Not sure if you understand how writing works (if you did, it'd be a first) but you basically do make it up as you type. It's sort of like walking - just one foot in front of the other.
While I agree is counter-intuitive - depth in the NHL is perhaps the most overrated concept. Outside of elite players, all other players are practically interchangable.

you've got the internet, go read about this stuff man, it's not like I make it up.
- James_Tanner

This explains soooo much.
Good for you. Researching and organizing your thoughts is for inferior beings.

I'm just listing possibilities, obviously some are better than others. I think Halek could be a perfectly good starter, but Quick is probably done, probably was always overrated.

I honestly think Draisaitl would be worth parting with to get Gibson.
- James_Tanner

Not sure if you understand how writing works (if you did, it'd be a first) but you basically do make it up as you type. It's sort of like walking - just one foot in front of the other.
While I agree is counter-intuitive - depth in the NHL is perhaps the most overrated concept. Outside of elite players, all other players are practically interchangable.

you've got the internet, go read about this stuff man, it's not like I make it up.
- James_Tanner

You have never planned a blog in advance? I mean changes will often occur, but a whole blog doesn't have to be off the cuff.

Is the risk extreme if you get someone like Gibson? If I round up the five smartest guys I know when it comes to hockey, I think four of them will say Gibson is the NHL's best goalie.
- James_Tanner

If you rounded up the 5 smartest hockey guys you know, they would tell you to shut the (frank) up and deny they know you.

Is the risk extreme if you get someone like Gibson? If I round up the five smartest guys I know when it comes to hockey, I think four of them will say Gibson is the NHL's best goalie.
- James_Tanner

Yeah, Gibson is elite. He’s also oft injured.

What’s more, if such a trade were to happen, and then McDavid went down with injury (shudders), who’d be worth more to the Oilers? Gibson or Draisaitl?

As I said, the risk is extreme.

Not sure if you understand how writing works (if you did, it'd be a first) but you basically do make it up as you type. It's sort of like walking - just one foot in front of the other.
While I agree is counter-intuitive - depth in the NHL is perhaps the most overrated concept. Outside of elite players, all other players are practically interchangable.

you've got the internet, go read about this stuff man, it's not like I make it up.
- James_Tanner

I understand that as a leafs fan, you're desperate for the bolded part to be true.....but what team has won the Stanley cup in the last 20-30 years that hasn't had an insanely deep roster. 4 solid lines (none of those 5 minute per game guys), 3 solid pairings that can all play in most situations, and 2 good goalies.

Not sure if you understand how writing works (if you did, it'd be a first) but you basically do make it up as you type. It's sort of like walking - just one foot in front of the other.
While I agree is counter-intuitive - depth in the NHL is perhaps the most overrated concept. Outside of elite players, all other players are practically interchangable.

you've got the internet, go read about this stuff man, it's not like I make it up.
- James_Tanner

this is the most telling thing you have ever written, Tanner.

Good writers actually sit down beforehand, work out what they want to say, make sure it follows a logical progression, ensure there are no errors in logic, then write and edit it.

You just puke out whatever you can on a blog and pat yourself on the back.

Oh, and you link to a video.

Is the risk extreme if you get someone like Gibson? If I round up the five smartest guys I know when it comes to hockey, I think four of them will say Gibson is the NHL's best goalie.
- James_Tanner

says the guy who's written dozens of blogs and message board posts claiming that the best goalie in the league plays in Arizona

this is the most telling thing you have ever written, Tanner.

Good writers actually sit down beforehand, work out what they want to say, make sure it follows a logical progression, ensure there are no errors in logic, then write and edit it.

You just puke out whatever you can on a blog and pat yourself on the back.

Oh, and you link to a video.
- Atomic Wedgie

I blame you for even thinking you could lump tanner in with bad writers, let alone good ones.

he's in a special class, reserved for the Richard Cloutier's, Steve Simmon's, Eklund's, and Garth's of the hockey world

Yeah, Gibson is elite. He’s also oft injured.

What’s more, if such a trade were to happen, and then McDavid went down with injury (shudders), who’d be worth more to the Oilers? Gibson or Draisaitl?

As I said, the risk is extreme.
- Wildschwein

That oft injured line is played out...
in the past perhaps ...
last 3 yrs -
52/60/58 .. which is exactly what the Ducks want him to play...
This yr 32 ...

That oft injured line is played out...
in the past perhaps ...
last 3 yrs -
52/60/58 .. which is exactly what the Ducks want him to play...
This yr 32 ...
- dozerD10

How many games has Gibson missed to injury in the last 3 seasons?

ok this is epic

- Atomic Wedgie

I’d trade Puljujarvi for that Gibson.

Haha this is a garbage article. Koskinen is having a very solid season so the fact you add him into this shows you are a biased incompetent writer. They do need a backup upgrade but so does Toronto and I don’t see you throwing them under the bus. Last article I’ll read of yours every time you write it is complete nonsense haha hockey buzz needs to replace you already.

Wow James, a blog I agree with! The goalie is disproportionately more important than any other player on the ice. How many times have you heard anyone say, "Wow, McDavid stole us that game" vs. "Wow, Smith stole us that game." As bad as Smith has been, the latter has been said way more often than the former.
As for your trade proposal, if Draisaitl is included, I'd do it for two reasons. First, the Ducks would FINALLY have someone who can consistently finish and with Trevor Zegras probably joining Anaheim next year, Leon will have a skilled passer to play with. Also, Lukas Dostal has looked pretty good in net so they might as well give him a shot. The second reason is this trade doesn't make the Oilers THAT much better. Offensively, they'll be worse as teams will concentrate on stopping McDavid, without having to worry about Draisaitl. The Oilers defense is still just so-so, Gibson would help, but I don't think that would be enough to put the Oilers over the top.

There are 19 players dressed on a given night, but one of them is the difference maker. What makes goalies unique among other such positions in sports - like a pitcher or a quarterback - is their relative unpredictability.

It would seem that very few goalies are able to predictably perform each year at the top of their level.

For example, if we look at this year's save percentage leaders, few star goalies are represented.

If we sort NHL.com goalie stats by games played, you see a list of star players with good reputations as starting goalies, but only Hellbuyck, Andersen, Bishop and Binnington have save percentage above .915 while starting 30 games.

Bobrovsky, Rask, Price, Holtby, Gibson, Rinne, Lundvquist, Kuemper are all absent from the list. (Though obviously back up goalie strength, team defense, random luck etc. all play a part here).

This isn't meant to be scientific - save percentage isn't the best stat, and this is just a half season sample, but it does illustrate something I think we all know: goalie performance is a little bit unpredictable.

This is further seen in how a 3rd stringer like Binnington can win the Cup and become a star player overnight, or how the Vezina Trophy winners list is littered with one-time winners like Jim Carey.

It's kind of a good thing that goalies are unpredictable, or hockey would be a very boring game.

Ok, I agree with that. That does make sense. But...:

McDavid and a #1 goalie is all you really need anyways.

Are you kidding? So you think trading Draisaitl, a top-end forward who performs at a top level consistently, for a position that, by your own admission above, is by its very nature very volatile and unpredictable, actually makes sense? You just contradicted yourself .

The arguments you have above are why most teams do not over-commit on goalies. The Pens never gave Fleury a huge contract despite being one of the rare goalies who is relatively consistent and had survived in the league for over a decade at the point they made him available to the LVGK. In all likelihood they will either trade Murray or let him walk at the end of the season, despite the fact the he won back to back Cups. They are not going to give him 7/8 million for 7 years. I can assure you that both Malkin and Guentzel are much more valuable to the team than Murray.

It is better to have a decent but replaceable goalie, with a solid system/team defense in front of him.

The first part of this article seemed like it was aimed at making fun of Florida for throwing so much money at Sergei Bobrovsky. The second part seemed like it was suggesting that Edmonton throw a bunch of money at Sergei Bobrovsky. You're a strange, strange cat.
- FoppaForever

I don't think anyone should give out max deals to guys in their thirties, but at least the Panthers had the right idea: goalies are important.

Bobrovsky is also sort of weird in that he seems to fluctuate between garbage and superstar. It might not be the worst move, if Bobrovsky gives them one of his premium seasons, they're suddenly one of the best teams in the world.

- sensarmy_11

She said that to him, but became his best friend. Just saying.

To be honest, if John Gibson is in fact the best goalie in the world, Leon Draisaitl would be a perfectly reasonable cost to pay.

You have never planned a blog in advance? I mean changes will often occur, but a whole blog doesn't have to be off the cuff.
- blueshirts_fan

They first draft copy I can turn out is in fact why I'm objectively speaking one of the best writers alive today.

If you rounded up the 5 smartest hockey guys you know, they would tell you to shut the (frank) up and deny they know you.
- Tonybere

You are so hilariously jealous of me it's sad.

Haha this is a garbage article. Koskinen is having a very solid season so the fact you add him into this shows you are a biased incompetent writer. They do need a backup upgrade but so does Toronto and I don’t see you throwing them under the bus. Last article I’ll read of yours every time you write it is complete nonsense haha hockey buzz needs to replace you already.
- BleedOil06

Oilers ranked 27th in 5v5 save percentage, but sure thing playa.

She said that to him, but became his best friend. Just saying.

To be honest, if John Gibson is in fact the best goalie in the world, Leon Draisaitl would be a perfectly reasonable cost to pay.
- James_Tanner

whether or not Gibson is the best goalie is EXTREMELY debatable...his numbers the last couple of years certainly don't suggest he is.

that being said, the difference between the best goalie in the world and the 10th or 15th best goalie in the world is negligible, and changes all the time. Hell, the oilers goalie this year (can never remember his name) has better numbers than Gibson.....yes, there is obviously the team factor to consider, but it's not like the oilers are one of the best teams in the league. if you're the best goalie in the world, your numbers should still be good, even if you're team sucks.....hell, Anders Nilsson has better numbers than Gibson, and he plays on a worse team.

If you add Gibson to the oilers, they're probably still not the favorites to even win the division, let alone the cup..............but if you remove draisaitl, they aren't even a playoff team (even with Gibson).

You are so hilariously jealous of me it's sad.
- James_Tanner

To be honest, it's actually disappointing that I can let your pathetic attempts at insight, or your lack of self-awareness have an effect on me whatsoever. So, in that way, yes, it is sad.

They first draft copy I can turn out is in fact why I'm objectively speaking one of the best writers alive today.
- James_Tanner

you are not in that category