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About This Page: This is a discussion on LA Kings Talk within the LetsGoKings.com forums, at Los Angeles Kings Hockey Fan Forum. Originally Posted by Rob2716
But also remember that it was DL/MC that decided they wouldn't go with Garon/LaBarbera because they wanted stability in net. Obviously that didn'
But also remember that it was DL/MC that decided they wouldn't go with Garon/LaBarbera because they wanted stability in net. Obviously that didn't work out. Do they gamble yet again with not only cap space but draft picks? And I'll bring up the defense again, because unless something monumental happens, the defense won't be stellar in front of any goalie next season. Is that the environment you want this kid in, considering the payout it took to get him?
Quality goaltending is so hard to find that gambling is many times the best option.
Calgary, Toronto, Phoenix, Philly, Boston, Colorado and Florida all gambled to acquire their starting goaltender in one way or another.
The key is to gamble when the odds are in leaning in your favor. Adding a young talented player like Fleury isn't exactly trading for Cloutier, is it?
I don't dislike Jason LaBarbera but as the season has dragged on it is clear that he is not the answer in goal. At best he should be splitting time in a tandem. At worst he should be riding the pine as a back up and we're talking about a 28 year old goaltender in his prime. This is who he is.
Marc-Andre Fleury at his worst is on par with Jason LaBarbera TODAY. Fleury won't even begin his prime for another 3-4 years. Bringing in Fleury gives you a legitimate NHL goaltender for at least the next 2 years. If he doesn't work out over that 2 year span you cut bait and give a 22 year old Jonathan Bernier a shot.
Nobody can sit here and call Fleury elite BUT the kid does have the skills to be elite if he can put it all together and if he doesn't he's still a better goalie than what we've got now.
First off, whoever thought Labs was the 'answer' to the Kings goaltending was being a bit generous. I like him and he plays well, IMO, but the 'answer' he is not. However, for the purposes of a rebuilding team to put a goalie on ice, he more than fits the bill and is pretty cheap to boot.
So fine, the Kings get MAF with the offer sheet. We send the Pens draft picks and take on $3-$4 mil a season for MAF. Then, all of the sudden, if it doesn't work out you just want to cut bait? What of the wasted money, and, more importantly for a rebuilding team, the wasted high draft picks?
It could work out, I don't deny that. I'm just saying it's way too much to gamble at this point.
I don't dislike Jason LaBarbera but as the season has dragged on it is clear that he is not the answer in goal. At best he should be splitting time in a tandem. At worst he should be riding the pine as a back up and we're talking about a 28 year old goaltender in his prime. This is who he is.
Marc-Andre Fleury at his worst is on par with Jason LaBarbera TODAY. Fleury won't even begin his prime for another 3-4 years. Bringing in Fleury gives you a legitimate NHL goaltender for at least the next 2 years. If he doesn't work out over that 2 year span you cut bait and give a 22 year old Jonathan Bernier a shot.
Nobody can sit here and call Fleury elite BUT the kid does have the skills to be elite if he can put it all together and if he doesn't he's still a better goalie than what we've got now.
Well said.
For the sake of gescom's challenge here, this is an interesting consideration. For the sake of an opinion in a hockey board thread, I simply don't get MAF for what looks like it would be a 1st, 2nd, 3rd. Still, someone (Hextall?) would have to believe they could make right what has to me been messed up with his development, AND be willing to take on such a PROJECT.
If the Kings have such a plan, belief and the coaching skill to carry this out, maybe you take this leap.
Last edited by twistedwrister; February 27th, 2008 at 04:57 PM.
No thanks. I would rather see DL concentrate on building a solid blue line corps and finding that elusive top 6 scoring forward first. Top goalie would be priority once there is a team to play behind (2009).
Quality goaltending is so hard to find that gambling is many times the best option.
Calgary, Toronto, Phoenix, Philly, Boston, Colorado and Florida all gambled to acquire their starting goaltender in one way or another.
Kipprusoff struggled in the beginning of the season. And lets face it, Calgary raked SJ over the coals with that deal. If that deal happened again there's no way Calgary gets Kipper without giving up much more. I don't remember what they gave up, but I don't remember it being extremely signifiicant.
Toronto? They're next to us in the standings. Raycroft has been a bomb and Toskala hasn't been the Kipper they were hoping for, to my knowledge.
Phoenix? Bryz landed in their lap. Claimed off of waivers. No gamble for them whatsoever.
Philly? Free falling with Biron and Nitty.
Boston? Okay, where they've won with Thomas, they've lost with Fernandez.
Colorado? Theodore is playing well now, but he was persona non gratta for the past 1.5 seasons there.
Florida? Vokoun was always touted as a solid goalie, so it wasn't that much of gamble. Even still, where are they in the standings?
I really don't see the point in losing picks for MAF, when he'll just be a stopgap until Bernier is ready to go.
And what if Bernier never IS ready to go? It's not like he's a lock to make it to the NHL, much less a franchise goalie. We all hope he is, but from what I've heard - he is being outplayed by Delmas on Lewiston.
I'll qualify my answer by saying I don't really know what exists between his ears, but my sense is MAF has been poorly developed and maybe his head and his history thus far will never allow him to realize his promise.
I say find another stopgap goalie and save those top picks.
And ges you certainly are on to what will likely become a huge issue for the Pens...like having to pay all their talented stars and now Hossa too.
And here we were all led to believe the cap and new CBA were going to reward teams who draft and devlope well. Based on this statement, it is actually the complete opposite. Now the cap harshly penalizes teams that draft and develope.
Quality goaltending is so hard to find that gambling is many times the best option.
The key is to gamble when the odds are in leaning in your favor. Adding a young talented player like Fleury isn't exactly trading for Cloutier, is it?
How exactly are the odds leaning in our favor here? Forget the picks - I'm not giving the MONEY to a goaltender like MAF. I'm not offering him 4M with 0 picks to give away. There were other goalies, where people (correctly) said "No, thanks, he would not be a huge improvement over what we have now." What's different here? He is NOT a huge improvement over what we have. Is it wrong to get a small improvement over our current goalies? Of course not, I'd love to get any improvement possible. But not for 3.5M per season! I can't believe how easily people hand out 4M to a goalie who is hardly any improvement over JLB and is #7 goalie in Penguins organization. To be honest I don't understand this enthusiasm at all.
And yes, I will repeat once again, that he is not a huge improvement over JLB, no need to ask me again. As things stand at the moment the burden of proof is on those people that DO think MAF would be a huge improvement over JLB, NOT the other way around. Check the stats, check the rosters, check which club has the worst defense in the league.
With the additional picks lost when given a 4M offer, I'd just laugh and cry at the same time if DL made that offer sheet.
I can't believe how easily people hand out 4M to a goalie who is hardly any improvement over JLB and is #7 goalie in Penguins organization. To be honest I don't understand this enthusiasm at all.
It's called "potential." Fleury has it, Labarbera doesn't.
Fleury has the potential to be a Broduer, Luongo, Hasek, etc.
Labarbera has the potential to be Craig Billington.
twistedwrister
