One of the biggest questions for the New York Islanders coming into training camp, is that chaos of a situation they have when it comes to goaltending.
To quickly recap the situation, Dwayne Roloson was traded on 1/1/11 to Tampa which left DiPietro as the #1 goaltender. DiPietro got hurt, and Nathan Lawson became the starting goaltender. Lawson wasn't as good as he was hyped up to be, and Kevin Poulin came in to take the job. DiPietro comes back, and he and Poulin share the duties of goaltender. On 1/22 Evgeny Nabokov goes on waivers to sign with the Detroit Red Wings, and the Islanders "surprise the NHL world" by claiming him off waivers. Nabokov for whatever reason decides not to report, and once again Poulin and DiPietro are left to share the duties of goaltenders. 2/2 comes along as the Islanders face off against the Pittsburgh Penguins, a game which sees DiPietro going down in a fight and missing 4-6 weeks with whatever face injury he suffered. A few games later, on 2/8, another goaltending injury takes place which sees Kevin Poulin get hurt in warmups. Mikko Koskinen comes in and loses his first NHL game. On 2/9, the Islanders decide they've seen enough and trade for Al Montoya, who would prove to play exceptionally and for the most part be the #1 goaltender for the Islanders for the remainder of the season.
Now move forward a few months and you have a great big fiasco. On one hand you have Rick DiPietro, who on all counts bleeds blue and orange, but no one knows if he can stay healthy long enough to be the #1 goaltender the Islanders so desperately need him to be. Make no mistake, when DiPietro plays at his 100% he is as good as any goaltender you can find in the NHL.
On the other hand, you have Al Montoya. Montoya was exceptional for the Islanders ever since they traded for him, posting a 9-5-5 record, with an amazing 2.39 gaa, and a .921 SV% with it. Montoya was great, but can he do it for 60+ games as the Islanders would need him to? Can he be consistent for an entire season, and finally be the #1 goaltender he was thought to be when the Rangers drafted him 6th overall in the 2004 NHL Draft by them?
On yet another hand you have Evgeny Nabokov. The Russian goaltender was phenomenal in the regular season during his time with San Jose, and has finally decided to grace Long Islanders with his presence at training camp. There were several rumors for why Nabokov didn't report to the Islanders when they claimed him, but personally I really don't care why he didn't come. He's here, and that's all that counts. Can he be the goalie he was in SJ? If so, then Montoya can step aside, and DiPietro better return to his 06/07 days or else he can step aside too.If not, then trade him to the highest bidder and get the headache over with.
I have a different view per goaltender, so let's start out with DiPietro. The man has more dedication to this organization then anybody in the past 20 years, and just as much as any player that's ever worn an Islander sweater since it came into the NHL 40 years ago. If he does come into the season healthy, and playing at his top form then I see no reason why he shouldn't be the #1 goalie. If that's the case, then the Islanders should keep Nabokov if he plays well in the pre-season and trade Montoya for he would have more trade value. If that's not the case, and he's playing the way he did last season in November, then you name the better goalie between Montoya and Nabokov the #1, and either use DiPietro as a backup, send him down, or buy him out altogether.
As for Montoya, Montoya's the unfortunate third wheel in this situation. His role on the team depends more on the performance of the other 2 goalies, then on his own. The only way I see him being the #1 goalie is if both DiPietro and Nabokov are posting GAA higher then 3 and he's posting a 2.4. Highly unlikely situation. Chances are Montoya will either be traded for having more value then Nabokov, or simply be kept as a backup to one of the other 2, but chances are very slim he becomes the #1 goalie in my opinion.
Nabokov, simply has to show a glimpse of his play in SJ, and outplay DiPietro and the #1 spot will have his name on it. Fans may disagree because he didn't report, and has no loyalty to the organization. Well if a goaltender with loyalty is what fans want, then my question is why the heck do you keep on booing the one who does?!
It's plain and simple really, the best goalie will be the #1 goaltender, and the rest will either be traded, bought out, sent down, or simply benched. Head coach, Jack Capuano, said it best, "I will play the goalie who wins games".
For a dedicated fan, there is much you dont understand about this team.
ReplyDeleteA) Al Montoya:
If Nabby leaves, he will be the #1 goalie. Ricky will be out 4-6 weeks because he has a blister on his foot or some ridiculous crap that bust gets into. And Poulin will be number 2. Al has shown that he is much better than DP, and can stay healthy.
***BIG POINT- Al Montoya was the ONLY goalie besides Dwyane Roloson to NOT get injured! And with this team and its plague of injuries, thats good.
He won more games than DP in half the time and is healthier. So Montoya was a much higher chance than you say.
B:) Nabakov
He's a jerk. I don't care what happens to him at all. But if he is with the team, he will be #1. He is a constant 40 game winner and will finally be the first exceptional goalie to wear blue and orange since Roli.
C.) Poulin
Will be in AHL for most of the year.
D.) DiPietro
I honestly think your having an affair with this man or something. You must come to terms with something. HE SUCKSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!! He was last in the NHL with EVERY SINGLE STAT. Except of course penatly mintues...he was 1st there. By the way, in 06/07, he was STILL letting up crappy goals, still giving up goals by playing the puck, AND didn't even help us get into the playoffs. Dubie did.
He is DONE. He is the worst goalie in the NHL, and is a plague to this franchise.
At the end of the day it comes down to having faith. If you're the type to give up on players when they have a few bad games, or a bad year even, then so be it that's your opinion.
ReplyDeleteHowever I see it differently. This man has given the last 11 years of his life to this organization, and I feel he at the very least deserves a chance to prove he can still be that goaltender. If he doesn't then I'm with you, send him down, buy him out, whatever. But he does deserve an opportunity to claim that #1 spot.
Thinking that Nabokov is still the same goalie he was in San Jose isn't right to you as a fan, and him as a player. The man hasn't played NHL hockey in a whole year, got his butt kicked in the KHL, and got injured in the world championships. He, like DiPietro, deserves a chance to showcase his talent. If he does turn out to be the same goaltender, then I will never have been so happy to say I was wrong. Coming into training camp, I have zero expectations for Nabokov. I'm simply hoping for the best, and preparing for the worst. Also, to say he was a jerk, well that's stating the obvious. Point is that he's ready to come here, and ready to get to work. I respect that, as do the Islander players, and as should the fans.
As for Montoya, no one is denying his ability. He was absolutely phenomenal last year, but when push comes to shove, I feel that he's the likeliest of the three to get traded. I'll explain, if DiPietro fails to play to Capuano's standard then they won't trade him cause no organization would be stupid enough to trade for him, and so they will instead use him as a backup. If Nabokov plays at a higher level then DiPietro then he will be the starter, and DP the backup. If DP outplays Nabokov he's the starter and Nabokov the backup. In both these situations I see Montoya being used in a trade to get the defenseman the Islanders need.
The only way I see Montoya being the #1 guy is if he clearly and by far outplays both DP and Nabby. This is highly unlikely, and I see the trade route being very much so more probable.
I agree with you roberto 110%. This guy is an idiot. When DP was winning games, everybody wanted/loved him. He was all over the islander media, all over posters and TV spots. He was at one point the face of this franchise! And upheld his part by winning 30 games twice. And in 05'-06', he'd face 30-35 shots a game because the D was always getting hurt.
ReplyDeleteDiPietro was one of the leagues best at one point. Referred to many anaylists as a "rising superstar". Which he was going to be.
However, seeing him now it is very sad. I see a guy who is ditierating. He fell apart every game he played. Each game he got worse and worse. It went from a 6-4 rangers win, to a 7-4 philly loss. Like I agree he should get another shot...just not with the islanders. His constant poor play is hurting the team. And I'm tired of losing! Unless he turns his game around, I dont want him.
Montoya will be traded. Nabby, I have no clue lol. But whatever happens, I just want to win. So I dont care. DP, Nabby, Montoya, Poulin, or Mikko. JUST FREAKIN' WIN!
Bring back Roli if Montoya is being traded.
ReplyDelete-Nabby is old and and not good anymore.
-And my 4 year old cousin can play net better than DiPietro.
Enough said.
I agree with you. My only question is, do you honestly think that a GM stupid enough to trade for DP's contract exists?
ReplyDeleteOk, any other blogger probably wouldn't bother to answer you, but I'm different and will.
ReplyDeleteTrust me when I say this, that there's absolutely none, 0, nessuna (i'm throwing italian in there just to prove a point) chance in HELL that Roloson ever, and I mean, ever comes back in an Islander uniform unless it's in some front office position which I also doubt.
Nabokov isn't 40, he just turned 36 in late July. That means that although he may be past his prime, it doesn't mean he still can't produce 30+ wins. Again, that's a question that surrounds him, does he still have it? But just stating that he's old and not good anymore before he even reports to camp is idiotic.
And last and certainly least, I find it extremely unlikely that any 4 year old, cousin or not, can play net better then DiPietro.
DiPietro is done. The Islander managment as well as the fan base need to understand this in order to move forward.
ReplyDeleteWith people like Roberto and Garth Snow who still think he is an NHLgoalie who can play at the NHL level with almost a 4 G.A.A over the past 3 years.
I highly suggest the ignorance dies.