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Down in Ocean City, NJ today. I am usually in Margate with my in-laws, but this is the one week a year my mom and sister's family get a place in the beach town I frequented my whole life...Ocean City, NJ.
Slow day in the rumor mill (and I am taking the girl para-sailing) so I decided it was a great time to get back to the "Great Hockey Debates" topics of the hockey book I am working on in collaboration with other pro hockey writers and the most knowledgable, largest, hockey fans on the internet: You!
How this works is each topic will eventually have my opinion, the opinions of another writer or two, and the best opinions on each side of the argument drawn from the comment thread in this blog. So know, when replying, you may one day be in a book. When publishing, we will use your username or real name if you'd like.
Today's Topic: Does a team need a legit #1 goalie to win a Stanley Cup?
I am goalie, so I am biased.
This year four of the NHL's best teams: San Jose, Chicago, Washington, and Philadelphia are going with goalies who are all risks and all under $2 Million. These teams, all considered strong enough to win it all, have decided to pay their goalies at the same level they would pay a third liner or a 5/6 D.
People make the argument the Hawks won it this year despite having Niemi. I make the argument that while Niemi looked tired and a bit out of sync in the Finals (except game 2, which he stole) he usually made the saves he needed to make.
However Sharks and Canucks fans will tell you Niemi was among the main reasons they were eliminated.
The Flyers got to the Final with Brian Boucher and Michael Leighton....Boucher was awesome against the Devils. Leighton was instrumental in the 3-0 miracle comeback against Boston, and you have to give him his share of the credit for the three shutouts Philadelphia got against the Habs in the Conference Finals.
And of course it's hard to argue what Jaroslav Halak meant to the Canadiens in the playoffs..
Meanwhile, Ryan Miller was eliminated in round 1. Martin Brodeur in round 1. Luongo in round 2.
Others will argue about Osgood. I will argue Osgood was at times quite solid. And no one can argue how solid the team in front of him was..
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