Stans goalie choices after last years cup win

[The Count Dante]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Rex" data-cid="226657" data-time="1398022662">
<div>


only on here can any goalie win a cup, and a cup winning goalie means nothing.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>


 </p>


Not that I have, but you will never hear me say Crow aint the real deal. Why?</p>


 </p>

</p>


 </p>


Not sure what else the man has to do to appease the Mob. Perhaps said Mob cannot be appeased.</p>

 

[MassHavoc]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="The Deadliest Man Alive" data-cid="226718" data-time="1398093196">
<div>


Not that I have, but you will never hear me say Crow aint the real deal. Why?</p>


 </p>

</p>


 </p>


Not sure what else the man has to do to appease the Mob. Perhaps said Mob cannot be appeased.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>


3 more cups probably.</p>

 

[Forklift]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Variable" data-cid="225915" data-time="1397655371">
<div>


Any way you cut it was a bad move. All for reaons that have been covered in the other thread.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>


 </p>


Unless the Hawks go on another historic run, in which case Stan's hands are tied, and Crawford costs 8.</p>

 

[Forklift]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="PSR" data-cid="225950" data-time="1397668198">
<div>


For Schneider literally nothing, 1st round pick Bo Horvat I believe. I would've given them Ryan Hartman and another pick in a second for Schneider. </p>


 </p>


Halak went for a lot, Bernier was swapped for Scrivens, and Reimer is under contract. Bottom line is, there is always a way to get something done. </p>
</div>
</blockquote>


 </p>


Yeah, move the Hawks to the Eastern Conference, and they could have had any of those guys.</p>

 

[The Count Dante]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MassHavoc" data-cid="226749" data-time="1398101126">
<div>


3 more cups probably.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>


 </p>


Then shame on the fan base. Goes to show that no matter what, it is the goalie's fault. </p>

 

[BlackHawkPaul]

Out of all of the forwards in this series, Patrick Kane has the only goal.

One goal.</p>


 </p>


The problem is glaring, yet people aren't pointing to it. </p>

 

[MassHavoc]

I thought Crawford has made some outstanding saves in some really clutch situations, and a majority of the really bad goals he's let in you saw glaring mental breakdowns in front of him. At the NHL level though, that's probably the majority of goal tenders.</p>

 

[The Count Dante]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MassHavoc" data-cid="226769" data-time="1398105982">
<div>


I thought Crawford has made some outstanding saves in some really clutch situations, and a majority of the really bad goals he's let in you saw glaring mental breakdowns in front of him. At the NHL level though, that's probably the majority of goal tenders.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>


 </p>


I once again agree and would like to point to his aforementioned Stanley Cup ring...</p>

 

[LordKOTL]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MassHavoc" data-cid="226769" data-time="1398105982">
<div>


I thought Crawford has made some outstanding saves in some really clutch situations, and a majority of the really bad goals he's let in you saw glaring mental breakdowns in front of him. At the NHL level though, that's probably the majority of goal tenders.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>


I find it hard to disagree with this.  I see it as how many mental breakdowns the guys in front of the netminder make, how severe are those breakdowns, and how many of those do the goaltenders mitigate--and not just mitigate by being flashy.</p>


 </p>


Going into tonight though, from Crawford on out everyone needs to play smarter hockey.  No charging, no kneeing, no pulling a Phil Kessel, no adjusting the clockweights--just play the type of hocket that shut the blues out 4-0 earlier in the year.</p>

 

[Variable]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="The Deadliest Man Alive" data-cid="226753" data-time="1398101883">


Then shame on the fan base. Goes to show that no matter what, it is the goalie's fault.</p></blockquote>


Who's blaming Crawford here besides Pez? I never did. Again I like Crawford. Just not enough for a 6 million dollar cap hit. But then I don't like any goalie with a cap hit like that with this team. They have to stop playing like the Canucks did in the playoffs against them. Those last 10 minutes of the third period was something I thought I'd never see them play like.

 

[The Count Dante]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Variable" data-cid="226798" data-time="1398116581">
<div>


Who's blaming Crawford here besides Pez? I never did. Again I like Crawford. Just not enough for a 6 million dollar cap hit. But then I don't like any goalie with a cap hit like that with this team. They have to stop playing like the Canucks did in the playoffs against them. Those last 10 minutes of the third period was something I thought I'd never see them play like.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>


 </p>


Wasnt directed at anyone in particular. </p>

 

[winos5]

And that is why he got paid.</p>

 

[BlackHawkPaul]

</p>

 

[LordKOTL]

Crawford just stole the game with a shutout;<strike> you are an invalid</strike>. ...Er...  Your argument is invalid.</p>

 

[the canadian dream]

anyone notice how well craw was playing the puck last night also?</p>


 </p>


Give me the list of other goalies in the league that have the balance of skills that Craw has..please make me that list so I can laugh at it.</p>


 </p>


Not only is Craw worth the salary he gets but he is also highly under-rated by his own fan base. A fan base that sees $ signs and don't watch the technical skill levels of a player like Crawford.</p>


 </p>


 </p>


Also some of the nastiest glove saves by a goalie in eons has come out of this series strictly by Crawford. Used to be one of his weak points. Not anymore. He also fights through traffic now like boss infront of his net..another problem he once had. Go figure a goalie can improve on aspects of their game after 4 years in the league. Wonder why that is? could it be because Crawford has a work ethic that is one of the highest with goalies in the league? Could it be because all goalies , like any other position, need time to improve and gather experience? Could it be because unlike a lot of goalies in this league Crawford shuts up and focuses on the actual on ice game and his own game? Don't get much of that any more these days when guys just want to be funny or political in interviews or worry about their twitter accounts. </p>


 </p>


The idea that goalkeeping in this league is uniform has to be one of the biggest falsehoods. Just because most goalies in the league play a similar style doesn't mean they have similar technical and mental strengths. Crawfords been growing in all departments and he still has room to grow. 4 years in a league isn't much and to show that much improvement in that amount of time? pretty incredible.</p>


 </p>


Niemi still can't play a puck to save his life and if Niemi were still in net for the hawks they wouldn't have won a cup last year. One of the reasons the Hawks made it past Detroit last year after they were down was because Crawford was given the green light to start playing pucks more and to help with the transition game and to take some pressure of the blueliners. Which he did like a boss when given that green light at that moment. He showed it again last night he moved the puck like a king. One of the best puck moving goalies in the league now. </p>

 

[Variable]

No one said everyone is the same in talent level, just that the parity is at an all time high. The results still greatly depend on the team a goalie has in front of him. That's the most ignored aspect of this entire discussion since forever.</p>

 

[Ton]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Variable" data-cid="226938" data-time="1398209751">
<div>


No one said everyone is the same in talent level, just that the parity is at an all time high. The results still greatly depend on the team a goalie has in front of him. That's the most ignored aspect of this entire discussion since forever.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>


 </p>


But, you still need great goaltending to win a Cup 80% of the time. In the last 10 years, only two Stanley Cup winning goaltenders have had under a .920 save percentage. Six of those goaltenders had above a .930 save percentage... all of them were Conn Smythe winners or candidates.</p>


 </p>


Why are you ignoring that?</p>


 </p>


Do you really believe the team in front of Crawford is the greatest team to ever lace up a pair of skates that any average goaltender can win a Cup with them? Who cares about the team in front of him. If you sign an average goalie for $3-4M you're banking on pure luck that he will somehow play above average in the most pressure filled situation in hockey. Forget about the talent, or the team in front of a goaltender... guys are paid the money because their head is right and they can perform at the highest level in pressure, not because of talent.</p>

 

[the canadian dream]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Variable" data-cid="226938" data-time="1398209751">
<div>


No one said everyone is the same in talent level, just that the parity is at an all time high. The results still greatly depend on the team a goalie has in front of him. That's the most ignored aspect of this entire discussion since forever.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>


It's just so untrue that it's not worth discussing. there is a great disparity between goalies technically and mentally in this league. Parity only exists on the style the goalies play not how each handles that style.  Of course it still takes a team in front of a goalie to balance everything out. Don't think anyone has ever said or suggested it didn't. But to be completely ignorant or to ignore individual goalies strong points and weak points?  Dangerous. So dangerous.</p>

 

[the canadian dream]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Tony DeFrancesco" data-cid="226939" data-time="1398210520">
<div>


But, you still need great goaltending to win a Cup 80% of the time. In the last 10 years, only two Stanley Cup winning goaltenders have had under a .920 save percentage. Six of those goaltenders had above a .930 save percentage... all of them were Conn Smythe winners or candidates.</p>


 </p>


Why are you ignoring that?</p>


 </p>


Do you really believe the team in front of Crawford is the greatest team to ever lace up a pair of skates that any average goaltender can win a Cup with them? Who cares about the team in front of him. If you sign an average goalie for $3-4M you're banking on pure luck that he will somehow play above average in the most pressure filled situation in hockey. Forget about the talent, or the team in front of a goaltender... guys are paid the money because their head is right and they can perform at the highest level in pressure, not because of talent.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>


Hawks 2010 cup winning team would stomp on any Hawks team since, even last years and certainly this team right now. Ladd was a third liner for **** sakes. THAT was certainly a team that won despite the goalie. We see teams like the 2010 Hawks team maybe once every 20 years. Team was seriously so stacked talent wise and character wise and it had nothing to do with Neimi. Hadn't seen a team like that since the old Oilers days and I mean that.</p>


 </p>


Crawford would be the only thing that would give the team now any chance at all against that 2010 cup winning Hawks team</p>

 

[Ton]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="The Canadian Dreamalchuk" data-cid="226940" data-time="1398210760">
<div>


It's just so untrue that it's not worth discussing. there is a great disparity between goalies technically and mentally in this league. Parity only exists on the style the goalies play not how each handles that style.  Of course it still takes a team in front of a goalie to balance everything out. Don't think anyone has ever said or suggested it didn't. But to be completely ignorant or to ignore individual goalies strong points and weak points?  Dangerous. So dangerous.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>


 </p>


This. Mental game is so crucial, although it's nearly impossible to gauge until that goaltender actually plays in a playoff game (preferably after round 2).</p>


 </p>


Look at Huet's numbers on the Capitals and Canadiens. How did that work out when he came to Chicago? Guy couldn't play in a regular season game, let alone a playoff game. Who's to say James Reimer, or the equivalent, doesn't turn out the same way as Huet? This is why I say it every time: You'll be playing goalie roulette for the next 5 years (at least) if you get rid of Crawford and sign a guy for half the price year after year, just hoping one of them will pan out.</p>


 </p>


It's not worth trying. There is too much at stake, the window of opportunity is only out there for so long. They have to be "all-in" for the next 3-5 years. After that, who knows how competitive they will be.</p>