Comments for The Current State of Predators Goaltending at http://hockey.dobbersports.com , comment 1 to 6 out of 6 comments http://hockey.dobbersports.com Fri, 24 May 2013 19:35:10 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://hockey.dobbersports.com/index.php/justin-goldman/3074-the-current-state-of-predators-goaltending#comment-7971 The reason you can expect Rinne to get close to that 60-start plateau is mainly due to the fact Dekanich has no NHL experience. There is a high level of confidence the coaching staff has in Rinne if they are willing to put a goalie with no NHL experience behind him. It also shows their trust in Dekanich/Pickard...so I think the Predators are just very straightforward with their intentions of developing from within. Rinne is still improving so he's an exciting goalie to own right now. He's on a mediocre team but he has the ability to be great for long stretches. - Justin Goldman Mon, 30 Aug 2010 18:23:13 +0100 http://hockey.dobbersports.com/index.php/justin-goldman/3074-the-current-state-of-predators-goaltending#comment-7967 Just a small correction ... Rinne is making 2.8 this year (2010/2011) and 4 Mil next year (2011/2012)! - Gabriel Leblanc Mon, 30 Aug 2010 13:05:50 +0100 http://hockey.dobbersports.com/index.php/justin-goldman/3074-the-current-state-of-predators-goaltending#comment-7966 Being a Rinne owner, I'm loving the hype about him during this offseason. But I am worried that he doesn't start as many games only because the coaching is still the same. Rinne killed me last year because him and Ellis went game for most of the year, until Ellis laid a 7 goal egg and then it was Rinne the rest of the way. But why should I think they start Rinne more than 50-55 games? I'm debating trading Rinne while his value might be the highest. - Brendan Connolly Mon, 30 Aug 2010 12:27:11 +0100 http://hockey.dobbersports.com/index.php/justin-goldman/3074-the-current-state-of-predators-goaltending#comment-7965 I don't think we are really disagreeing on much. Vokoun - that was a different ownership situation. At the time, Craig Leopold was still spending some doe on that team in the hope that a playoff team would stop bleeding him dry. After the year they acquired Forsberg and tried to go for it, they slashed their budget to 'slightly above salary floor' level, and Vokoun was one of the first contracts to go. Ellis - You're right. Rinne's current contract - the 2.8M he was paid last year is easily within their budget. The 4M he gets this year is probably about the highest they would want to do. They may have to pay more to him simply because none of their other goalies is ready, and that's why I agree with you they will resign him on a short term deal - though I think it'd be more like 3 years at 4.5-5M. It'll depend on how close they think Pickard will be but I think they will try to sign a contract with Rinne that ends a year after their starter ETA for Pickard, so that they can trade Rinne in the summer with a year left, that is, at peak value. Then again, Niemi's inability to find a club this summer may end up lowering Rinne's demands, though he will not take a salary below the 4M he'll be earning this year, at least not on a short or mid length contract. - fzusher Mon, 30 Aug 2010 12:25:01 +0100 http://hockey.dobbersports.com/index.php/justin-goldman/3074-the-current-state-of-predators-goaltending#comment-7962 Fzusher, you bring up a good point for sure, but I'll expand on it a bit. You say they ship their starters away "as soon as they are due major dollars." But Vokoun actually peaked before the lockout, yet still remained a Predator until he was 31 and he lost momentum due to Mason's uprising. So I'm not sure that performance tied to salary dictates movement. I think each goalie is treated individually when it comes time to making the decision between two potential starters. One goes, one stays, but that decision is based on many factors, not just what their salary is in relation to their skill. Mason was moved in a manner consistent with your post and that's true they moved him before he was due big dollars. For Ellis, however, he was moved before he ever really proved he was a "big bucks" goalie. If it were consistent with your point, they would have already moved Rinne before re-signing him. I think you point is very accurate when it comes to salary for certain goalies and what Nashville can afford each season. And it could very well come true in the case of Rinne when his current contract is up, with Dekanich if he develops into starter material and with Pickard. But Vokoun and Mason and Ellis were all treated differently in relation to their specific situation. Rinne is currently 27 years old, so when his contract is up, I could see him sticking around for another 1-year or two-year deal. But again, it depends on where Pickard is in his development. Either way, your comment is super valid and something that definitely adds to the article so thanks for reading and posting it! - Justin Goldman Mon, 30 Aug 2010 11:10:36 +0100 http://hockey.dobbersports.com/index.php/justin-goldman/3074-the-current-state-of-predators-goaltending#comment-7961 I rarely disagree with Justin on goalie, but I will kind of dissent here on one point, as I think he is disregarding one aspect of Nashville's pattern with their goalies: under current ownership and budget, they ship their starters away as soon as they are due major (full value) dollars. They absorbed Vokoun's contract when they thought they'd be making a run (the Forsberg year), but once it was clear they would have to make due with a slashed budget, Vokoun went. Same with Mason and then Ellis. The main reason for having their pipeline stacked with goalie talent the way it is, is to have the ability to say goodbye to their starter without skipping a beat as soon as he reaches the point of making more money they can afford. Point is - when Pickard (or anyone else) gets to the point that they are ready to be NHL starters, i'm not at all convinced it won't be Rinne who's moved, even if he is the better goalie, as long as the new goalie is good enough. - fzusher Mon, 30 Aug 2010 10:28:08 +0100