Sunday, January 15, 2006

 

So confused

Can someone out there shed some light on Mac-T's thought process? I don't think he is of below average intelligence, but I simply cannot understand why Conklin continues to get chances in big games. Why is it that Jussi has not had a back to back start since the Detroit game? Honestly, I don't get it.

At least Jussi put one stretch of good games together -- when he was allowed to play a few in a row. Now? It is just some random number of periods for each goalie with seemingly no plan.
I know that there are no goaltenders available, and any goaltender that becomes available will require a serious overpayment, but cripes, what else is there to do?

I say we sacrifice Shremp, Pouliot, Ken Lowe, and one of the Campbell Conference banners.

Comments:

From today's Sun:

CUJO ON BLOCK: Add veteran Curtis Joseph to the names of goalies possibly available near the March 9 trading deadline. If the Phoenix Coyotes are out of playoff contention by the deadline sources indicate GM Mike Barnett would be open to offers for the 38-year-old goalie.

Joseph, who earns $900,000 US in salary but can earn more in bonuses, will be an unrestricted free agent July 1.

 


Here's some data for the debate. I've made a list of the goaltenders appearing in all the Oilers' games to date. Names are in ALL CAPS when the goalie in question saved 90% of shots.

Oct 5 Col Conklin
Oct 8 Van MARKKANEN
Oct 10 Ana MARKKANEN
Oct 11 LAK CONKLIN
Oct 14 Dal Conklin, Markkanen
Oct 15 Cgy MARKKANEN
Oct 18 Phx Markkanen
Oct 20 Cgy Markkanen
Oct 21 Col Markkanen, Conklin, Markkanen
Oct 25 Col Markkanen
Oct 28 Dal Markkanen
Oct 29 Nsh MARKKANEN
Nov 1 CBJ MARKKANEN
Nov 3 Det MARKKANEN
Nov 4 StL MARKKANEN
Nov 7 Dal Markkanen, MORRISON
Nov 8 Nsh Markkanen
Nov 11 CBJ MARKKANEN
Nov 13 Chi Markkanen
Nov 14 Col MORRISON
Nov 17 Det Markkanen
Nov 19 Chi Markkanen, MORRISON
Nov 21 SJS MORRISON
Nov 23 Min Morrison
Nov 25 Cgy MORRISON
Nov 29 Col Morrison
Dec 1 Van Markkanen
Dec 3 Bos Markkanen
Dec 8 Phi MORRISON
Dec 10 NYI MARKKANEN
Dec 13 NJD CONKLIN
Dec 15 Mtl Conklin
Dec 17 Van Markkanen, Morrison
Dec 19 Cgy Morrison, MARKKANEN
Dec 21 Van Markkanen, Conklin
Dec 23 LAK Conklin
Dec 26 Min Conklin
Dec 28 Min Conklin
Dec 30 Nsh MARKKANEN
Dec 31 Cgy Markkanen
Jan 3 Chi CONKLIN
Jan 7 Tor Conklin
Jan 10 Pit MARKKANEN
Jan 12 NYR Markkanen
Jan 14 Ott Conklin, Markkanen

By this semi-arbitrary standard (league average sv% is .897 right now), Markkanen has had 12 "good" appearances out of 31 (39%). Conklin is 3/13 (23%), and I'll add that he got two of them against an injury-riddled Kings team and a feces-riddled Blackhawks team.

Mayor Quimby is 6/10 (60%).

Overall team sv% is .881, third-worst in the West. This makes Oilers goaltending an estimated 22 goals worse than average, or about 8 points' worth in standings.
 

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