Halak, Quick or Howard: Who would you trade?

[His Dudeness]

Hi, I'm having a hell of a hard time with this. League in my signature - I don't have to trade one of them, but I think I will trade one this off-season. Question is, other things being equal (i.e. assuming each could fetch the exact same return), I'm having a hard time figuring out which is the least valuable to me in my deep, salary cap keeper league:

Quick, 25 years old, $1.8 / $1.7.
Howard, 27 years old, $2.25 / $2.25.
Halak, 26 years old, $3.5 / $4.25, $4.5.

All are on good teams (but STL still hasn't punched through). Quick has the Bernier factor (which doesn't appear to be as big a threat this off-season as last off-season).

I asked Angus in one of his mailbags and he said Howard would be the one to go. I asked Justin G a couple of months or so ago in one his mailbags and he said Halak is the odd guy out, but Howard would fetch the most.

So I thought I'd put it out for further advice. I already know that keeping all 3 is an option but for the sake of advice, assume I am trading one of them. I know there's a very similar post (involving two of these goalies and Rask) but I didn't want to hijack that.

Thanks

[Pengwin7]

Wow... 9pts for a win & only 5pts for a SO.

Howard would have been the easy choice, IMO, until I saw those scoring settings.
Combined with his low salary, he is very valuable.

I still have this haunting little outside feeling that Detroit could be a sleeper to sign Tomas Vokoun. If for some reason, this happens - Howard's value becomes 0.

For that reason, you may want to try and move him:

1. Issue a league statement: "I'm looking to trade one of my goalies at a reasonable discount for an upgrade at forward or D." Use a term like "reasonable discount", even if you are lying a bit to bring people in. Let people come to you. Hopefully, you'll get a fish that is interested in Howard.

2. See if anything pops up and come back with your trade offers.


IMO, Halak & Quick have a very firm grasp on their #1 positions for next year.
Bernier could become the #1 in LA, but I don't think that happens next year.

[Sherpa]

If I had to toss one of those, I'd also pick Howard too.

His salary's an advantage to be sure but with Rafalski gone and Lidstrom stringing along one-year deals until he decides to stop (or age finally forces his hand), I'd be worried about Kronwall and company maintaining the D. Plus, I still don't sense that Howard's been able to establish himself as an elite talent in his own right or his stats are more of a virtue of the team he plays for.

Plus, his team's average age is creeping over the 30-year mark.

All in all, time to sell high on Howard?

[His Dudeness]

Thanks both. Great insight and the fact you both agree Howard (which is what Angus said also) is helpful.

I did send a league-wide email saying I'm considering moving one of my starters and would consider offers - I got a quite a bit of interest, but mostly bad offers (Kulemin for Halak) or answers like "what do you want?" so I think I have to take a more targeted approach. I've considered trading a goalie and getting Benn in a return package, also Seguin - but advice I've received to date is that I should be getting more.

[andrewklassen]

Thoughts...

The two G who are most entrenched as the #1 guys are Howard and Halak. Nobody with any pedigree is pushing them.

The two G with the best peripheral #s indicating they're the best pure talent...Quick and Halak.

The two G who have a track record of playing over 60 games in at least two NHL seasons...Howard and Quick.

The two G who have cleared 35 wins in at least 2 NHL seasons...Howard and Quick.

There are pros and cons to any decision you make here, but I think Halak is the odd man out. STL is going to take the next step one of these years, but hasn't yet and Halak has never played 60 games in a season and has never even won 30 in a season. This doesn't mean I don't believe in him, but solidifies why I think you have to hang onto the other two G.

LA has tried to give Bernier a chance to take the reigns, but Quick has only improved and he's looking less and less like bridge to Bernier.

DET has a history of not putting huge dollars in net and in allowing their picks to slowly grow into NHL roles. I'd be very surprised if DET did anything more than sign a backup for Howard this off-season. Their motto in net appear to be 'good enough' and even Osgood can win a Cup in that system.

[BladesOfSteel]

Quick shouldn't even be in this discussion, he will challenge for best fantasy hockey goalie next season.

I'd keep him and Halak. I'm not entirely sold on Howard just yet.

[His Dudeness]

More good comments - thanks. AK raises some good points in favour of Halak. I guess it's pretty clear that I keep Quick, which is helpful.

[dyzfunctioned]

Another vote against Howard.

[His Dudeness]

Another vote against Howard.

Thanks - do you mean a vote for Howard being the guy to move? Or a vote against him being the guy to move? I think the former but just checking.

[dyzfunctioned]

Thanks - do you mean a vote for Howard being the guy to move? Or a vote against him being the guy to move? I think the former but just checking.

Vote against keeping him or a vote for moving him

Has struggled with consistency, his rebound control is awful and I personally think his stats would be awful without being in Detroit.