Carey and Jaro can clearly get along, so why can’t we?! (photo credit: Getty images)
posted by habsbloggergirl
Goaltending has been a major issue this year, not so much for the team, but for the fans. Never have I seen such a divide between a group of people supposedly wanting the exact same thing. At first, I didn’t understand why this was such a major issue. To me, it seems logical to play the goalie who gives us the best chance of winning, and though the identity of that goaltender may change weekly, we are lucky enough to have two able goaltenders, so I never saw a problem with that. Clearly, the majority of fans disagree.
I can’t go a day without seeing or hearing something negative about one goaltender or the other, or something that pits them against each other, and to be honest, I am sick of it. Most fans seem to think its okay to badmouth a player, and although they do have the right to their own opinion, I have no clue what it accomplishes. I honestly don’t know how Carey and Jaro do this. Or why. And I think that if it continues, one or both will be run out of town (or rather will themselves run as fast as they can to get out of town) and who would blame them?
Imagine being in their position. Would you stay if you had the option of leaving?
I don’t want to dredge up the old arguments. We have heard them all so many times before and they are useless. People don’t easily change their minds, so no matter how valid an argument is, if they believe something, they’ll find a way to counter it. It’s not their fault, it’s just human nature. I just think that we aren’t being fair to Jaro, Carey and the rest of the team. They may have been having a tough time, but at least they were trying. How can we not credit Jaro for being a momentum changer in the last win or for bringing the Slovakian team further than they have ever been in the Olympics? How can we not credit Carey for playing well right after the Olympic break ended or for his great play at the beginning of the season? To me these things are so clear, but I’m 100% sure that as people are reading this, the so-called Halak-haters will disagree with my first question, and the so-called Price-haters will disagree with my second. The worst part is most of the time people don’t even realize that they are being prejudiced towards one goaltender or the other. I’m sure I’m guilty of this sometimes too; we all are. But it’s important to become conscious of these prejudices, since only than can change occur.
The Halak-haters see Price through rose-coloured glasses, just as the Price-haters see Halak in that way. The truth is, neither are perfect. They both have their flaws. This year, both have been both good and bad at times. It is however not fair to slam them for every miniscule mistake they have made. They are only human after all. I doubt any one of us could have done any better, and although it may be easy to criticize them, who are we to say that the other goalie would have done a better job? There is absolutely no way of knowing that. Stats can only predict things to a certain extent.
People have criticized Jacques Martin for his “win-and-stay-in” policy, and although I think it may put a bit too much pressure on the goaltenders some of the time and sometimes may be unfair if goaltender has a great game, yet loses, I hope he sticks with it for the rest of the season, since I don’t think we can make the playoffs any other way. At this point, we need points, so it doesn’t really matter who is in nets when we get them. It isn’t fair to sacrifice the team’s chance at the playoffs to meet the expectations of the goaltenders, the administration or the fans, and by putting one goaltender in for the remainder of the season (unless they win every game), it would be doing just that.
Both goalies are talented and both deserve success. When one (or both) leaves, we’ll be wishing we were back in this situation. So why don’t we all take a deep breath, relax, try to get along and enjoy what we have while we still can?
Very good point, but goalie controversies, like quarterback controversies are nothing new. The fact is one of them will have to go if for no other reason than they'll improve the depth of the team with what they receive in return.
Until that happens, the debate will rage on. Who do we keep? Who do we trade? Who gives the best chance now? How about in two or three years?
It is good to have them both, but it will better to settle on one.
Well said Kelly, this was very nice to read.
I know I can safely say that not once have I criticized Martin's decision to go with one guy vs another. I really, really like both goaltenders. I have no interest in promoting one over the other, and no interest in being Pro-anyone. I'm Pro-Habs, and whoever gets the 2 points is the guy I want in goal.
I know they are both capable of getting it done. We've all seen it. At this point, everything suggests that Halak is better/luckier (take your pick) guy, and the team is more likely to win 2 points with him in goal. I don't know why this is. What I do know is that the last time I checked, taking 2 points out of a game is the main objective, and it's the coach's job to put the team in the best position to do that.
I'm not saying I don't want to see Price again this year. I think Martin should start with Halak, and if he wins tonight, play him again. If he loses, go with Price. It's a simple formula. We have 2 good goalies, and they both should be used. When chosen, it is their job to make saves, and especially at this time of the year. Pressure is inevitable in Montreal, especially for goaltenders. They may as well get used to that because it will never change or go away. It will only get worse. All I want is for the same rules and standards to apply to both guys, from both fans, media and the team itself.
Extremely well said Kyle! I completely agree! Thanks for the comment :)
Very well said, Kelly! You basically said what I've been trying to say for a while now :D
@Oblivion: Sorry, your comment didn't show up before!
I understand what you mean… we can't expect to stay like this forever, especially with all the huge contracts we are stuck with, but in an ideal situation I feel like it is better this way. There aren't many Brodeurs and Luongos and even they aren't wonderful 100% of the time… So I prefer having two above average goalies I think. But that's more of an opinion thing I guess. But it's not very likely to stay this way, and as you said there for sure will always be this debate.
Thanks for the comment!
@EP Thanks so much! :)
Thanks for writing the article habsbloggergirl. I really appreciate and agree with your overall sentiment.
But I think that Oblivion is right. The debate will continue. Feelings run far more deeply than a rousing chorus of Kumbaya is going to fix.
I suppose I disagree with your premise that there are Price-haters and Halak-haters on opposite sides of this debate.
The line isn't running down the center of the court on this one, is it? Not even close!
If there is a Halak-hater, I haven't encountered one (a statement like that is guaranteed to bring someone out of the woodwork). But if they exist, the ratio is conservatively a million to one…Price-haters to Halak-haters. That is, people who savor the opportunity to trash one of them for no particular reason.
In my experience, there are Price-haters, Halak-hypers and Price-defenders.
You see, one side is always on the offense…kinda like the terrorists, you know. And just like terrorists, there is no 'getting along' or sitting down for a rational argument.
Are there irrational callers who can't wait to shred Jaroslav Halak on the sports talk shows regardless of his performance? No.
Are Carey Price's poor games erased from the memory banks as if they haven't even happened? No.
Is there an Allan Walsh on the other side of the argument? No. And let's be thankful for that.
This issue has to do with agendas: both selfish and political driven by fans, media and one player agent.
It is divisive by design and has been destructive to one superb player and the team overall.
Some other points:
"Win and your in" as anything more than a short-term strategy is nonsense.
It doesn't work, and never has. Its why you don't see it widely used by the better coaches in the NHL.
When NHL hockey, becomes 60 minutes of shootouts, I may be willing to consider it as one possible viable strategy.
Win and you're in absolves the team from any responsibility for the way they play. It allows the coach to escape blame for his decision-making. Instead it focuses all the spotlight on the goaltenders.
It is partly to blame for the goaltending controversy we have today.
As far as your specific goaltending examples, I have no interest in being critical of Halak's play but I would like to see the hype brought down to a more realistic level.
Claiming that Halak turned the game around in Anaheim and is responsible for the win is nonsense. If the team continued to play the way they did in the first period, they would lose 12-0.
Replacing the goaltender as a sure-fire method to changing the momentum of a game is part of sports mythology. You only hear about it when it works. And when it does work, it has little to do with the new goalie.
In the second and third period, Anaheim went for 23 minutes without a scoring chance. Is that my opinion? No, its from guys who are paid to track this stuff. And its a stark contrast from what happened in the first period.
As for the Olympics, at best, Halak can be considered to have had a mediocre tournament.
Did he have more bad games than good? Without question. I watched every minute of every game.
With 12 teams participating Halak was the 8th ranked goalie at the conclusion of the Olympics. Is that my opinion? No. That's the IIHF. Apparently they haven't been forced to drink the koolaid yet.
@All_Habs
Thanks for the comment! :)
I can't say that I agree with you on most things, but I do understand where you are coming from. I could get nit-picky and dissect each statement of your comment, but I don't think it'll achieve anything so I'll just leave most of it for now but I do want to clarify a few things that I had written in my blog that you misinterpreted slightly.
First, about the momentum changer thing… I didn't say that Jaro's play changed the momentum of the game, I said putting him in did. And he did have 21 shots on him, and saved them all, so he was good on some level (whether or not they were decent scoring chances). If you think otherwise, I understand, but I'm just saying numbers-wise he stopped all the shots, but I never said he played so well that they won… I just said the momentum changed when they put him in.
Second, in terms of the win and stay in strategy, who knows if it would work long term… but in my blog, I was referring to this point in the season when wins and points are all that matter, since otherwise we won't make the playoffs. If we ride Carey or Jaro till the end and they go on a losing streak we won't make the playoffs. Maybe the goaltender who isn't winning next week or whenever will find the win and stay in strategy unfair, but at this point they need to do what's best for the team short term, and that is to go with the hot hand.
Lastly, I think you misread one of my statements… I said that Jaro helped get the Slovakian team further than they have ever been in the Olympics. This is true. Their highest position ever was 5th… This year they were in 4th. That's all I was saying… I wasn't dissecting his play, but in my opinion he did really great. I understand that you have a different opinion though and respect that.
Anyway, just wanted to clear those things up. Thanks!
Oh and also haha… I know of a few Halak-haters.
There were A LOT around last year, but since he has been winning games, I think some have stopped hating so much… They did call in and dissect his seemingly good performances etc.. last year very often. But now that he has been playing well, Price is the one who has been getting grief from these people. (Fairweathered fans maybe?! loll)
There are still some around however who dislike Halak for no apparent reason.
I read the habsinsideout comment boards sometimes and both sides are in great numbers.
One thing the loudests of "fans" do not understand is that after Price and Halak, the depth in goal drops like a rock. None of the guys in the system are ready to make any significant step to the next level (and if you say "Desjardins" I will slap you because the Habs are not the Bulldogs). If we lose one or both, we become no better than a handful of credited contender teams that have massive questions in goal. In fact, goaltending is the position of strength to this team and I pray the managers do not screw it up for something shiny.
Definitely agree with you Number31! I feel some kind of screw up is inevitable, though I'm really dreading it…
Thanks for the comment!
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