Next Great Goalie Final!!!!!!!!

[FINNtastic]

Lundqvist proved himself tonight He has been simply stunning throughout the tournament

 

[Freaky Habs Fan]

Lethonen...

 

[BobMarleyNYR]

Definately KARI LEHTONEN.

Henrik Lundqvist made the final? There are alot of goalie prospects better than him.

Actually there really aren't many goalie prospects better than Lundqvist, and I'm not saying that just because I'm a Rangers fan... I won't vote, 'cause I'm unsure. Lehtonen has better talent and Ed Belfour upside, but Lundqvist is WAY more proven, plus his resume is 10x more impressive than Lehtonen's.

 

[Riggins]

This Ranger fan chooses... Lehtonen.

Congrats, you are the first!

This is unreal. I know about 90% of the votes for Lundqvist are from Swedes here because of the World Championships and Ranger fans but still.. why then did the Rangers choose Montoya?

 

[Til the End of Time]

This is unreal. I know about 90% of the votes for Lundqvist are from Swedes here because of the World Championships and Ranger fans but still.. why then did the Rangers choose Montoya?

Something I was wondering as well.

 

[Riggins]

Something I was wondering as well.

I guess they just didn't realize Lundqvist is a surefire franchise goalie.

 

[Jag68Sid87]

I'll go with Lehtonen based on age, potential and performance in North America.

 

[BobMarleyNYR]

Congrats, you are the first!

This is unreal. I know about 90% of the votes for Lundqvist are from Swedes here because of the World Championships and Ranger fans but still.. why then did the Rangers choose Montoya?

For the same reason they picked Lundqvist when we had Blackburn... people doubting Lundqvist don't sound like cynics or anything, it's just stupid. If you've paid any attention to Lundqvist at all, you know the story. Already and for a year now he's been regarded as the best Swedish goalie EVER. Montoya was chosen for the same reason Ovechkin or Schremp were chosen; Don Maloney saw him as the best player available at no. 6. It's that simple.

 

[Bruins4Ever]

like who? there may be some others better but to say there are alot shows you are majorily underrating him.

1. Lehtonen
2. Raycroft
3. Fleury
4. Toivonen
5. DiPietro
6. Nitymaki
7. Lundqvist

He's top 10, but he's miles behind Lehtonen, and not within spitting distance of DiPietro.

 

[BobMarleyNYR]

I kinda agree with this... I'd have to admit Lehtonen. I don't think DiPietro is TOO much better, but better nonetheless... I think Lundqvist>Nittymaki... and Bryzgalov, and Ouellet, and Emery, and Miller. But not Toivonen, Fleury or DiPietro... Raycroft should be top 20, but not 2nd.

 

[wassup77]

1. Lehtonen
2. Raycroft
3. Fleury
4. Toivonen
5. DiPietro
6. Nitymaki
7. Lundqvist

He's top 10, but he's miles behind Lehtonen, and not within spitting distance of DiPietro.

God has spoken. Now we can end this discussion.

Conclusion: Lehtonen is the next one and Lundqvist is not.

 

[Bluenote13]

1. Lehtonen
2. Raycroft
3. Fleury
4. Toivonen
5. DiPietro
6. Nitymaki
7. Lundqvist

He's top 10, but he's miles behind Lehtonen, and not within spitting distance of DiPietro.

I think Lundqvist can be just as good as any of the goalies you have mentioned, but lets hear it for all of them becoming very good NHL goalies

 

[Know Your Enemy]

This is kind of strange, Lehtonen has dominated the SM-Liiga, World Juniors, the AHL and hasnt lost in the NHL.

Lehtonen was the goaltender/player of the year, and the playoff MVP in the SM-Liiga at around age 18. He was the World Juniors best Goaltender in '02 and won a Silver and 1 or 2 Bronze medals. Was on the AHL 2nd all-star team and was Goaltender of the month twice this year. Hasn't lost an NHL game while playing with a poor defensive club. And he also played very well in the World Cup pre-season..... I think its a given that Lehtonen should take this, he's dominated everywhere he's gone.

 

[loadie]

Lehtonen for me, Lundqvist looks like he has a bright future also.

 

[Taxman]

Actually there really aren't many goalie prospects better than Lundqvist, and I'm not saying that just because I'm a Rangers fan... I won't vote, 'cause I'm unsure. Lehtonen has better talent and Ed Belfour upside, but Lundqvist is WAY more proven, plus his resume is 10x more impressive than Lehtonen's.

Lundqvist has a much more impressive resume than Lehtonen?

Lehtonen's resume seriously craps all over Lundqvist's. I have no idea where you got the idea that Lundqvist has anywhere near the resume Lehtonen has.

BTW, Lehtonen is in the AHL playoffs again right now and again is proving himself to be a ****ing big time big game goalie. He has been the best goalie of the entire AHL playoff tournament so far.

 

[wassup77]

Lundqvist has a much more impressive resume than Lehtonen?

Lehtonen's resume seriously craps all over Lundqvist's. I have no idea where you got the idea that Lundqvist has anywhere near the resume Lehtonen has.

BTW, Lehtonen is in the AHL playoffs again right now and again is proving himself to be a ****ing big time big game goalie. He has been the best goalie of the entire AHL playoff tournament so far.

Lundqvist whould **** AHL. He'd shut everything out. SEL > AHL...

 

[NYRangers]

BTW, Lehtonen is in the AHL playoffs again right now and again is proving himself to be a ****ing big time big game goalie. He has been the best goalie of the entire AHL playoff tournament so far.

Well isn't playing in an International Tournament with the best of the best NHLers better than being in the AHL playoffs?

 

[Le Golie]

Lundqvist whould **** AHL. He'd shut everything out. SEL > AHL...

I'm not convinced either that Lundqvist would allow a goal in an AHL season.

 

[Das Rancor]

Lundqvist whould **** AHL. He'd shut everything out. SEL > AHL...

Seeing is believing!
Yeah, and when he makes the NHL, the Rangers are gonna make the playoffs and win the Stanley cup!
Geez... How many times does one have to type it:

SUCCESS IN EUROPE DOES NOT MEAN SUCCESS IN NORTH AMERICA!

 

[Jeffrey]

Lundqvist is the flavour of the week ...
incredible .. this guy was underrated for 2 years ..
but in 3 months ... he's now better than the #2 prospect on hockeysfuture top 50 ranking sure it doesnt mean anything .. but some Lundqvist homer here forgot that as great as Lundqvist resumé could be ... Lehtonen resumé is as good if not better than him while he's still 2 years younger ...

Lundqvist will probably turn out as a great goalie for the rangers ..
BUT !! Lehtonen could redefine the goalie position ... he's the most complete goalie I've ever seen in my life .. and he's done really well everywhere he played ..
Actually, I do think that Toivonen(which i'm probably one of his greatest fan even if he plays for the hated Bruins) could beat Lundqvist in the long run...
Lundqvist has good all around game like a lot of goalie .. but sometimes when these goalies can't adapt their style to other league .. so i'll wait until Lundqvist come in NA before I try to compare him to Lehtonen or even Toivonen !

 

[miss hockey]

WC last year?? He made his name known then..and followed it up with an another amazing SEL year and was the Lundqvist show in the playoffs.

Yes but in Finland we had the Lehtonen show, in the regurlar season AND the playoffs.

At age 17.

Lundqvist whould **** AHL. He'd shut everything out. SEL > AHL...

you know, a 101 different goalies are great in europe,. then suck in North America. You heard of the likes of Lasak? He's a recent example, an older one is Myllys,. absolutely magnificent goalies on the big ice. supreme, dominant.
On the small ice, no future.

Lundqvist has yet to step onto AHL ice, so let's not judge his **** of the AHL just yet.
Besides, for many european goalies it takes an entire season to adjust to the AHL.
SEL better than AHL? Maybe in terms of who the top 3 guys for each team are, but guys 4-23 are better in the AHL than in the SEL. AHL -> SEL

I just read through this entire thread, your homerism for Lundqvist is incredible. You slam eveyr other goalie, claim the AHL is crap, claim theres no suhc thing as big ice small ice while there clearly is and you off-hand dismiss some of the best talent in the AHL without even looking at them once.

Go to www.theahl.com and look up goaltender statistics, look for Niittymäki, Toivonen, Fleury, etc etc who you so eagerly dismissed.

Lundqvist is the flavour of the week, remember that, but bear in mind that Lehtonen is the flavour of the millenium.

 

[bleedgreen]

until kari plays a full season in the nhl - i have trouble saying even he is better than raycroft or dipietro. it looks like he might be in a few years - but everyone here is counting their eggs before they're in the pudding with either of these two. doesnt matter what experience either has until its at least a season of the nhl. its like saying crosby is better than lecavalier - maybe he will be someday...but you cant say he is now.

 

[wassup77]

Yes but in Finland we had the Lehtonen show, in the regurlar season AND the playoffs.

At age 17.




you know, a 101 different goalies are great in europe,. then suck in North America. You heard of the likes of Lasak? He's a recent example, an older one is Myllys,. absolutely magnificent goalies on the big ice. supreme, dominant.
On the small ice, no future.

Lundqvist has yet to step onto AHL ice, so let's not judge his **** of the AHL just yet.
Besides, for many european goalies it takes an entire season to adjust to the AHL.
SEL better than AHL? Maybe in terms of who the top 3 guys for each team are, but guys 4-23 are better in the AHL than in the SEL. AHL -> SEL

I just read through this entire thread, your homerism for Lundqvist is incredible. You slam eveyr other goalie, claim the AHL is crap, claim theres no suhc thing as big ice small ice while there clearly is and you off-hand dismiss some of the best talent in the AHL without even looking at them once.

Go to www.theahl.com and look up goaltender statistics, look for Niittymäki, Toivonen, Fleury, etc etc who you so eagerly dismissed.

Lundqvist is the flavour of the week, remember that, but bear in mind that Lehtonen is the flavour of the millenium.

Okay, that makes sense. I will wait to see how well Lundqvist will do in the AHL. But hey, this topic asks who will be the next great goalie. And nobody KNOWS. No goalie has garanteed that he will be great. I think Lundqvist will be better than Lehtonen.

 

[Robertsson 4-ever]

until kari plays a full season in the nhl - i have trouble saying even he is better than raycroft or dipietro. it looks like he might be in a few years - but everyone here is counting their eggs before they're in the pudding with either of these two. doesnt matter what experience either has until its at least a season of the nhl. its like saying crosby is better than lecavalier - maybe he will be someday...but you cant say he is now.

Good replay, and the same goes for Lundqvist. Wait to judge them until we see what they both can do on the biggest level, the NHL.

 

[MAF]

Lehtonen