Originally Posted by Zorro

If Luongo isn't a Panther next season(2013/14), I believe Markstrom has a really good chance at becoming the starter in Florida..

Standing in his way: Theodore??

Originally Posted by Pengwin7

I dislike both Markstrom & Harding's situation.

re: Markstrom.
From everything I hear, Markstrom should be a terrific goalie someday.
What I don't like: He's in Florida.
It has nothing to do with Luongo... or Theodore. It has to do with the GM: Tallon.

Here's what GMs like to do on new clubs: Everything that was here when I arrived must go OUT. They want every player to be THEIR DECISION. No GM will say it, but they know they get full credit for a club if all the pieces can be associated with their decisions. Markstrom is pre-Tallon, and Tallon will get no credit for Florida Panther success if Markstrom does well. I see Markstrom ending up somewhere else - via trade. Markstrom could, though, end up in place like... say... Phoenix. Read on.

re: Harding.
Minnesota is a hockey hot-bed and they will spend the money to win. I like Josh Harding, but he doesn't strike me as a Tier I guy that can win a team the Stanley Cup. I think Minnesota is going to go hard after the next free agent that they can buy (see Suter/Parise).

Here's a prediction for Minnesota Wild's starting goalie next year:
Mike Smith.

Let's ask some questions:
1. Is Smith in the last year of his contract with Phoenix? YES
2. Does Smith deserve an enormous raise? YES
3. Does Phoenix have the money to sign Smith to an enormous raise? NO
4. Does Minnesota have the money to sign Smith to an enormous raise? YES
5. Do you think Smith's wife would rather be in the south... or the snow?

Harding is a nice fall back-plan for Minnesota... but those Mike Smith Phoenix jerseys are going to be on huge discount this time next year.

(ps. If Leafs fans need to have some hope & a hard-on for the coming years... Mike Smith & wife are both Ontario folk. Yup. It's going to be Minnesota or Toronto. Write it in PEN.)

Originally Posted by scimo

If the Panthers are serious about getting into the playoffs, they simply can't rely on anyone who only has 8 NHL game experience to shoulder the load right away. Luongo at the same age already had over 60 games in the NHL before getting the starting job.

As I said before I like him as a goaltending prospect, but most young goalies go through some ups and downs, see Varlamov in Colorado. Even guys like Luongo struggled initially. I think the best you can hope for Markstrom is a split in net for the next couple of years.

Originally Posted by scimo

Love your posts Pengwin but not necessary agree with you here about Minny. How much is Smith a product of the Coyotes? If Smith goes to Minny, is he really that much better than a Backstrom/ Harding combo? Not too sure about their cap situation, but they already have two huge contracts in Parise and Suter, and guys like Heatley and Koivu. With some glaring holes on the blueline, how much cap room do they really have to sign a big ticket goalie?

Originally Posted by dyzfunctioned

Not arguing your point as I'm sure they'd love to have a veteran guy, but there's plenty of examples where they have relied on an inexperienced goalie in goal - just off the top of my head Holtby and Halak.

Originally Posted by Pengwin7

Nik Backstrom has a $6m cap hit.
So if they don't resign him, they have at least that much.

You've also got PMB making a $4m cap hit and I doubt the Wild resign him.
So yeah... cap space is not an issue.

Also - I'm not necessarily sold that there is a "product of Coyotes" thing.
It's one of those things I actually can't stand... the Tippett-this, Burke-this arguments. Goalies thrive in Phoenix because nobody gives a shit about hockey there. Seriously. For a goalie to be able to just play his game without pressure, it's a fine, fine thing. Phoenix typically is one of the worst teams in the NHL in shots-against per game. (SOGA). PHX was 3rd worst in SOGA last year... 3rd worst the year before. So why are goalies consistently doing well there even though they are getting shelled?

Hmmm....

There's not too many young, proven goaltenders who are ending their contract terms anytime soon.
And there are several money-rich teams (MIN, TOR) without a goalie.

Imagine you are Mike Smith... just imagine YOU. ARE. HIM.
Phoenix offers you $4m/year.
Minnesota offers you $6m/year.
Toronto offers you $6m/year.
Where do you sign?

OK - I really need to leave this thread...

Originally Posted by Pengwin7

Nik Backstrom has a $6m cap hit.
So if they don't resign him, they have at least that much.

You've also got PMB making a $4m cap hit and I doubt the Wild resign him.
So yeah... cap space is not an issue.

Also - I'm not necessarily sold that there is a "product of Coyotes" thing.
It's one of those things I actually can't stand... the Tippett-this, Burke-this arguments. Goalies thrive in Phoenix because nobody gives a shit about hockey there. Seriously. For a goalie to be able to just play his game without pressure, it's a fine, fine thing. Phoenix typically is one of the worst teams in the NHL in shots-against per game. (SOGA). PHX was 3rd worst in SOGA last year... 3rd worst the year before. So why are goalies consistently doing well there even though they are getting shelled?

Hmmm....

There's not too many young, proven goaltenders who are ending their contract terms anytime soon.
And there are several money-rich teams (MIN, TOR) without a goalie.

Imagine you are Mike Smith... just imagine YOU. ARE. HIM.
Phoenix offers you $4m/year.
Minnesota offers you $6m/year.
Toronto offers you $6m/year.
Where do you sign?

OK - I really need to leave this thread...

Originally Posted by scimo

Not too sure if Halak and Holby are good examples at all:

Halak played 16 games at age 21, 6 games at age 22 and 34 games at age 23. It took him until his fifth year to play 57 games in a season.

Holby is 23 and had a grand total of 21 games at the NHL level (regular season). I certainly wouldn't bet against him to have some sort of ups and downs next year if he win the starter role. I personally like Neuvirth a bit better because he actually went through the struggles last year and earned the experience.

It make me wonder why a lot of GMs like to draft guys like Markstrom over 2nd tier goalies on a good team (such as Niemi) and semi proven guys (such as Varlamov and Pavelec). Projection and potential is one thing, they may have to wait a long time before getting any rewards.

Originally Posted by dyzfunctioned

Both were leaned on as rookies in the playoffs. Never said they were great examples, just saying it wouldn't be the first time.

Also, what kind of league are you in that people take Markstrom over Niemi? :S

Originally Posted by scimo

16 Team keeper 25 man roster with 4 goalie catogories..(W, GAA, SV% and SHO)

Markstrom went in the 6th round and all the other guys I mentioned + Hiller, Dubnyk and Backstrom still available.