Jimmy Howard

Is it too early to start talking Stanley Cup? If you’re like me or most the Red Wings fans I know—it’s never too early. We talk rivalries in the off season, playoffs during pre-season, and certainly the Cup all year round.

I generally refrain from making such drastic statements as the title of this article, but with the way Detroit is currently playing it's hard not to see them making a deep run in the playoffs.

The NHL All-Star Media day in Ottawa on Friday was a great opportunity to hear the All-Stars voice their feelings on how happy they were to be playing and participating in the weekend.

Jimmy Howard was no different in his tone.

Hockey historians, experts and pundits all agree that the most important part of a hockey team is its goaltender. A team follows its goaltender onto the ice and they are often thought of as the team’s second leader after the team captain.

The goaltender is a team's last line of defense and is usually the reason why a team does or does not make the playoffs.

The goaltender is arguably the most important position on any hockey team.

In the NHL, the best goalies are worth their weight in gold and are a paid handsomely.

With that being said, there are some teams that are fortunate enough to have a strong goaltender who doesn't make a ton of money compared to the stars. These are known as the bargain goaltenders.

The most celebrated goaltender in Detroit Red Wings history—indeed, maybe in NHL history—was a tormented man. It’s been said that you have to be a little off your rocker to want to throw yourself into the path of vulcanized rubber discs for a living. Terry Sawchuk may not have been crazy, but he wasn’t happy.

The Detroit Red Wings franchise is peppered with a litany of prime time performers who stepped up their game when given the opportunity and kept the Big Red Machine running. 

Guys like Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg, Kris Draper, Sergei Fedorov, Tomas Holmstrom were either drafted very late or came to Detroit for virtually nothing (literally $1 in Draper's case) and have managed to blossom into All-Stars.

In our penultimate training camp preview, we looked at how the defensive depth chart might fluctuate as players fight for spots in training camp.

When it comes to goaltending in Detroit, no such fight exists.

Jimmy Howard is the starting goalie, period.

Many people (myself included) thought the reason that Tomas Vokoun took a one-year $1.5 million deal with the Washington Capitals was so he could win a championship. In other words, I thought he wanted to take less to be with a winner. The Detroit Red Wings also offered around the same amount to back up Jimmy Howard.

A few days ago several blogs reported that the Detroit Red Wings were finalists for top free agent netminder Tomas Vokoun, and that they lost out on the guy when the Washington Capitals signed him to a one year, 1.5 million dollar deal—a deal that I fe

While two games does not make a series, the Wings have learned several things during the series so far. 

After sweeping the first two games at home, the series will now head to Phoenix on Monday night.  Will they be able to keep up the pace of the first two games?  They have proven to be a strong road team throughout the season—will that continue as they invade Phoenix?

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