I would have liked it but it certainly appears that Askarov wants immediate playing time and to be on his team in at least a 1B position with a clear path to the #1 position.

I don't think any team with cup aspirations can hand the keys to the car over to a guy who has 2 NHL starts and decent, but not exceptional AHL stats (17th in Save percentage as an example).

The curious decision here is that Nashville decided to sign Jusse Saros to an 8 year deal starting when he's 30 - with an anxious Askarov in the fold.

They could have traded Saros for a very decent return - and for a team whose best players are all over 30 (Forsberg 30, O'Rielly 33, Marchessault 33, Stamkos 34, Jose 34, Skjei 30) that would seem like a smart thing to do - they feel like a team that's built for the next 2-3 years at absolute best and then they are on the way down. So how much better did Nashville think Saros was than Askarov's potential to make this decision and subsequent deal?
- Monkeypunk

I think you hit the nail on the head as to why they did what they did by locking up Saros. They are looking to make a deep run in the next few years and then likely do a full scale re-built/burn it to the ground type of thing.

If that's the plan they probably thought it was wiser / improved their chances at a cup to keep the goalie they know is a good performer and flip the young / unproven at the NHL level one (and perhaps thought they would get much more for Askarov than they did).

It'll be interesting to see what the Preds do if they struggle and don't look like they are built for a good, long cup run. Will they double down and go all in for the now and trade away prospects, and picks galore or will they decide to start the rebuild early?

What rookie goalies won the Conn Smythe outside of Hextall and Roy? I can't think of any off the top of my head.

There are also plenty of examples of goalies coming into the league and having immediate success and then once the league figures them out falling from grace spectacularly - Jack Campbell comes to mind most recently for me / Toronto.

I actually think there are more examples of goalies who come in hot and then fizzle than the other way around but maybe the falls from grace are just more memorable than the ones who came in as rookies and lit it up and stayed red hot.

Hell there were many Habs fans clamoring for Carey Price to be traded and Halak to take over as the bonafide #1 after one great playoff run by Halak in 2010 or so!


I do wonder how Halak (and Price's) career's would have gone if that had happened.
- Cush29

1: Only the foolish ones wanted to trade Price, his potential was so goddamn obvious compared to Halak's.

2: If Price had been traded to the Blues (let's pretend the same trade happened) I'm guessing he would have won a cup over there.

"Plenty"?
In the past 20 years, it looks like 4 goalies have won the Conn smythe.
I think only Cam ward was a rookie.

I believe since the late 70's only 5 rookie goalies won the cup: Roy, Bennington, Murray, hextall, ward.

Not a huge list, but Askarov doesnt have to lead his team to cup victory in his first year in order to have a successful year IMO.
Ah well.
The leafs have injury woll, Stolarz, Murray, Hildeby...hopefully one of them turn out to be our consistent #1.
- Fakepartofme

I appreciate how you set it at late '70s, to piss off Scabby.

Keep up the good work.

P.S. Hextall won the Conn Smythe Trophy, but not the Stanley Cup.

1. Cam Ward...and it was a bumpy ride after that.

2. Steve Mason (RIP career)

3. Most of the time. Goalies run hot/cold, those that don't are in the HOF

4. That was pretty funny in Hainesight. Would have been glorious if they did trade him.
- AdamFrench

I don't think Steve Mason ever won a Conn Smythe though, but he also played for a terrible Blue Jackets team as a rookie and for a long time. He did win the Calder though for sure.

Agreed on how wild it would have been if Price had been traded, and I have many friends who are Habs fans who were all about sticking with Halak after that insane run the Habs had in 2010.

i mean....of course. Keefe betting fav

I don't think Steve Mason ever won a Conn Smythe though, but he also played for a terrible Blue Jackets team as a rookie and for a long time. He did win the Calder though for sure.

Agreed on how wild it would have been if Price had been traded, and I have many friends who are Habs fans who were all about sticking with Halak after that insane run the Habs had in 2010.
- Cush29

Steve Mason was coming out hot and insane, then people finding out and becoming a low and then mid level goalie. A fine career, just nothing the hype of his Calder would ever bring up...oh (frank) forgot about our boy RAYCROFT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i mean....of course. Keefe betting fav


- senstroll

Weird odds. The Jack Adams favours poopty teams not being poopty randomly and explaining it on the new coach.

Steve Mason was coming out hot and insane, then people finding out and becoming a low and then mid level goalie. A fine career, just nothing the hype of his Calder would ever bring up...oh (frank) forgot about our boy RAYCROFT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- AdamFrench

I'll see your Raycroft, and raise you a Darren Pang (Calder finalist).

Weird odds. The Jack Adams favours poopty teams not being poopty randomly and explaining it on the new coach.
- AdamFrench

yeah a team that exceeds expectations. NJ is a good bet to bounce back..no matter who is the coach

I'll see your Raycroft, and raise you a Darren Pang (Calder finalist).
- Atomic Wedgie

Darren Pang played the white way

Weird odds. The Jack Adams favours poopty teams not being poopty randomly and explaining it on the new coach.
- AdamFrench

spot on!

Steve Mason was coming out hot and insane, then people finding out and becoming a low and then mid level goalie. A fine career, just nothing the hype of his Calder would ever bring up...oh (frank) forgot about our boy RAYCROFT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- AdamFrench

Raycroft.....he did tie the record for most regular season wins by a Leaf goalie believe it or not - a record that he shared with Eddie the Eagle.

That alone is hilarious considering his #'s in his 2 seasons in Toronto:

2.99 GAA and Sv% of .894
3.92 GAA and Sv % of .876

i mean....of course. Keefe betting fav


- senstroll

You gotta be some kind of degenerate gambler to be betting on the Jack Adams.

You gotta be some kind of degenerate gambler to be betting on the Jack Adams.
- Zezel

*places a $10 bet on whatever sad sack is coaching the Ducks*

Seems good

MLB Defensive Runs Saved Leaders

C- Patrick Bailey
1B- Matt Olson
2B- Brice Turang
SS- Masyn Winn & Brayan Rocchio
3B- Matt Chapman
LF- Daulton Varsho
CF- Daulton Varsho
RF- Sal Frelick
Overall- Daulton Varsho

I would have liked it but it certainly appears that Askarov wants immediate playing time and to be on his team in at least a 1B position with a clear path to the #1 position.

I don't think any team with cup aspirations can hand the keys to the car over to a guy who has 2 NHL starts and decent, but not exceptional AHL stats (17th in Save percentage as an example).

The curious decision here is that Nashville decided to sign Jusse Saros to an 8 year deal starting when he's 30 - with an anxious Askarov in the fold.

They could have traded Saros for a very decent return - and for a team whose best players are all over 30 (Forsberg 30, O'Rielly 33, Marchessault 33, Stamkos 34, Jose 34, Skjei 30) that would seem like a smart thing to do - they feel like a team that's built for the next 2-3 years at absolute best and then they are on the way down. So how much better did Nashville think Saros was than Askarov's potential to make this decision and subsequent deal?
- Monkeypunk

I would have thought the same, but maybe they saw something in Askarov that made them believe he couldnt replace Saros in the future?

yeah a team that exceeds expectations. NJ is a good bet to bounce back..no matter who is the coach
- senstroll

adding a goalie helps

i mean....of course. Keefe betting fav


- senstroll

6 years with the leafs, doesnt ever get a sniff, then he leaves the leafs and now he's the fav to win.

Weird.

I appreciate how you set it at late '70s, to piss off Scabby.

Keep up the good work.

P.S. Hextall won the Conn Smythe Trophy, but not the Stanley Cup.
- Atomic Wedgie

Minor detail.

Stoopid flyers.

6 years with the leafs, doesnt ever get a sniff, then he leaves the leafs and now he's the fav to win.

Weird.
- Fakepartofme

I’ve had a number of well-established coaches in the league reach out to say that I should be happy now that I get to coach in the real NHL. Toronto is quite unique … it’s not like the rest of the league.

yeah a team that exceeds expectations. NJ is a good bet to bounce back..no matter who is the coach
- senstroll

They finally got a quality goalie.
That will definitely help.

Minor detail.

Stoopid flyers.
- Fakepartofme

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JQQn8BSQGY

adding a goalie helps
- drexel

what a good coaching move by Keefe

what a good coaching move by Keefe
- senstroll

maybe that was a Keefe stipulation.

Let’s trade for Kent Johnson already 😡