Steve Mason...worth a gamble?

[Tim]

Howard is the reason the Wings made the playoffs three years ago. He was the reason they were in first in the standings around midway of the season last year. Howard is underrated. I will eat my words too if he has a bad season.

[Leafs]

It's not a matter of trsting Emery or Gus over Crawford or Howard. Its Crawford and Howard alone and I'd look at whoever their backups are.

Interesting. I can understand Crawford, though I do think he'll bounce back some. But I like Howard a lot.

[Mike]

Howard is the reason the Wings made the playoffs three years ago. He was the reason they were in first in the standings around midway of the season last year. Howard is underrated. I will eat my words too if he has a bad season.

I don't like Gustavsson here at all. He's consistently been one of the worst goalies in the NHL over the past few seasons.

[Mike]

I wouldn't grab Mason here. Although I think he will improve this season, Columbus is not going to be a good team. I would definitely consider a trade as you are strong at forward (particularly LW). I think Parise is the right bait here. Can you package Parise and Nabokov/Markstrom for a starting goalie?

[Tim]

I don't like Gustavsson here at all. He's consistently been one of the worst goalies in the NHL over the past few seasons.

I don't either. He's an experiment. If he does well, great. If he doesn't, call up MacDonald who's been fantastic the last couple of years.

[epk87]

So I ended up offering Parise + Nabby for Rinne. Then I got countered with several options. One of them was to include Niemi which defeats the point and another was having one of Ovie/Malkin/Giroux but I don't want to split up that trio. Then another option, though not definite, is to have Zajac + a solid keeper + Nabby. As in solid keeper I'm not sure if he's referring to Parise or maybe someone like Couture. What do you guys think? I like that Couture is consistently improving and I feel the Sharks have more offensive support for him.

[Leafs]

It's a good option to have. See what you can get elsewhere and weigh your options. Check and see what the others with goalies to move can do for you.

Did you win your league last year? If not I'd make whatever deal will help you win this year. Have to win the championships while you can.

[epk87]

Nope I came in 6th! I think Kesler and Parise were guys that I acquired mid-season. Niemi and Theodore weren't the best tandem so I lost in goalie stats and hits/blocks a lot of the times.

Right now I'm testing the waters with the Rinne manager...Zajac/Keith/Nabby/1st. He's rebuilding whereas I'm trying to finally win it all. So I'll see what his response ends up being.

[Leafs]

That's a great deal if he'll bite! If he ups the price I'd shop around before spending big.