Stoneman89
Registered User
- Feb 8, 2008
- 27,455
- 21,894
I can agree with most of this, but Tippet's hands are basically tied. Koskinen proved last year that if you overload him, he will fade. And it depends on what your definition of overload is. If it's playing more than 60 games, then that is what Tippet is adhering to. As good as Koskinen has been, all the supporters of last year were saying his workload needs to be cut drastically for him to succeed. But with a small cap budget, I'm not sure where we can find another goalie that can handle 35 NHL games for a million bucks.This is essentially it.
Koski can see around 40-50 games tops. That's what it is. Meaning we need somebody else stopping rubber in other games. Mike Smith has gone Chernobyl for at least a month. Smith wasn't a good plan from the outset because he can't eat 40 games at age 38. What he is is a Vet goalie that can add some feedback, be a support, and play 20-25 games. Not 40.
We ideally have a young backstop in the mix learning from the two vets going into these games and shouldering some of the load. That this hasn't occurred is all on the org. Its on Hollland for not getting somebody else, and its on Tippett for partying with Smith likes its 2012. An older Tippett is dreaming about what an older Smith was and with an old Holland watching. Ironically the Pens win with a young Oil Kings goalie knocking it out of the park while we've got a bunch of dinosaurs in the net, and in charge.