Backup Starts - Clemmensen vs. Kinkaid

[HBK27]

We knew coming into the season that the Devils schedule was light early and that Schneider would be getting most if not all of the starts in October, which is exactly how things have played out. While it’s still likely that Cory starts the next 3 games (including tonight), Pete will have to consider giving Schneider some nights off after that as the schedule gets really busy.

Starting a week from tonight (Nov. 6th) the Devils play a stretch of 12 games in 24 nights, with 10 of those games part of back-to-backs and travel in between all but one pair of those games.

Here’s how the schedule looks:

Nov 6th - @ Blues
Nov 7th - @ Red Wings
Nov 10th – vs. Bruins
Nov 11th – vs. Wild
Nov 14th - @ Caps
Nov 15th – vs. Avs
Nov 18th – vs. Jets
Nov 21st - @ Oilers
Nov 22nd - @ Flames
Nov 25th - @ Canucks
Nov 28th – vs. Red Wings
Nov 29th - @ Islanders

When Kinkaid was sent down to Albany prior to the start of the season, Lou & Pete acknowledged the schedule played a role in that decision. Logically, it made sense to let him play in Albany vs. sitting on the bench for a month like Clemmensen has.

Here’s how the two have fared so far this season:

Kinkaid: 5GP 4-0-1 1.96GAA 0.934SV%
Clemmensen: 2GP 0-0-0 6.49GAA 0.765SV%

Stats greatly favor Kinkaid, though Wedgewood has been nearly as good in his 2 starts and Clemmensen has only played 37 minutes of mop-up duty in games the Devils as a team did not look good in.

My question is do you let Clemmensen get the 1st crack at a start or call up Kinkaid within the next week instead & how many games do you give the backup in November?

Click to read more...

 

[Bologna 1]

what do i do? call the kid up......what will they prolly do? give clemmensen a shot.

 

[jkrdevil]

I call up the better goalie....Kincaid

 

[devilsblood]

Starting Clemmensen is a ridiculous notion imo.

 

[Nat]

We need a reliable backup goalie and I don't believe Clemmensen can give us chance to win. We don't have a team that can carry goalie to free wins. And Cory need to rest sometimes, especially now I think, I believe he needs a mental reload.

I also starting to think that Cory gets more motivated when he has other goalie that breathes on his back. I doubt that he thinks that Clemmer is a threat to him. I think he benefited from playing "against" Luongo and Marty, he had a motivation to beat them and take their place, and only suitable way to do it, is to outplay them.

And now when he is clear cut №1 I think he lost some of his motivation to play on that top level he played before. Maybe he got used to constant battle for the №1 spot and now don't know anything better.

I can be woefully wrong. So sorry about that and sorry my poor English. Just a speculation from my part.

Anyway, I think we should call up Kinkaid.

 

[devilsblood]

Talking about backups just makes me think again about how ill conceived the notion was of playing Schneid's 70 games.

 

[JimEIV]

Talking about backups just makes me think again about how ill conceived the notion was of playing Schneid's 70 games.

But he had the best numbers of anyone in the last 100 games played....

It didn't seem to matter that those 100 games were over 5 years though...

 

[HBK27]

I think playing Clemmensen is just a disaster waiting to happen. Kinkaid is on top of his game at the moment and should absolutely be the starting goaltender a week from today vs. the Blues (can save Schneider for the following night at Detroit). Depending on how things go, Kinkaid should conceivably start 4-5 games over that 24 day stretch, so there wouldn’t be a whole lot of down-time for him. Only good thing about Clemmensen’s relief appearances are that it showed just how awful he can be.

 

[HBK27]

Talking about backups just makes me think again about how ill conceived the notion was of playing Schneid's 70 games.

The scary thing is that this earl in the season and with only one pair of back-to-back games, it's not even like fatigue should really be a factor for Cory. He just hasn't been sharp.

 

[Cheddabombs]

I'm torn. Kinkaid is the better goalie in my opinion, but is it worth him to call him up and have him sit basically every night instead of playing consistently in the AHL where he is playing phenomenally. I'm not sure it is. I'm glad it's not up to me, this is a really tough decision to make especially given the start Albany is off to.

 

[Ben Matlock]

I would call up Kinkaid, but my guess is Clemmer will get one or two starts. If he's half decent he might stay up until christmas.

 

[glenwo2]

I know it was the Pens but if what we saw from Clemmer was any indication, I think Kinkaid should get the call and be the backup going forward.


Clemmer is horrible.

 

[HBK27]

I'm torn. Kinkaid is the better goalie in my opinion, but is it worth him to call him up and have him sit basically every night instead of playing consistently in the AHL where he is playing phenomenally. I'm not sure it is. I'm glad it's not up to me, this is a really tough decision to make especially given the start Albany is off to.

At this point with Schneider locked up long-term, the only thing we’re really grooming Kinkaid for is to be an NHL backup. He’s done everything necessary at this point to prove that he deserves that shot. The November schedule would also see him playing a fair amount (realistically 4-5 games in a 24 day span). Plus we could always just send him back down for stretches to play in Albany when the schedule is lighter.

Let’s face it – there’s a zero percent chance of any other team claiming Clemmensen and he should be grateful to be collecting an NHL salary for just opening & closing a door and watching pucks fly by him. I’d rather see Wedgewood play a game in NJ over Clemmensen.

This seems like an absolute no-brainer to me, but I still don’t trust Lou/Pete to make the right decision.

 

[Tretyak 20]

Pete will play Clemmensen and claim he's just putting in the player that gives us the best chance to win.

 

[Bleedred]

Clemmensen has looked bad in both relief appearances and the first preseason game.

Not all the goals were his fault the other night. He actually made a couple good saves on the PK and the team simply quit playing in the 2nd period. So it's not like he was gonna be of any help in winning the game. That Crosby slapshot was a pretty bad goal, as was the one he gave up against Washington.

I'm not too confident with him, as he's been really bad the last two years. He's probably only good for about a handful of starts this season, that's if he stays up the entire year.

 

[NJD Kula]

Trade Cory dump Clemmer play Kink bring back Marty

 

[Bleedred]

Trade Cory dump Clemmer play Kink bring back Marty

Good one.

 

[SeidoN]

Trade Cory dump Clemmer play Kink bring back Marty

kay

 

[glenwo2]

Trade Cory dump Clemmer play Kink bring back Marty

Trade Cory.

dump Clemmer.

play kink.

bring back Marty.

 

[MadDevil]

Trade Cory dump Clemmer play Kink bring back Marty

Dishonor for Connor

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Pete will play Clemmensen and claim he's just putting in the player that gives us the best chance to win.

this guy gets it.

 

[Cheddabombs]

At this point with Schneider locked up long-term, the only thing we’re really grooming Kinkaid for is to be an NHL backup. He’s done everything necessary at this point to prove that he deserves that shot. The November schedule would also see him playing a fair amount (realistically 4-5 games in a 24 day span). Plus we could always just send him back down for stretches to play in Albany when the schedule is lighter.

Let’s face it – there’s a zero percent chance of any other team claiming Clemmensen and he should be grateful to be collecting an NHL salary for just opening & closing a door and watching pucks fly by him. I’d rather see Wedgewood play a game in NJ over Clemmensen.

This seems like an absolute no-brainer to me, but I still don’t trust Lou/Pete to make the right decision.

Aha sure we might have that intention, I'm sure he has grander plans than that though. I still believe he could potentially be an NHL starter. I wouldn't be opposed to having him up here, but I can definitely see the reasoning for not doing so. Again, a tough decision to make.

 

[EnglishDevil]

It'll be Clemmer, at least for the first two backup starts, if he looks dreadful then they'll give Kinkaid a shot. Realistically though, Kinkaid should be the backup, he's far better than Clemmensen is.

 

[jkrdevil]

But he had the best numbers of anyone in the last 100 games played....

It didn't seem to matter that those 100 games were over 5 years though...

Forget about this aspect of it. Playing a goalie 70+ games in a season is insane. Marty in is prime was just a freak in this regard and it is one of the things that made him an all time great. Trying it with another goalie is absurd.

 

[MountainGoat]

anyone is better than Clemmer