The Official 2011/2012 Armchair GM thread

[Kin]

Oh come on.  : Apart from that he's done nothing but improve. As far as I'm concerned, he might be the best goalie in the league.

You come on. You said something that wasn't true. I said it was a minor point.

 

[Kin]

I'm not sure who I'd take if I had to choose a goalie. As much as I hate to admit it Carey Price would make a pretty strong argument for #1. MA Fleury too.

 

[maplesyrup]

For me its Ward, Lundqvist and Rinne (in no particular order) in the top 3 as far as any goalies I wish could be the Leafs starter right now.

 

[bustaheims]

Well, I said might... and of note if you consider Lundqvist and Rinne the two best, Ward is younger and more decorated.

I honestly don't consider Ward's single Conn Smythe and single All Star appearance to be more decorated than Lundqvist's All Rookie Team, 2 All Star appearances and 3 consecutive top 3 Vezina finishes. Heck, as far as I'm concerned, Rinne's 1 Vezina nom and 2nd team end of season All Star is probably on the same level. Ward was once consider to be the most valuable player in the playoffs. The 30 GMs have considered Lundqvist to be one of the top 3 goalies in the league in 3 seasons, Rinne was considered the 2nd best goalie in the league last season. Ward has never been consider that highly.

As for the difference in age . . . the range between them is all of 2 years, so, really, at this point in their careers (and, going forward for the next 6-8 years or so), not an issue I'm concerned with in the slightest.

 

[Kin]

It's an interesting question. Statistically, the most consistently excellent goalie of the last five years might be Vokoun. Backstrom's another guy who probably deserves the consideration.

 

[maplesyrup]

I've become disenchanted with Backstrom. - Not sure why.

 

[maplesyrup]

Well, I said might... and of note if you consider Lundqvist and Rinne the two best, Ward is younger and more decorated.

I honestly don't consider Ward's single Conn Smythe and single All Star appearance to be more decorated than Lundqvist's All Rookie Team, 2 All Star appearances and 3 consecutive top 3 Vezina finishes. Heck, as far as I'm concerned, Rinne's 1 Vezina nom and 2nd team end of season All Star is probably on the same level. Ward was once consider to be the most valuable player in the playoffs. The 30 GMs have considered Lundqvist to be one of the top 3 goalies in the league in 3 seasons, Rinne was considered the 2nd best goalie in the league last season. Ward has never been consider that highly.

As for the difference in age . . . the range between them is all of 2 years, so, really, at this point in their careers (and, going forward for the next 6-8 years or so), not an issue I'm concerned with in the slightest.

... all I'm saying is that in my opinion, Ward's name must be considered in any discussion in who the top goalies in the league are... and he might be my pick for who I might want above all on this Leafs team.

 

[bustaheims]

... all I'm saying is that in my opinion, Ward's name must be considered in any discussion in who the top goalies in the league are.

I'm not necessarily saying that I disagree, just that, I think there are a number of goalies I'd consider before him. In fact, I'm not sure he'd even crack my top 5 right now.

 

[maplesyrup]

... all I'm saying is that in my opinion, Ward's name must be considered in any discussion in who the top goalies in the league are.

I'm not necessarily saying that I disagree, just that, I think there are a number of goalies I'd consider before him. In fact, I'm not sure he'd even crack my top 5 right now.

Like I said, he's in my personal top 3 (not sure of where though.)

 

[Kin]

Someone who does fit the criteria of winning a cup and having improved statistically in the league is Niemi.

Anyways, I think the question got muddied a little. There's the question of who you'd want on the Leafs, in which case youth is a factor, and then there's a question of who the best goalie in the league is, which is something where age doesn't matter.

Because, well, Tim Thomas is the best goalie in the league right now until he proves otherwise.

 

[maplesyrup]

Someone who does fit the criteria of winning a cup and having improved statistically in the league is Niemi.

Anyways, I think the question got muddied a little. There's the question of who you'd want on the Leafs, in which case youth is a factor, and then there's a question of who the best goalie in the league is, which is something where age doesn't matter.

Because, well, Tim Thomas is the best goalie in the league right now until he proves otherwise.

Agreed. For one year, I take Thomas... For the long term future of my Leafs, you know who my top three choices are.

 

[Kin]

I think my top 5's would be:

Best:

1. Thomas
2. Luongo
3. Lundqvist
4. Vokoun
5. Rinne

Leafs-wise

1. Lundqvist
2. Price
3. Rinne
4. Fleury
5. Ward

 

[bustaheims]

I think my top 5's would be:

Best:

1. Thomas
2. Luongo
3. Lundqvist
4. Vokoun
5. Rinne

Leafs-wise

1. Lundqvist
2. Price
3. Rinne
4. Fleury
5. Ward

Yeah, I think my choices might be pretty similar, though, I'd rank Lundqvist ahead of Luongo and I think I'd take Ward over Fleury.

 

[cw]

Oh come on.  : Apart from that he's done nothing but improve. As far as I'm concerned, he might be the best goalie in the league.

Given the choice between Ward and Lundqvist, I take Lundqvist 11 times out of 10.

Me too. But I'd need a tiny fraction of a millisecond to make the decision and say it. 
(Lundqvist has more syllables)

 

[maplesyrup]

I think my top 5's would be:

Best:

1. Thomas
2. Luongo
3. Lundqvist
4. Vokoun
5. Rinne

Leafs-wise

1. Lundqvist
2. Price
3. Rinne
4. Fleury
5. Ward

Leaf-wise I think we have the same 5 guys anyway.

 

[leafplasma]

I think my top 5's would be:

Best:

1. Thomas
2. Luongo
3. Lundqvist
4. Vokoun
5. Rinne

Leafs-wise

1. Lundqvist
2. Price
3. Rinne
4. Fleury
5. Ward

Loungo has lost a fair amount of lustre in my eyes despite putting up great numbers on a great team last year.  I would have a hard time placing him on my top 5 let alone number 2 right now. I think a guy like  Ryan Miller if on the nucks puts up better numbers than Lou does in Vancouver last year. I just have to include Miller in my top 5. Maybe that is because of how he plays against our Leafs, who knows but it is more than just stats for me and I really like Miller.

 

[Bullfrog]

That and Miller won the Vezina two seasons ago. He's easily in my top 5, in both categories.

 

[dappleganger]

Pekka Rinne all the way. Are we getting a new goalie?

 

[maplesyrup]

That and Miller won the Vezina two seasons ago. He's easily in my top 5, in both categories.

Yeah, somehow Miller completely slipped my mind. He's there for me as well. 

 

[Kin]

Loungo has lost a fair amount of lustre in my eyes despite putting up great numbers on a great team last year.  I would have a hard time placing him on my top 5 let alone number 2 right now. I think a guy like  Ryan Miller if on the nucks puts up better numbers than Lou does in Vancouver last year. I just have to include Miller in my top 5. Maybe that is because of how he plays against our Leafs, who knows but it is more than just stats for me and I really like Miller.

Luongo didn't just put up good regular season numbers, he took his team to within a game of the Cup. Before the Bruins series he was pretty close to lights out.

He's won a Olympic Gold, was a Vezina finalist, got nominated for the Hart a few years back and you wouldn't put him in the top five? I don't see there's much of a rationale for that.