There's still safer options than Mrazek as a backup like Grubauer, Pickard, Raanta (Assuming Fleury is their #1 goalie)
- porkchops1977

Mrazek has proven more than all 3 of them.

There's still safer options than Mrazek as a backup like Grubauer, Pickard, Raanta (Assuming Fleury is their #1 goalie)
- porkchops1977

It's not as simple as who the three "best" or "safest" goalies are, though. You can't make that decision in isolation, because you have to account both for the opportunity cost (how valuable another player on the squad you might have taken instead is) as well as what you need most based on the other selections you've made.

Just for the sake of argument, let's say it comes down to Mrazek or Grubauer. If it was just between those two guys, sure, maybe you select Grubauer. But by selecting Grubauer, you lock yourself out of also taking Nate Schmidt, who is a far better pickup than any of the other garbage Detroit has left unprotected. So even if you like Grubauer better than Mrazek, you may well decide that

Mrazek + Schmidt > Grubauer + Ouellet

... and make your picks accordingly. In fact, I think one of the best arguments for taking Mrazek over a goalie who might be cheaper or "safer" is the fact that there's no one else available from Detroit who isn't either on a terrible contract or completely unproven at the NHL level.

It's not as simple as who the three "best" or "safest" goalies are, though. You can't make that decision in isolation, because you have to account both for the opportunity cost (how valuable another player on the squad you might have taken instead is) as well as what you need most based on the other selections you've made.

Just for the sake of argument, let's say it comes down to Mrazek or Grubauer. If it was just between those two guys, sure, maybe you select Grubauer. But by selecting Grubauer, you lock yourself out of also taking Nate Schmidt, who is a far better pickup than any of the other garbage Detroit has left unprotected. So even if you like Grubauer better than Mrazek, you may well decide that

Mrazek + Schmidt > Grubauer + Ouellet

... and make your picks accordingly. In fact, I think one of the best arguments for taking Mrazek over a goalie who might be cheaper or "safer" is the fact that there's no one else available from Detroit who isn't either on a terrible contract or completely unproven at the NHL level.
- Sven22

Also

Mrazek is 25 and has been a starter for 2 years and is a RFA in 1 year.

Raanta is 28 and has never been a starter and is an UFA in 1 year.

Grubauer is 25 and has never been a starter and is currently a RFA

Pickard is 25 and has been a starter for 1 year due to injuries and is a RFA in 1 year.

Mrazek has the most experience of the bunch and in now way are the other players considered safer picks.

If Vegas is smart I think they should take Mrazek, Raanta, and Ullmark. Ullmark is the only goalie I'm aware of that is waiver exempt available in expansion. I would take Barberio from COL and Schmidt for WSH. Also skip over MAF and take Rust/Hagelin from PIT.

It's not as simple as who the three "best" or "safest" goalies are, though. You can't make that decision in isolation, because you have to account both for the opportunity cost (how valuable another player on the squad you might have taken instead is) as well as what you need most based on the other selections you've made.

Just for the sake of argument, let's say it comes down to Mrazek or Grubauer. If it was just between those two guys, sure, maybe you select Grubauer. But by selecting Grubauer, you lock yourself out of also taking Nate Schmidt, who is a far better pickup than any of the other garbage Detroit has left unprotected. So even if you like Grubauer better than Mrazek, you may well decide that

Mrazek + Schmidt > Grubauer + Ouellet

... and make your picks accordingly. In fact, I think one of the best arguments for taking Mrazek over a goalie who might be cheaper or "safer" is the fact that there's no one else available from Detroit who isn't either on a terrible contract or completely unproven at the NHL level.
- Sven22

I get what you are saying, I'm not sure I agree with Mrazek + Schmidt > Grubauer + Ouellet. I guess Vegas will have to decide that.

I get what you are saying, I'm not sure I agree with Mrazek + Schmidt > Grubauer + Ouellet. I guess Vegas will have to decide that.
- porkchops1977

Schmidt is much better than Ouellet.

Also

Mrazek is 25 and has been a starter for 2 years and is a RFA in 1 year.

Raanta is 28 and has never been a starter and is an UFA in 1 year.

Grubauer is 25 and has never been a starter and is currently a RFA

Pickard is 25 and has been a starter for 1 year due to injuries and is a RFA in 1 year.

Mrazek has the most experience of the bunch and in now way are the other players considered safer picks.

If Vegas is smart I think they should take Mrazek, Raanta, and Ullmark. Ullmark is the only goalie I'm aware of that is waiver exempt available in expansion. I would take Barberio from COL and Schmidt for WSH. Also skip over MAF and take Rust/Hagelin from PIT.
- Feds91Stammer

Just to be clear, I'm not necessarily saying I personally think Grubauer > Mrazek, but more walking through the thought process over why one goalie might be chosen over another beyond simply their individual performance level or contract status.

Just to be clear, I'm not necessarily saying I personally think Grubauer > Marazek, but more walking through the thought process over why one goalie might be chosen over another beyond simply their individual performance level or contract status.
- Sven22

Oh I agree. It isn't just about value of 1 player versus another it is about the overall value of one 30 player group versus another 30 player group.

LMAO put the kool-aid down.
- Feds91Stammer

So I wrote that on very little sleep and was trying to figure out if maybe I'm the idiot and that holland has a brilliant master plan that will just come out of nowhere (like when we signed hossa that one year). I agree though it's some crazy stuff

So I wrote that on very little sleep and was trying to figure out if maybe I'm the idiot and that holland has a brilliant master plan that will just come out of nowhere (like when we signed hossa that one year). I agree though it's some crazy stuff
- datswho

So I wrote that on very little sleep and was trying to figure out if maybe I'm the idiot and that holland has a brilliant master plan that will just come out of nowhere (like when we signed hossa that one year). I agree though it's some crazy stuff
- datswho

It was Hossa's agent who called Holland and said Marian was willing to sign with the Wings for 1 year 7 million. It literally fell in Kenny's lap.

20 years ago it was Holland and Pierre Lacroix out doing each other to see who could rake in the most cups. Boy how times change...

It's not so much that Mrazek's stock that's plummeted, it's this incompetent front office that continues to dig itself deeper and deeper.

20 years ago it was Holland and Pierre Lacroix out doing each other to see who could rake in the most cups. Boy how times change...
- Avsrchamps01

Pre Salary Cap. Holland. No clue post Salary Cap. I'll give him credit for the 08 cup winner.

It's not so much that Mrazek's stock that's plummeted, it's this incompetent front office that continues to dig itself deeper and deeper.
- StargateSG1

This. His stock is only plummeting with the red wings I think. Seems everyone else is interested. Just like only the red wings think glendenning is untouchable and worth $1.8 million per year

At this point I think Mrazek is probably the most valuable asset Vegas can take from Detroit in terms of trade value. They can certainly send him somewhere else for picks or prospects. Holland is an idiot. Howard will be injured again before December and I think Mrazek pissed Holland off by forcing his hand with arbitration. So I think it's more political at this point.

A lot of people seem to think it's either going to Ouellet or Mrazek who will get picked up by Vegas. It will be interesting to see how it unfolds. Would love to see Glendening get picked up .... but he's not worth anything close to that horrid contract dumbass Holland gave him. Won't happen. Also wouldn't mind if they take Sheahan who's become a waste of a roster spot.

One other point of interest... Chicago protected Jurco. Thought that was interesting.

If Vegas does not take Mrazek they are very stupid.