Habs claim Antti Niemi off waivers

[hairnova]

Lindgren's new backup goalie.

[Habspatrol]

[Altair]

But I though price only had a minor lower body injury?

[DonKay]

This is funny

[hairnova]

I'd say this is more about Montoya than Price. Lindgren isn't backing up Price when he gets back.

[Rolex]

I LOVE IT

[WeHaveMoreCupsThanYou]

Didn't someone in another thread try to tell us that Niemi was a franchise goalie because he won a Cup with Chicago? How do franchise goalies wind up on waivers?

When they no longer play behind the likes of Kane, Toews, Sharp, Hossa, Keith and Seabrook, I guess.

[GrandWazoo]

Didn't someone in another thread try to tell us that Niemi was a franchise goalie because he won a Cup with Chicago? How do franchise goalies wind up on waivers?

When they no longer play behind the likes of Kane, Toews, Sharp, Hossa, Keith and Seabrook, I guess.

Nope, that was the guy we all agreed was the exception.

[GrandWazoo]

I'd say this is more about Montoya than Price. Lindgren isn't backing up Price when he gets back.

I think it's more about given Fucale a chance to play games in the minors instead of sitting on the bench in Montreal.

[WeHaveMoreCupsThanYou]

Nope, that was the guy we all agreed was the exception.

I would classify Niemi as the rule of the past decade rather than the exception. The last truly "franchise" goalie to single-handedly carry his team to Cup victory was Brodeur in 2003 during the dead puck era when goalies wore equipment made for the Michelin Man.

[GrandWazoo]

That truly depends on your definition of franchise goalie. I can easily argue that Crawford, Quick and Thomas are franchise goalies and Murray might very well become one.

[Habspatrol]

That truly depends on your definition of franchise goalie. I can easily argue that Crawford, Quick and Thomas are franchise goalies and Murray might very well become one.

So you feel there are like 10+ franchise goalies in the league?

[DonKay]

I think it's more about given Fucale a chance to play games in the minors instead of sitting on the bench in Montreal.

It;s more about having a back up to sit on the bench when Price comes back.

Lindgren will go back to Laval to play the bulk of games

[GrandWazoo]

So you feel there are like 10+ franchise goalies in the league?

Yes

[Habspatrol]

Yes

That seems like a lot.

[Altair]

That seems like a lot.

I think he's lumping in elite goalies with franchise goalies.

I think there are 10 elite goalies in the league, 5 of them franchise goalies.

If he wanted to say crawford is a elite goalie, I wouldn't argue that. But if f I wanted to build a team where the forwards are average, the defense is average and you needed a franchise goalie to drag a team into respect ability, I wouldn't pick crawford to do it

[GrandWazoo]

That seems like a lot.

Not really, those are the best in the world, there is very little difference between the top 10-15 goalies in the league over any significant number of games (multi-seasons).

[Guinch]

He was free? Who cares? And lets be honest, would you rather him play 1 or 2 games or Fucale?

[GrandWazoo]

I think he's lumping in elite goalies with franchise goalies.

I think there are 10 elite goalies in the league, 5 of them franchise goalies.

If he wanted to say crawford is a elite goalie, I wouldn't argue that. But if f I wanted to build a team where the forwards are average, the defense is average and you needed a franchise goalie to drag a team into respect ability, I wouldn't pick crawford to do it

I am, which is why I'm asking what's your definition of a franchise goalie.

I personally wouldn't build my team around a goalie so that notion of franchise goalie is a bit silly to me. The difference between the top goalie in the league and the 15th one is probably around 10 goals a year.

[Rolex]

I am, which is why I'm asking what's your definition of a franchise goalie.

I personally wouldn't build my team around a goalie so that notion of franchise goalie is a bit silly to me. The difference between the top goalie in the league and the 15th one is probably around 10 goals a year.

Funny how regular everyday fans like you and me understand that concept, but guys paid millions to manage teams don't....hence throwing 10.5M at a goalie...

Mind you, I also wouldn't have given 10.5M to Toews....even though everyone knows i've been bullish on getting centers for the longest time on this board (and the board before this one)