they still weren`t as bad or as appropiate as Boston`s yellow one...

agreed. The yellow ones were the worst evar.

I disagree... those striped jerseys were the worst jersey I've ever seen....EVER!

Quote: Originally Posted By whatifgirl on 2/04/2009I disagree... those striped jerseys were the worst jersey I've ever seen....EVER

Both of them give me headaches.

I don't know, it is close between those barber poles and Winnie the Puke, but hands down, the Canucks old jerseys beat them both....and those weren't even third jerseys.

OK, here is my prediction, B's will be giving Manny probably every third start, to let other teams get a good look at how he has recovered, then start shopping him before the trade deadline. I would guess maybe for a higher round draft pick in summer, or another solid D-man that is locked up for a year or two. The B's realistically cannot keep both Manny and Tim as they are both free agents at end of season. They will move Rask up to fill the void.

They will let Rask play every day down in the AHL, then come in as the backup next year. I honestly don't see them calling him up to play every 3rd or 4th game for the final 6 weeks of the season when he could be playing every day in a playoff race in the AHL. Which would be more beneficial to his development?

They'll keep both goalies, let 1 walk after the year (likely Fernandez), and re-sign Thomas for 2 years. He'll still be the starter next year, with Rask playing 25-30 games or so, then be Rask's backup in year 2.

Sure was nice of the B's to play probably their worst period of the season in the 3rd tonight

Quote: Originally Posted By SAKABAKBRG on 2/10/2009They will let Rask play every day down in the AHL, then come in as the backup next year. I honestly don't see them calling him up to play every 3rd or 4th game for the final 6 weeks of the season when he could be playing every day in a playoff race in the AHL. Which would be more beneficial to his development?

They'll keep both goalies, let 1 walk after the year (likely Fernandez), and re-sign Thomas for 2 years. He'll still be the starter next year, with Rask playing 25-30 games or so, then be Rask's backup in year 2

I really don't see them letting a goalie who is ranked near the top of the league in stats walk, and get nothing in return. Chiarelli seems a little too shrewd to let that just happen. Rask has been called up a couple of times this season just to ride the pine. He has proven himself NHL ready in the times he has seen action, so he would be a viable backup. I don't see bringing Rask up as hurting his development......especially if he is destined to just be the backup for the next two years to Thomas, as you forsee, anyway. In the long run, they will do what is most beneficial for the NHL team, regardless of the impact to the AHL team.

Rask has only been called up for brief stints this season when Fernandez was hurt. Neither time was more than a couple of games. Chiarelli knows that it makes no sense to bring up your future goalie to play in maybe 4 or 5 games down the stretch when he could play every day in pressure games in a playoff race in the AHL. I also said he'd be the backup for 1 year, not 2. I said in year 2, he'd be the starter (this assumes he continues to develop).

As for letting Fernandez walk - what do you expect to get for a goalie that everyone knows will be a free agent in a few months and turns 35 in the off-season? As for his stats - yes, they are great, but he's only played 20 games. This is his 13th year in the league, and he's only played in more than 44 games in a season ONCE. He's a backup now, not a starter (and you could argue that he's never been a true starter). Teams won't exactly be busting down the door to acquire him. More likely, Chiarelli trades his rights on draft day for a mid-round pick.

Every year you see short term buys for playoff runs occur, Marian Hossa to Pittsburgh last year comes immediiately to mind. A team with a good nucleus but shaky goaltending could benefit greatly from picking up Fernadez for the short term. By showcasing him a bit more to prove his knee (and back) can handle the workload, they might be able to get something decent for him. Something is better than nothing.

No offense, but Manny Fernandez isn't anywhere near the same caliber player that Marian Hossa is. A team with a good nucleus that only needs a goalie for a playoff run might go for Fernandez, but certainly won't give up much at all. Chiarelli would be better served keeping him, then peddling his rights at the draft - he'd probably get the same value in return.

Besides, suppose something happens to Thomas after the deadline. Would you rather have Fernandez in net down the stretch and/or in the playoffs or would you rather have Rask?

Rask. No doubt.