Might the Detroit Red Wings be dealers at the NHL entry draft?
It’s entirely possible.
“We’re probably in a better position today to explore trades than we were at any point in time because of the depth of our organization,… Detroit general manager Ken Holland said. “But I don’t want anyone to think ‘they’re making trades,’ because the trades have got to make sense.…
There’s one possible deal that people have been talking about since the Red Wings’ season ended with their seven-game opening-round playoff loss to the eventual Eastern Conference champion Tampa Bay Lightning.
Now that Petr Mrazek has established himself as a capable NHL goalie, lots of Wings fans think it would be a good idea to shop Jimmy Howard.
It isn’t going to happen, nor should it.
Holland offered a quick and to the point response to a suggestion from a reporter as to whether he thought it would be good timing to move Howard.
“I don’t,… Holland said.
Here’s why Holland’s answer is the right one.
Up until he suffered a groin injury just prior to the NHL All-Star break – Howard was slated to represent the Wings in the mid-season classic – the veteran Detroit goalie was enjoying a renaissance of his previous form following an off year in 2013-14.
“At the all-star break I think his goals-against average was 2.01 and his save percentage was .924,… Holland said. “He got injured and the wheels went off the track.
“While he was out, Mrazek went 10-1-1. Because of Mrazek’s play, when he came back, we weren’t prepared to let Jimmy kind of play his way out of the injury.…
Howard insisted he’d never ask the Wings for a trade.
“No,… Howard said. “Not at all.…
Howard would be happy to fight to regain his No. 1 job in training camp next fall.
“He earned the right to play,… Howard said of Mrazek. “He played well.
“Competition is the name of the game and when you don’t perform, you don’t play. It’s as simple as that.…
The bottom line is that Mrazek needs Howard and Howard needs Mrazek and the Wings need both of them to succeed.
“I think this is a two-goalie league,… Holland said. “I’ve got to have two goalies.…
If Howard were to be dealt, who would be that other goalie? Tom McCollum? Jared Coreau? A veteran journeyman gleaned from a weak crop free agent netminders?
It just doesn’t add up, but the math that does work for the Wings comes when they assemble the salaries of their two goalies.
“When I look at the combined salary cap of the two, Jimmy’s $5.3 (million) and Mrazek is $737,500,… Holland said. “They add up to $6 million.
“When you look at what we put into goal in relation to our 29 competitors, we’re probably middle of the pack. There are some teams that have $8-9 million (invested) in goal.…
Look around the league at how many goaltenders were injured last season. Remember, Detroit got wins from four different goalies.
Going into next season with just the second-year Mrazek as their go-to guy could prove disastrous were he to be hurt or suffer from a sophomore jinx.
Mrazek is a competitive guy. Howard always seems to perform better when there’s someone in the room capable of taking away his job.
“I think we’re going to have a motivated guy in Jimmy Howard and I think we’re going to have a motivated guy in Petr Mrazek,… Holland said. “So I think we’re going to have a good 1-2 punch.…
The Wings could very well be players on the trade front during the draft. But if you think Howard is one of the chips who will be in play, you’re going to be very disappointed.
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