1.

[Knut]

Same deal with Rask then...

Also.. Turco has sucked since the lockout

[I wanna be like Miikka]

I used to hope to develop goalies. But seeing the turnover in #1 goalies in the NHL has really changed my view. I'd rather just pay up once for a guy I know will be around for 5-10 years (kipper, brodeur, luongo, etc) compared to guys like Niemi, C. Mason, etc. The contracts are high and the goalie turnover is high. #1 goalies have a lot of value but at the same time carry big time risk, so I prefer to just trade for an established one (and pay up) when I need them.

[Hanna Sniper]

Goalies are over-rated