Howard vs Smith *REP*

[jay_capa]

In a limited Keeper (Keep 7) 10 team league. My keepers are as follows:

Parise
Stamkos
Giroux
Letang
Hall
Smith
Howard

I recently traded Fleury for Parise and a 1st and am now looking to strengthen my goal tending. I'm thinking about targeting Schneider and Rask. Our goalie cats are: GS, W, GAA, SV% and SO.

I am in talks on two seperate deals:

Deal 1: option a) Smith and L Ericsson for Schneider
option b) Smith and 1st round pick for Schneider (1st rd pick typically brings back Ericsson level player)

Deal 2: option a) Smith and Ericsson for Rask
option b) Howard and Ericsson for Rask

Questions:

1) who do you have more faith in next year - smith or Howard? I feel Smith is beneficiary of a defensive system and Howard is beneficiary of a solid detroit team. Departure of Lidstrom scares me.

2) I know there has been much debate of Rask vs Schneider - my question is regarding both of them (let's assume they are equal) - will they be top 10 fantasy goalies this year and going forward?

Thanks!

[hockeyrobot]

We know what Tippett's system does for the goalies that play there so I wouldn't expect anything to change with Smith this year.

I would be selling Howard right now with Detroit's current state of confusion. It's possible that Babcock will force the team into a defense first unit, but that would take time and might not even be successful.

[kevinsrangers]

id take rask or schnider any day. luongo is not even gone yet.
i like smith over howard too, so id go howard and a pick for rask.

[jay_capa]

How comfortable would you be if your two starting goalies were rask and schneider? Is it too risky to go after both of them?

[Seeds of Grapes]

Doan will be gone. Whitney is gone. Yandle may be gone.

I much prefer Detroit as a team, and Howard was spectacular until he was injured last season.

I take Howard over Smith.

[Bubba55]

Jeez, I don't know about this. First thing that strikes me is that the asking price for Rask and Schneider is a bit high for a 10 team keeper?? Giving up either Smith or Howard who are both established number 1 goalies for either Rask or Schneider who are top prospects but are for the most part still unproven starters and then throwing in a legit 70+ point forward in Eriksson seems a bit stiff. Eriksson and Howard/Smith for a Rinne or a Lundqvist, yeah. Anyway, give me Howard next year, I think the changes in Detriot are being overblown and the team will be fine and so will Howard. The Yotes are totally unstable compared to the Wings, give me the history; Red Wings and Howard. So, in moving Smith, who do you target. I would strongly suggest that you examine this more closely, are Schnieder and Rask equal? Maybe. But for me, give me Rask. Others may disagree. However, based on this I move Smith and Eriksson for Rask. Hope this helps

[Sportfreunde]

I like Howard more than Smith too. Smith has had one good season on Phx and that roster looks worst this season. Howard (his roster doesn't look better) has at least had multiple seasons as a starter and a good one at that during the regular season. I think there's more stability in his situation as well.

[Reuben]

I'd counter by saying that Smith may have had just the one good season, but Bryzgalov had 42 and 36 wins (combined 15 shutouts) in the two years before he left for Philly (and before Smith took over).

Two years ago, Doan led Phoenix with 55 points.

A year ago, Doan led with 60.

There's been some changes this summer in Phoenix, but Dave Tippett is one of the best defensive coaches in the game.

The point I'm making is that Tippett will continue to ride his starting goalie, gets his starting goalie really good numbers, and despite the loss of Whitney and maybe Doan, that should continue this coming year.

I'd actually lean towards Smith, because the loss of Lidstrom has the potential to be absolutely disastrous in Detroit, especially given that they've replaced him with jacks***

So may answer to 1 is: Smith

2: I think Rask will be top-10...and Schneider could be, but only if the Canucks move Luongo. If that doesn't happen - and it seems more and more likely by the day - then Schneider will be in a battle to keep that starting job. If Lui is moved, Schneider is the undisputed #1 and should have very, very nice numbers

[CallMeJerry]

I'd counter by saying that Smith may have had just the one good season, but Bryzgalov had 42 and 36 wins (combined 15 shutouts) in the two years before he left for Philly (and before Smith took over).

Two years ago, Doan led Phoenix with 55 points.

A year ago, Doan led with 60.

There's been some changes this summer in Phoenix, but Dave Tippett is one of the best defensive coaches in the game.

The point I'm making is that Tippett will continue to ride his starting goalie, gets his starting goalie really good numbers, and despite the loss of Whitney and maybe Doan, that should continue this coming year.

I'd actually lean towards Smith, because the loss of Lidstrom has the potential to be absolutely disastrous in Detroit, especially given that they've replaced him with jacks***

So may answer to 1 is: Smith

2: I think Rask will be top-10...and Schneider could be, but only if the Canucks move Luongo. If that doesn't happen - and it seems more and more likely by the day - then Schneider will be in a battle to keep that starting job. If Lui is moved, Schneider is the undisputed #1 and should have very, very nice numbers

I was just about to make the same points about Smith & Tippett and Howard & Lidstrom. To go further back with Tippett, he pumped Turco into the top tier of goalies during his Dallas years too. If you look at Bryz & Turco without Tippett, you see straight line correlating Tippett & very good goalie stats.

[3rtpaper]

I'd rather have Smith over Howard and Rask.. and I even own Schneider but I feel Rask will be better and as of now he has a starting job secured.

[Seeds of Grapes]

I'd rather have Smith over Howard and Rask.. and I even own Schneider but I feel Rask will be better and as of now he has a starting job secured.

That's a bold statement! Too bad we are not in the same league; we would be ideal trading partners (Rask over Howard and Smith for me).

[3rtpaper]

That's a bold statement! Too bad we are not in the same league; we would be ideal trading partners (Rask over Howard and Smith for me).

If I was looking to win now it would definitely be Rask and Smith for me. Long term I still think Rask but Howard is 2 years younger so I would favor him if I was looking a year or 2 down the road. Granted if Hasek plays at 48 why can't Smith do the same . The goalies are close in both situations It is more prefrence than anything really. I like the debate though especually with Rask and Schneider.. lots of talk comparing those 2.

[theslymonkey]

1) who do you have more faith in next year - smith or Howard? I feel Smith is beneficiary of a defensive system and Howard is beneficiary of a solid detroit team. Departure of Lidstrom scares me.

2) I know there has been much debate of Rask vs Schneider - my question is regarding both of them (let's assume they are equal) - will they be top 10 fantasy goalies this year and going forward?

1) Howard easily. Smith will be solid again in Phx. But Howard was unbelievable. Lidstrom or no Lidstrom, he will be great again.

2) If/When Lou is traded, they will both be top 10 (7-10ish). I'd take Rask before Schneider just because the Bruins have a way better defensive structure.