I Feel Like I'm Gonna Explode Here!

He’s minding net for the French national hockey team, isn’t he?

(For the record, Niemi is not ready for primetime, by any means. He’ll be good one day, just not today.)

The goalie “debate” is reaching ridiculous proportions. Seriously, both goalies have been more than solid this year, and lately their defense has been leaving them out to dry.

But, how about this? The Hawks #1 goalie debate should be between Glenn Hall and Tony Esposito, not Huet and Niemi. That’s more enjoyable to argue about.

I stopped reading what the supposed hockey writers in this town have to say. Pointless.

Good post. Huet is good. Niemi is good. Turco is not the answer.

on why building from the net out isn’t necessarily a good idea.

We are not going to win or lose a playoff series solely on the performance of any goaltender.

Cause that’s crazy talk

Say what you want, but Vokoun could be.

he’s way better than both of our guys. But, seriously, I can’t stand to even hear Jay Zawaski’s name. I like how he’s 670’s “hockey expert.” Yikes! I think most of us know that both of our jamokes are able if we stop the defensive miscues.

I admittedly not a hockey expert, but I wholeheartedly agree with what you’re saying here.

Nobody is ever going to mistake Huet for an All-Star, but I think he’s good enough that the Hawks are capable of beating anyone, anywhere, anytime as long as the defense plays to its potential. I can understand how a novice hockey fan might not see that unless it’s pointed out to them; it’s easy to blame the goalie for the defense’s failures when you don’t know what you’re talking about.

The thing that really puzzles me is how many people think “play Niemi ’til he cries uncle” is the solution to the percieved problem. Yeah, he’s got real potential, and we’ve seen flashes of greatness from him this season, but there’s also quite a bit of evidence that he’s not ready yet. What, are all those bad games he’s had not his fault suddenly? How does this work – when Huet loses it’s his own damn fault, but when Niemi loses the defense is to blame?

Is there room to improve the Hawks’ goaltending? Sure. But it won’t make much difference if the defense keeps forgetting how to actually, ya know, defend things. Come on, Chicago sports media, this isn’t rocket science.

Exactly what I’ve been thinking myself. As a matter of fact, I’ve generally quit posting on blogs lately because I’m just tired of the entire debate.

The whole has come down to this in the minds of so many “fans”

If Huet is in net and he wins the game, he won because his defense played well and he didn’t have to stop many shots. If he loses, it’s because he sucks regardless of how the rest of his team plays, and he let in too many goals versus shots on net, even if those shots were deflections and tip-ins right in front of him (because a good goaltender stops all of these).

Likewise, if Niemi wins, it’s because he’s a goaltending savant and he’s obviously the gut to take the Hawks to the Stanley Cup. If he loses, then it’s because of the crummy defense hanging him out to dry and having to face deflections and tip-ins right in front of him (because those are chances too difficult to stop).

I’m not piling on Niemi – actually he impresses me every time out. But I AM getting sick and tired of the ragging on Huet. I’ve said this before, but essentially the Hawks have a team that wins with puck possssion and scoring (hopefully) with a ton of shots on net. If the defense has an off night, you can’t depend on Hawks goaltending to save the day each time out. It’s reality. And it’s the reality that most teams deal with as well.

Or Detroit the year before?

We’ve been over this goalie goaltender orgy way too many times.

With the current roster (no changes) 25 or less shots per game against , Hawks win the cup.
I would be willing to guarantee it and wager at least a few beers on it.

when it makes tons of sense. calls out the idiots freaking out about the goalie “situation,” has 3 Simpson references AND a Kabuki theater reference.

Don’t use one. Play with the extra man the entire game. Hell, Catfish is blocking so many shot’s he’s like a goalie anyways.

This is so simple it’s beautiful.

No goalie = no bitching!

Why read Rosendouche or Rozner if all they do is irritate you? There is no sense in adding more fuel to the fire as those idiots are getting the responses they want. Chaos sells, and with more sales comes increased salary so I say “FUCK THEM!”.

The goaltending controversy will not go away unitl the March 3rd deadline and I’ve heard way too many columists from Canada indicating that their sources are telling them the ’Hawks are indeed shopping for a goaltender so it should come as no suprise if they do land one on “Deadline Day”.

For my money Huet is no better, nor worse than say Jonathan Quick or Marc-Andre Fluery. If you don’t believe me then check the numbers for yourself. If the Kings and Penguins believe they can win this calibre of goaltending then sure as fuck the ‘Hawks can to. But listening to what’s being reported the ’Hawks brass feels otherwise.

Niemi for my money is still an unproven but seems to have the vote-of-confidence from the coaching staff and management. If he didn’t he wouldn’t be playing as much as he has and wouldn’t consistantly be given the chance to become the full-time starter. Granted his numbers have been extrordinary and he’s definitely suprised a lot of people, including myself, with his play but in no way should he ever been given the opportunity to become the starter at all this season but has on 3 seperate occasions.

At the end of the day it isn’t the idiotic sports writers or bloggers here on SCH that are fueling the debate it’s the ‘Hawks management that has as they’ve thrown ZERO support behind Huet during his occasional struggles and too much support behind a still unproven Niemi during his occasional flashes of brilliance.

The Greatest Tournament We’ll Ever Witness is about to commence on Tuesday so let’s start talking about that rather than something that won’t be resolved until March.

It is all the same…everyone who thinks they know something wants the backup to start..were there not rumblings in Bears land when Cutler was throwing passes to everyone but Bears..Caleb Heine should start or when it was Rex it should have been Orton ect..
When you defense is giving up 18 shots a night you are going to WIN more then you lose. Sam is right they should be asking what is wrong with Keith and Seabrook and how do we get them some rest..instead of Huet and Neimi. All we need to do with the rest of the season is to STAY Healthly and get the guys rest so they can be fresh for the playoffs..

So if I call Rozner, Rosendouche and Zawaski retarded, will Sarah Palin come over to my house and spank me?

look at it this way. It’s January, therefore in addition to complaining about the goalies, we complain about the snow and how it’s too cold. And in July when it’s 90 degrees we will complain about starting pitching, there’s too much road construction and it’s too hot.

Point is this Chicago, there’s always something to complain about. At least that’s how I prefer to look at it.

we should be having is who has the better accent?

…does this mean you’re anti-Niemi?

That would’ve been quite amusing and would have really frustrated the fuck out of the Huet haters / Niemi lovers.

…a bunch of guys who know very little about hockey and haven’t paid much attention to it in years, are suddenly being pushed to pander to the suddenly hockey-crazed masses. Any idiot who can put a couple of sentences together can always fall back on “goalie controversy” to fill space.

At least it beats Sarah “How about these fans?” Kustock’s “probing” post game interviews.

…quite possibly the best line I’ve ever read here (or anywhere).

…not sure there is anything in the post or comments that hasn’t been said before.

The thing that bugs me most about MSM idiocy on the subject is that it creates unwarranted defensiveness in these parts pertaining to our goaltending.

Unfortunaltely, the logic leads us to beating up on the defense, which is wrong.

The vaunted GAA argument cuts both ways- over the last five games, the Hawks GAA is 2.20. Is this due to our goalies bailing out our shaky D?

During this span, the Hawks have averaged exactly 2 goals a game.

If goalie evaluation is off-limits, blame the PP or offensive inconsistency.

Just because the D (Seebs particularly) has slipped from an otherworldly standard earlier this year, they have less to do with recent struggles than any other aspect of the team.

You make a great point about idiots talking about bringing in an outside goalie and fuckwad columnists writing about the Hawks because they’re the hot item in town. However, I do think you go too far to bash Niemi in this post (I’m assuming it’s a reaction to the Huet bashing). That “juicy rebound” you talk about was a deflection from two feet in front of the net. No way is that Niemi’s fault and his play Wed night was more than “passable” as was Huet’s against the Yotes.

But this is where I make enemies and argue for more Niemi playing time. I’m not saying Niemi is the Blackhawks’ answer to drinking out of the cup come the summer, but he has played better in front of the same exact team Huet plays in front of (as the numbers show). And it’s not like we’re talking about starting Niemi in front of a playoff winning goalie. Yes, Niemi may break down if given a heavy workload, thus showing he’s what we were hoping at the beginning of the year – a quality backup. But why not find out the answer to this question sooner than later(as we did last year when Huet started looking so-so after an extended time starting while Khabi was out)?

And another thing, I’m sick of talking about “getting the ball rolling” for Huet, or getting his confidence back. After the Olympics, we ride the goalie that’s playing better. As far as I’m concerned, it’s an open competition, and I believe Quenneville is thinking along those same lines. Don’t get me wrong, Huet has played well considering the situation and compared to other goalies in the league, I just think Niemi has played better up until this point of the season. So why not give him the chance to start? And if I’m proven wrong, and Niemi fails, then at least we know. As long as we have the better goalie in between the pipes come playoffs, that’s all I care about.

or even getting Huet’s confidence back.

The truth of the matter is Huet needs to, and can, perform better. The only way we are going to be able to tell 100% for sure if we have to ride Niemi in the playoffs is giving Huet his due time NOW.

We constantly hear things like flashes of brilliance and unknown quantity when referring to Huet and Niemi, respectively.

unknown quantity is way more likely to turn into piece of poop, crap goaltending, while Huets flashes of brilliance can go etiher way.

will not be resolved until April. There are 23 games left 12 of those are scheduled back to back and the balance are basically played after one day off. Both goalies will be seeing a lot of action. I think it would be a mistake to play either goalie for more than two maybe three straight starts.
Should the Hawks trade for a goalie? I honestly don’t think they need another goalie. I’d rather see them add someone on defense.
Also, I think a lot of these issues would disappear if we could score more. The Hawks haven’t been finishing lately and the power play is just horrible. I think with the return of Bolland, Coach Q will continue to play different line combinations for the next few games to see who fits where best.

..and all we are have mjthor’s fat girl pictures.

of all is being at the games by the yahoolies that buy the tickets for single games. Every single game, we always seem to get the retards (sorry Sarah Palin) who boo Huet during the starting lineups, and then as soon as a goal goes in, it’s talk of how horrible he is, and how Niemi should be the starter. So we’ve taken to mocking the offenders, by yelling “shoot” when we’re on d, or saying how bad Huet sucks when he makes a great save. We apparently pissed some of them off the other game so much that they scoffed and said, “Ugh, season ticketholders” with such disdain in their voice. But of course, when he gets the shutout at home, they’re cheering like crazy for him. Brett Favre doesn’t have this level of indecisiveness.

When I saw all of these headlines coming after the same game:

“Niemi off his game”
“Night belongs to Niemi in Blackhawks shootout win over Stars”
“Huet and Niemi making strong case for a different goaltender”
“No need for Turco with Niemi in net”
“Blackhawks’ Niemi continues to impress”
“Play Antti ‘til he screams ’Uncle’”

I mean, really? How can he be “off” and “making a case” while also owning the night and being impressive?

Whoever commented that people are drawing too many conclusions from a shootout-decided outcome is absolutely right. But this also just shows the redonkulousness of the Chicago sports media and blogosphere. Not that you weren’t already aware of that.

 I’m sorry but I would take the three goals Turco let in on 41 shots, then get forced to watch Huet and Niemi giving up the same amount of goals on 18 shots. The last thing they need is a defense-man. Unless it’s the rumored Barker for Wiz. Dave Tallon getting let go was the best thing to happen to the Hawks since they got rid of Savard for Coach Q. Now Bowman only has to deal with two big mistakes. The contract of Huet and Campbell. I know he’ll find a sucker to take Huet. At least I can hope.

I think sam and a few commenters have already made great points. Our goalies don’t suck. There’s no one better we can get. Our goals against is still boss. What more do you want? Niemi will get his starts due to all the back to backs but why give him anything more than he’s already getting? He’s obviously not ready to be a number 1 so what’s the point? Huet is the number 1. No sense in bitching about it.

to stop calling Niemi a kid? The guy is 26 years old.