Eddie Lack as our number 1.

[hockeyking]

The most influential position would be goaltending. That being said, goalies have a very small standard deviation across the league. That is to say, there are many average goalies and only a few elite goalies. Thus, unless a GM can find one of those elite goalies it is a much better strategy to find an average goalie (like Lack) and pay him no more than an average salary.

Although it is ideal to have a great goalie, the rarity of them makes it very difficult to find one. Plus, they are not necessary to win the cup. The last 3 cup winners have had average goalies (Quick x2 and Crawford).

I would much rather have the Miller's salary invest in defence or forwards.

Quick is a average goaltender??

[Jiggs50]

Giving Miller 6 mill for 3 years was a mistake imo. Should of been 2 years at 5 per.

For Lack to elevate his game this year, he needed a vet along with him. So Miller did help in that aspect. I think Hiller would of been a solid option as well.

Come playoffs were going to need both Miller and Lack ready! Go Eddie!

[Spoosh]

I think Lack is ready and able to be our #1 going forward. But he and we really needed Miller early in the season when he wasn't that solid (of course b/c he didn't play regularly), and we wouldn't be in the position we are in now unless we got that solid performance from both goalies.

Too bad Lack has to give the starting job back to Miller in the playoffs. It's Miller's job to lose and that means we'll be in a pickle if we are in the situation that Eddie is our starting net minder in the playoffs. I'd really, really wan't to see Lack playing the big games down the road. That would be awesome. I love guy, he's such a great character and seems like the perfect teammate.

[Herberts Vasiljevs]

Trade Miller, prospect, and a pick for McDavid

Are you six years old?

[hsedin33]

Miller, we have two good goalies, Miller is still more experianced in my book.

[hsedin33]

Giving Miller 6 mill for 3 years was a mistake imo. Should of been 2 years at 5 per.

For Lack to elevate his game this year, he needed a vet along with him. So Miller did help in that aspect. I think Hiller would of been a solid option as well.

Come playoffs were going to need both Miller and Lack ready! Go Eddie!

It's all in the negotiations, sometimes you have to make compromises.

[Herberts Vasiljevs]

Do you trust Markstrom as a back up? That means he'll be getting 20 games.

Do you trust that Raymond, Ballard, a 1st, and Roger Takahashi could net us Zemgus Girgensons, Mark Mancari, Martin Biron, Richard Shmelik, MayDay, and Rumun Ndur?

Yes, I think so!

[Junkyard Dog]

I'd rather Lack and Markstrom and use the extra 5 mil on a top 6 forward.

If Lack goes down for long term injury then it won't matter on that extra 5M we spent on a top 6 forward.

Markstrom as a #1 for a long period of time. Oh god.. I couldn't imagine.. Oh wait I can...

Keep Lack AND Miller. We have had success with not one but TWO solid goalies. *cough* Schneider/Luongo *cough*

Of course things could change if a goalie in our prospect pool were to step up like Lack has and be able to play well in a backup role. As of now we don't. Markstrom doesn't have WD's trust like Miller and Lack do and is arguably the weaker goalie.

Until then...

Case closed.

[shiznak]

Having an elite goaltender is kind of overrated. I mean, you are only as good as your stats, depending on the system you play. Take Jonathan Quick for example. I don't think he's as elite as people say he is. He's good but not great, but his stats are overblown, due to the team in front of him, and the system he plays under.

Don't believe me? Well, remember when Scrivens and Jones (two of their backups) had those unreal numbers, when Quick went down a couple of seasons ago? Do you think if LA traded Quick instead of Scrivens to Edmonton, that Quick would still be posting the same numbers he did in LA? Doubt it.

Dubnyk is another good example, terrible in Edmonton, terrible in Arizona, but when he went to Minnesota. He suddenly became an elite goalie.

[EdgarM]

 

Having an elite goaltender is kind of overrated. I mean, you are only as good as your stats, depending on the system you play. Take Jonathan Quick for example. I don't think he's as elite as people say he is. He's good but not great, but his stats are overblown, due to the team in front of him, and the system he plays under.

Don't believe me? Well, remember when Scrivens and Jones (two of their backups) had those unreal numbers, when Quick went down a couple of seasons ago? Do you think if LA traded Quick instead of Scrivens to Edmonton, that Quick would still be posting the same numbers he did in LA? Doubt it.

Dubnyk is another good example, terrible in Edmonton, terrible in Arizona, but when he went to Minnesota. He suddenly became an elite goalie.

 

You obviously were not around when this team went through dry spells of "elite" goaltending. This team went through years looking for a good goaltender just about as long as they have been looking for the elusive puck moving D-man for the PP. You should be glad we are able to enjoy 2 good Goalies in Miller and Lack.

You cannot tell me that King Richard, Captain Kirk or Bobby Lu were NOT instrumental in this teams Cup Runs.

Lack showed some chink in his armor last year and on a few occasions this year where he is caught out of position on certain plays. Miller is a refined version of Lack and has just a tad more experience in the NHL.

Lack does not appear to be a player who would demand to be moved because he wants to be a #1 goalie he seems more like a "team" player who just wants to win at this time. I think guys are assuming thats how he feels right now. They both have contracts that say they play for Vancouver right now and I am confident when it is the right time and is the best deal for the team the one to be traded will be in the teams best interest.

[Mustapha]

Having an elite goaltender is kind of overrated. I mean, you are only as good as your stats, depending on the system you play. Take Jonathan Quick for example. I don't think he's as elite as people say he is. He's good but not great, but his stats are overblown, due to the team in front of him, and the system he plays under.

Don't believe me? Well, remember when Scrivens and Jones (two of their backups) had those unreal numbers, when Quick went down a couple of seasons ago? Do you think if LA traded Quick instead of Scrivens to Edmonton, that Quick would still be posting the same numbers he did in LA? Doubt it.

Dubnyk is another good example, terrible in Edmonton, terrible in Arizona, but when he went to Minnesota. He suddenly became an elite goalie.

Very true, I agree 100%.

However, Devan Dubnyk's numbers were actually not bad in Edmonton (or Arizona for that matter), so imagine this for a second:

The LA Kings might be a better team than they are now with Dubnyk instead of Quick....

Jonathan Quick is this generation's version of Martin Brodeur....racking up the accolades behind the league's most punishing defense.

[NuckleheadFan]

We need a strong goalie tandem which we have. Lack has improved from last year, but I would still say Miller is the better goalie at this time. You can't minimize experience that Miller brings. Miller / Lack tandem, the team seem to play more confident than Lack / Markstrom tandem.

[baumerman77]

I don't think we will get rid of Miller because 1) the return wouldn't be great, we would likely have to eat cap and 2) it would make Benning look bad which I don't think he wants.

There is a very strong correlation between NHL and AHL goaltending performance. On the surface Markstrom looks to be the exception to the rule. However if one digs deeper it becomes clear that Markstroms NHL failures thus far are due to a very small sample size 50 games and more importantly 43 of those games with a very bad Panthers team.

By the sounds of it, Markstrom's failures in his short NHL tenure are due to mental lapses. This is a good thing which can be overcome. I think Markstrom is likely to be an average goalie but he does have an upside because of his track record in the AHL and his age. Miller on the other hand is an average goalie with a downside because of his age and to a lesser extent his recent injury.

I am happy to see a lot of people here agree that a team can be very successful with an average goalie granted that his salary is also average or below average.

And yes Quick has been an average goalie the last 3 years.

[ForsbergTheGreat]

If Lack goes down for long term injury then it won't matter on that extra 5M we spent on a top 6 forward.

Markstrom as a #1 for a long period of time. Oh god.. I couldn't imagine.. Oh wait I can...

Keep Lack AND Miller. We have had success with not one but TWO solid goalies. *cough* Schneider/Luongo *cough*

Of course things could change if a goalie in our prospect pool were to step up like Lack has and be able to play well in a backup role. As of now we don't. Markstrom doesn't have WD's trust like Miller and Lack do and is arguably the weaker goalie.

Until then...

Case closed.

Both goalies will not be here next year. Lack is not going to waste valuable prime years and a contract year splitting time. He deserves to be giving a chance to be a full time NHL 1 goalie in this league and if he doesn't see that happening in vancouver be next season he will be asking out. Trade Lack get a solid return for him and go with a tandem of MIller and Markstrom.

It's a luxury to have 1a and a 1b goalie, a luxury that can't always happen. There is only a handful of teams that have that setup. After canucks traded cory we went with Lack as a backup. at that time we really didn't know how well he was going to handle the NHL, it turned out well. It is a risk if Miller goes down to another injury, but thats the same risk that 80% of the teams in the NHL take. Give Markstrom 2 years NHL level confidence and let him turn into this teams next starter. Is everyone really going to give up on Markstrom who just turned 25 and showed so much promise. Are we forgetting that Lack didn't get his first NHL game until he was 25 turning 26?

[EdgarM]

 

Both goalies will not be here next year. Lack is not going to waste valuable prime years and a contract year splitting time. He deserves to be giving a chance to be a full time NHL 1 goalie in this league and if he doesn't see that happening in vancouver be next season he will be asking out. Trade Lack get a solid return for him and go with a tandem of MIller and Markstrom.

It's a luxury to have 1a and a 1b goalie, a luxury that can't always happen. There is only a handful of teams that have that setup. After canucks traded cory we went with Lack as a backup. at that time we really didn't know how well he was going to handle the NHL, it turned out well. It is a risk if Miller goes down to another injury, but thats the same risk that 80% of the teams in the NHL take. Give Markstrom 2 years NHL level confidence and let him turn into this teams next starter. Is everyone really going to give up on Markstrom who just turned 25 and showed so much promise. Are we forgetting that Lack didn't get his first NHL game until he was 25 turning 26?

 

Do you have any proof to back that up? Sounds like you talked to Lack personally. Has it been stated somewhere that both goalies will not be here next year? Sounds like trolling to me. I don't know about anyone else but I have not seen any signs of Markstrom being an NHL ready goalie who will be effective not only in the regular season but the playoofs as well. Seems like he is a long way off from that.

[UFCanuck]

No

[Me_]

Signing Miller was Bennings biggest mistake thus far as GM. No need to spend 6 mil on an average goalie.

I would be fine if the Canucks traded Miller and retained 2 mil per year of his cap hit to do it.

How's the Chicago game gone again? And now the Jets game?

I'd be very happy to trade you for nothing at all. Just get out.

I'm allergic to idiots.

[Off_The_Schneid!]

Willy specifically said that he would run with lack until he dropped the ball

He dropped it in Nashville

Dropped it in chicago

Dropped it in Winnipeg

So what do you say willy?

[baumerman77]

Goaltending is a position which is prone to a lot of random variation. When evaluating a goaltenders performance sample size is key. To get a good idea of how good a goalie truly is one needs at least 120 games. Now Lack hasn't played that many games but after 80 games it looks as if he will be an average goalie. That is why I will tentatively say that he will likely be an average goalie.

Don't be swayed by recency bias when evaluating goalies.

[ForsbergTheGreat]

   

Do you have any proof to back that up? Sounds like you talked to Lack personally. Has it been stated somewhere that both goalies will not be here next year? Sounds like trolling to me. I don't know about anyone else but I have not seen any signs of Markstrom being an NHL ready goalie who will be effective not only in the regular season but the playoofs as well. Seems like he is a long way off from that.

Have i talked to lack personally, actually yes I have a few years ago I got to meet him, when Lack and a close buddy of mine played together in chicago. Have I talked to Lack personally about his contract situation. No, but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to think about the current situation Lack is in.

Lack will be 28 next season in the prime of his goaltending career, Most NHL players only have 5-6 years of prime years where they can rack in the $ that will set them up for the rest of their lives. Next year is a contract year for Lack. Is he really going to want waste one of his prime years with a 30-50 split. A decent split season makes him what kind of contract next year? 2 maybe 3 million short term. Compared to a decent season as a NHL starter. Now were talking around 4-5 million, long term, no more contract pressure, set for life type deal.

Tell me prior to last season what signs did you see from lack to show he was ready to be even an NHL back up? Thats right last year, the year he turned 26 was the first NHL action he got to see. Markstrom is currently a year younger than that. Give him next year being the back up and go from there.