Bob Duff: Expect Babcock, Wings, to announce new contract soon Detroit coach Mike Babcock will soon put his name to a deal to stay as coach of the Detroit Red Wings that will make him the NHL's highest-paid coach.

but, Toronto?

but, Toronto?
- Jeropotato

It was a given wasn't it

Is there a worse starting goalie in the SO than Howard? Holy crap is he ever awful. Always beat on clean shots, rarely makes a save. Which is odd since he's so solid in game situations. Seems the only way not to score on him is to miss the net

Is there a worse starting goalie in the SO than Howard? Holy crap is he ever awful. Always beat on clean shots, rarely makes a save. Which is odd since he's so solid in game situations. Seems the only way not to score on him is to miss the net
- daredwingsman19

In all honesty I think that is proof that he is not a very skilled goalie. Great fundamentals, stands tall in net, works hard. However, in one on one situations, seemingly easy shots seem to get past him, and he appears to flinch when the shots come in, almost as if he is not so much watching the puck, but hoping it hits him.

In all honesty I think that is proof that he is not a very skilled goalie. Great fundamentals, stands tall in net, works hard. However, in one on one situations, seemingly easy shots seem to get past him, and he appears to flinch when the shots come in, almost as if he is not so much watching the puck, but hoping it hits him.
- snipesydangle

It think it may have to do with his confidence in the SO due to his horrendous record too. You can tell he doesn't look as comfortable as he does in a game situation

It think it may have to do with his confidence in the SO due to his horrendous record too. You can tell he doesn't look as comfortable as he does in a game situation
- daredwingsman19

The shootout is designed for the players to score and score often, but the Wings can't score for Howard. The pressure is all on the goalie to shut out the opposition, which isn't fair because it's goalie that's at the disadvantage. To put it all on the goalie is just pushing the easy button. Any team that only has 3 goals in 5 shootouts is going have a bad record regardless of how good or bad a goalie is. My point is that there are 18 skaters that need to share some of the blame, it's not all on Howard.

Howard is .693 in shootouts (on 153 shots) in his career, which is pretty dang close to league average. Granted he's been letting a lot in so far this season, but he's only faced 10 total shots. In other words, he's had the equivalent of 1 bad period of actual hockey. I just don't think that's enough data to judge him too harshly.

Yes, it could be that he has a confidence or declining performance issue, and his totals over the last essentially 2 years (2012-13 short season, 2013-14, and the start of this year) are below average. But we're still only talking about ~50 shots here, which means that even, say, 3 lucky goals or lucky saves/misses above expectation is enough to give a .700 true talent goalie a .640 or .760 mark.

Although I wouldn't rule out the possibility that Howard is just not a very good shootout goalie (maybe he was getting lucky earlier in his career) or that nerves or confidence is affecting his performance, I think it's probably more likely it's just bad luck. He comes out and plays his angle, takes away as much of the net has he can, but the shooters are making their shots at a higher rate than usual. It happens.

I'm more concerned about the shooters. There's probably a fair amount of bad luck involved here, too, but still, only 19 goals on 88 shots over the last three seasons (21.6%) is just plain abysmal. Datsyuk is really their only skater who has a long-term track record of decent efficiency in these contests (and he hasn't even been that good the last few years).

It was a given wasn't it
- vancity787

was a done deal according to the Toronto media.

was a done deal according to the Toronto media.
- DoubleDown

I never believed that rumor. He works for a very successful organization and has 100% privacy in his life outside of the rink. He loses both in Toronto. Privacy is something the Toronto media doesn't seem to understand. The odds of him staying here were always good.

was a done deal according to the Toronto media.
- DoubleDown

By 'done deal' do you mean that the media was talking about the possibility?

By 'done deal' do you mean that the media was talking about the possibility?
- 1979AD

That's like every god damned thing said about sports.
(Hypothetical)
Media guy #1: I wonder if the time will come when Phil Kessel will ask for a trade to get away from the pressure.
Media guy#2: reports are that Phil Kessel is struggling with the pressure In Toronto

Wide spread media: reports out of Toronto state that Phol Kessel has asked for a trade out of Toronto.

.....and the beat goes on with this bull

was a done deal according to the Toronto media.
- DoubleDown

Never happened.

And now it's a "Done Deal" based on this report?

That's like every god damned thing said about sports.
(Hypothetical)
Media guy #1: I wonder if the time will come when Phil Kessel will ask for a trade to get away from the pressure.
Media guy#2: reports are that Phil Kessel is struggling with the pressure In Toronto

Wide spread media: reports out of Toronto state that Phol Kessel has asked for a trade out of Toronto.

.....and the beat goes on with this bull
- Jeropotato

The best ever was when Phil said "It isn't working" -talking about his line and the media cut the clip to say he was asking for a trade.

I'd rather them put in a cold backup goalie in the shootout as opposed to Howard, it can't hurt...he's awful in shootouts.

That's like every god damned thing said about sports.
(Hypothetical)
Media guy #1: I wonder if the time will come when Phil Kessel will ask for a trade to get away from the pressure.
Media guy#2: reports are that Phil Kessel is struggling with the pressure In Toronto

Wide spread media: reports out of Toronto state that Phol Kessel has asked for a trade out of Toronto.

.....and the beat goes on with this bull
- Jeropotato

HB Blogger: Expect wings to soon announce new contract for Babcock

HB Posters: Hahaha stupid Laffs fans, nobody ever wants to play for or work for your team, especially Babcock. There was never any chance he was coming to TO

Babcock: Ummmm Detroit offered me an extension that would make me the highest paid coach in hockey before the season and I didn't sign. There have been no new offers, talks, or negotiations about a contract extension since

http://www.sportsnet.ca/h...-highest-paid-head-coach/

HB Blogger: Expect wings to soon announce new contract for Babcock

HB Posters: Hahaha stupid Laffs fans, nobody ever wants to play for or work for your team, especially Babcock. There was never any chance he was coming to TO

Babcock: Ummmm Detroit offered me an extension that would make me the highest paid coach in hockey before the season and I didn't sign. There have been no new offers, talks, or negotiations about a contract extension since

http://www.sportsnet.ca/h...-highest-paid-head-coach/
- 1979AD

Option 3 is a smokescreen for option 1 or 2.

Or option 3 is correct.

Or possibly option 2, then gets traded for option 1 and Randy Carlyle.

Either way, I think it's of the up most importance the whole HockeyBuzz mantra of Leafs vs Rest of World continues so the Eklund family have a smashing holiday period.

Howard is .693 in shootouts (on 153 shots) in his career, which is pretty dang close to league average. Granted he's been letting a lot in so far this season, but he's only faced 10 total shots. In other words, he's had the equivalent of 1 bad period of actual hockey. I just don't think that's enough data to judge him too harshly.

Yes, it could be that he has a confidence or declining performance issue, and his totals over the last essentially 2 years (2012-13 short season, 2013-14, and the start of this year) are below average. But we're still only talking about ~50 shots here, which means that even, say, 3 lucky goals or lucky saves/misses above expectation is enough to give a .700 true talent goalie a .640 or .760 mark.

Although I wouldn't rule out the possibility that Howard is just not a very good shootout goalie (maybe he was getting lucky earlier in his career) or that nerves or confidence is affecting his performance, I think it's probably more likely it's just bad luck. He comes out and plays his angle, takes away as much of the net has he can, but the shooters are making their shots at a higher rate than usual. It happens.

I'm more concerned about the shooters. There's probably a fair amount of bad luck involved here, too, but still, only 19 goals on 88 shots over the last three seasons (21.6%) is just plain abysmal. Datsyuk is really their only skater who has a long-term track record of decent efficiency in these contests (and he hasn't even been that good the last few years).
- Sven22

Hmm. Forwards there's it's pretty easy to say need to be better, there's no denying that.

But even those numbers look high for Howie. So I did a little digging. This season in the 4 SOL Howard has gone:

0/2 vs BOS
1/3 vs BUF
1/2 vs TBL (shot missed the net)
1/3 vs TOR (another that missed the net)

So far this season he's really made 1 save on 10 shots.
1/8 taking away missed net shots - .125 SV%

Last season Wings went 5-9 in the SO, Howard played 8 (Gus went 2-4) and went:

1/2 vs SJS
0/2 vs WPG
2/3 vs WSH
1/3 vs FLA (shot went wide)
1/3 vs TOR
3/3 vs LAK (1 shot wide) - First SO win
7/7 vs WAS (1 shot wide) - Win
3/3 vs EDM (1 shot wide) - Win

So he at least finished the year pretty well here, going 18/26 overall -
14 saves on 22 actual shots - .636 SV% - Below average

2012-13 Wings went 2-5. Howard played 6. Gus went 1-0

4/4 vs CLB (1 shot wide) - Only Win
1/2 vs CHI
0/2 vs CLB
1/3 vs SJS (1 Post)
3/5 vs CHI (1 post)
2/3 vs VAN (1 shot wide)

11/19 overall. 7/15 for SOG - .467 SV%

So.. Overall his last 3 years in the SO have been pretty rough when you only account for shots that would've been goals. last 3 seasons he's made 22 saves on 45 shots, which is a .489 SV% - well below league average.

Don't get me wrong, I love Howie and I think he's a great goaltender, and like you said it's a pretty small sample size and could just be really bad luck, but this is definitely one area the team needs him to improve on.

Well that and his puck playing ability

So much for this report. Babcock shot-it-down and said he and Holland have not even talked about an extension.