Detroit Red Wings: Potential Landing Spots for Jimmy Howard

I don’t imagine Howard as being someone Mrazek would be interested in seeing.  It is a reunion Petr would like to avoid.  It wouldn’t be a reunion, to be honest, it would be Howard taking Mrazek’s job. Petr would be the odd man out if the Canes’ had any interest in Jimmy Howard.

The Carolina Hurricanes should be interested in the services of Jimmy Howard with the recent roster move of placing Scott Darling on waivers.  Darling was brought into Carolina to be “the man,” and he hasn’t panned out.

The Canes’ claimed Curtis McElhinney off of waivers early on in the season from the Toronto Maple Leafs.  “Mac” is a veteran netminder who has been primarily a career back-up is trying to guide the Canes’ into a playoff unit.

The Hurricanes also signed Peter Mrazek to a one-year 1.5 million dollar deal this past summer to serve as a backup for Scott Darling.  Mrazek hasn’t fared too well either but he is definitely a backup caliber NHL goaltender.

While playing for the Detroit Red Wings, especially during that 2014/15 playoff series with the Tampa Bay Lightning where he almost stole the thing in seven games, flashed spurts of brilliance at times.  Through that stretch, he provided the Detroit Red Wings with a .925 Save percentage and a spectacular 2.11 Goals against average.

If everything would have panned out to the plan pf Ken Holland, Mrazek would have been the starter this season for the Detroit Red Wings or at least nearing a 50/50 split with Howard.  That is how much potential the franchise thought Mrazek had.  Remember Mrazek lobbying for a long-term deal and Holland reluctant to dish it out?  I mean kudos to Kenny on that one because Pete doesn’t look to be an NHL starter.

The Canes’ are 12-9-3 (27 points) on the season, which is good for fourth in the Metropolitan Division.  At this point they wished they had Jeff Skinner back from Buffalo as he is absolutely lighting the lamp, leaving a constant sunburn on the back of the neck of every opposing netminder he faces.

I can’t imagine where to Hurricanes could be with Skinner and a reliable goaltender.  Curtis has played in 9 games and posted stellar numbers, but I can’t see that continuing as the season treks on.  He as video game type numbers recording a .930% Save Percentage to go with a 2.12 GAA.  Ironically he had similar statistics in 18 appearances last season for the Maple Leafs.  I just don’t see those numbers holding up as the season grows old.

Jimmy Howard could provide stability in goal for the potential surging Hurricanes.  He and McElhinney could split time the rest of the way until either of them falters or if one separates from the other.  The pair provides stability; there is that word again.  If you are not lucky enough to have an elite goalie in today’s NHL, the next best thing is a player that shows up every night, and you know what you are going to get from him.  A netminder that levels out the peaks and valleys are valuable assets to be in possession of.