Is it time for Bob Murray to start shopping for another new goaltender?
by Eric_Stites on Jan 3, 2012 6:30 PM PST
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As everyone already knows, the Ducks are having an abysmal season to this point. Blame for this poor play has often been spread around the club, with some saying the defense needs to be better, or that the offense needs to get more shots on goal and maintain pressure.
However, I believe that Jonas Hiller and Dan Ellis combined are an enormous part of why the Ducks are fighting to stay out of last place in the league.
In either case, something needs to change. And i believe that something could very well be a new goaltender.
The Ducks have a goal differential this season of -37, ranking last in the league. Having only scored 87 goals ties them for second-to-last in the goals for category, ahead only of the New York Islanders, who are at 84.
What I found to be most interesting was the team with which the Ducks were tied with at second-to-last with goals for.
Did you guess the Los Angeles Kings? I didn't.
The Kings are currently leading the Pacific Division, and yet have scored just as many goals as the Ducks all year.
The difference?
The Kings have only allowed 92 goals all year, compared to the Ducks 124 goals allowed. This statistic got me to thinking that if the Ducks had a goalie that didn't allow those goals that make us all hang our heads, they might stand a decent chance of at least staying contention.
Obviously, the offense is somewhat to blame for the bad season due to the fact that they can't score nearly as much as they need to. I feel like if the Kings can be leading the Pacific Division with so few goals, why can't the Ducks?
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True, but
I was more pointing out those moments that Hiller lets in the goals that should’ve been easy saves. I feel like those moments have cost the Ducks at least 5 games so far, whether it is because of the game-winning goal or just a momentum swing in favor of the other team
I dont really see an available goaltender out there that is superior to Hiller.
Furthermore, what would it take to secure said player? Ultimately i think had we a better defence youd find that A) we’d let in less goals overall, and B) score more. We are just relying on players that arent capable of the role we need them to be in. Hiller is not one of those players.
I would however like to see Ellis play more.
It would be hard for a team to give us something of value for a struggling goaltender that at any time have reaccurrances of vertigo or what I think to be concussion symptoms.. Rumors were saying that miller wants to move to CA because of his wife but that would probably cost more
by ShamuSalami on Jan 3, 2012 11:24 PM PST via iPhone app reply actions
I think we may be looking at a situation very similar to Lupul had last year. He was recovering from a major injury or issue or what ever it was. I’m not entirely surprised he’s not where we are used to him being. That said I think he can get back to where we expect him to be at given time, and considering the season is pretty much already lost, letting him fight through the adversity can only help him. I’ve seen enough flashes of the old Hiller to make me think it is possible.
Yeah for some reason I still have some confidence in Hiller but if we were in a market for a goalie Anders Lindback in Nash could be cheap since Pekka is signed for like forever.. Goalies are kind of funny.. They come out of nowhere so I would not necessarily give up a ton of assets for one
by ShamuSalami on Jan 3, 2012 11:34 PM PST via iPhone app reply actions
Another option
Steve Mason in CLB? I know he has been horrid, but a change of scenery could remind him of his calder year. He could also be had for cheap, his contract is only one more year for around 3 million. I like Linback as well. Both of them are very big and talented guys. I honestly believe that you cant have enough depth in goal, and we’ve struggled with that since Burke left.
This entire topic makes me sad.
As for some of the options mentioned – Steve Mason? The same guy who has been worse than Hiller every single year he has played, is currently by far and away the worst starter in the league and had one decent not great year where he won the Calder? Miller is expensive, getting old and a few percentage points better than Hiller this season.
I do like Lindback but I have an even better solution in the short term – give Tarkki a shot. .917 save percentage in the AHL, European experience and has far outperformed JDD who is a marginal NHL/AHL kind of guy. If he sucks, we lose a few more games but you never know. Hiller was an unknown euro at one point as well.
by bhlloy on Jan 4, 2012 12:56 PM PST via iPhone app reply actions
Agreed
btw I wasn’t suggesting that we move Hiller, rather add Mason as a backup. Listen he’s young and playing with an equally horrible defense. I don’t think he’s the answer to the problem, but I do think his asking price must be dirt cheap at this point and I think he could be worth it. Don’t get me wrong, I love Hiller and I think he’s not to blame for this season. That all goes to the Defense. Look at what Mike Smith is doing in Phoenix this season, you think he got that much better over the offseason? No he got a way better defense in front of him and thats what we need for Hiller.
It all depends on whether you believe Hiller has (or will) come all the way back. I completely agree the defensive play has failed him miserably, but I also have seen too many soft goals to make me feel really comfortable. Maybe BB should timeshare Hiller and Ellis over several weeks before we do anything drastic there.
by JLL on Jan 4, 2012 4:59 PM PST up reply actions
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