blah, blah,blah…

If the numbers are interchangeable and they like Larsson then I guess that means they’re just as comfortable with Jimmah..eh..

I chalk it up to motivational speak, because if Howard was truly as bad as everyone seems to want to make him out to be then why on earth did they re-sign him last year, and lord knows he wouldn’t be on the big club this year.

He’ll sink or swim, but he needs to actually play to do that…

Honestly I’m not sure if questioning J-Ho at every turn is the way to build up a young goalies confidence, but I doubt “The Cock” cares…

Posted by moocat on 09/22/09 at 09:40 PM ET

I’m in the “give the kid a chance” camp, but at the same time, it’s not Babcock’s job to make him feel good.  The Wings didn’t re-sign Conklin, and nobody wants to rush a goalie (ie Larsson) into the NHL before he’s ready, so they basically have to rely on Howard.  He knows he has the job basically (I mean, is Dan friggin Cloutier going to steal it from him?!?!) and Babcock doesn’t want Howard to sit back and bask in the backup job because Detroit can’t afford to just have a default backup, they need a capable backup.  In that respect, the job might be Howie’s, but he’s going to have to prove that he deserves it.

Posted by Garth on 09/22/09 at 10:14 PM ET

Oh, I certainly agree he needs to prove it, and I would hope at this stage he knows that and is putting in the work.

There just seems to be a lot of “tough love” in relation to him, while it certainly is a proven motivational tool in sports, it’s not always the best way.

It just makes me wonder if there really is this dislike that everyone seems to assume the organization has around Howard, and if his work ethic really is as bad as rumored despite articles to the contrary, or if it’s just our typical hate the QB and Goalie mentality. The exception being that in this case, we like the starter so we’re going to hate the backup.

Posted by moocat on 09/22/09 at 10:39 PM ET

The question to ask is if J-Ho falters does Kenny waive him and bring up Larsson?

This front office has been able to find some gems and build a constant contender but the only place they have slipped is drafting Ozzie’s replacement. Time will tell

Posted by selke13 on 09/22/09 at 11:21 PM ET

The question to ask is if J-Ho falters does Kenny waive him and bring up Larsson?

Possibly.  Or trades Howard, as there’s still a lot of interest in him around the league.  I would expect them to try and move him via trade rather than just waive him.

Or I suppose the rivers could turn to blood, locusts take over the world, and the Wings could keep Larsson in GR and keep Cloutier as a backup.

I’m all for giving Howard a last chance obviously, but Kenny Holland is right—he has been VERY patient with his development, but we’re now at put-up-or-shut-up time.

Posted by Primis on 09/23/09 at 07:02 AM ET

It just makes me wonder if there really is this dislike that everyone seems to assume the organization has around Howard

I don’t think it’s a dislike so much as a patience-is-ending.  They’ve been touting his as the organization’s next goalie for four years and he doesn’t appear to have come through.  He’s the backup by default.  They couldn’t afford to keep Conklin so the job just goes to Howard.

The question to ask is if J-Ho falters does Kenny waive him and bring up Larsson?

I don’t know.  I would think so, because they seem somewhat keen on Larsson, but they do some odd things sometimes.  Maybe they give Cloutier the backup?  I don’t know.

Kenny Holland is right—he has been VERY patient with his development, but we’re now at put-up-or-shut-up time.

For sure.

Posted by Garth on 09/23/09 at 10:34 AM ET

Personally I really liked how Cloutier played that Rangers game on Monday.  He stopped all the shots, looked composed, and even scrummed a little with Voros.

I wouldn’t mind him as our backup one bit.

Posted by Hippy Dave from Portland by way of Detroit on 09/23/09 at 09:40 PM ET