Goaltending Tandems Worse Than Conkkanen

by Jonathan Willis on Jul 9, 2008 6:38 PM MDT

I am a really, really big Ty Conklin fan. Always have been. Always will be. If I were a better person, it would be my greatest character flaw. I'm also a big fan of Finns. Thus, when Kevin Lowe dared to dream of the tandem of Ty Conklin and Jussi Markkanen, I was a big supporter.

I had numbers, too. Here are Conklin's and Markkanen's statistics from the lockout year, and the NHL season directly preceeding it:

Conklin
2003-04: 17-14-4, 2.42 GAA, .912SV%
2004-05: (DEL) 2.98GAA, .920SV%

Okay, so he played barely at all in Germany, and didn't look so hot, but those 2003-04 numbers are legitimate, right?

Markkanen
2003-04: 10-14-3, 2.40 GAA, .917SV%
2004-05: 31-9-9, 1.20 GAA

Nice numbers both seasons, including a MVP-calibre performance in the Russian Super League during the lockout. And, to make matters even better, Mayor Quimby had posted a .939 SV% for the Roadrunners during the lockout. This group looked like they could, at worst, produce NHL average goaltending.

But things got bad quick. Conklin tried to play through an injury, and looked out of shape to boot, leaving the goaltending duties to Markkanen, who became increasingly shaky as he played more games. Morrison was recalled from the ECHL and somehow managed a 10-4-2 mark despite his .880 SV%. It was a bad season, but not an unreasonable plan. Lowe finally gave up at the trade deadline and acquired Dwayne Roloson from Minnesoat for a 1st round pick, a move that was widely lampooned by commentators. The same commentators wisely refrained from spouting "I told you so"s as Roloson backstopped the team to the Stanley Cup Finals.

Anyway, the point of this was not to hurt Oilers fans with a painful memory of subpar goaltending, but to encourage them for the future. Division rival Colorado is going into 2008-09 with the following tandem:

Budaj
2006-07: 31-16-6, 2.68GAA, .905SV%
2007-08: 16-10-4, 2.57GAA, .903SV%

Raycroft
2006-07: 37-25-9, 2.99GAA, .894SV%
2007-08: 2-9-5, 3.92GAA, .876SV%

and this guy as number three:

Weiman
2006-07: (AHL) 27-22-3, 2.99GAA, .905SV%
2007-08: (AHL) 9-19-1, 3.32GAA, .903SV%

And somehow, Ray Emery was banished to Russia.

Anyways, we'll see how this works out for the Avs this fall and possibly winter, but it doesn't matter. We know how this story ends.

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Comments

OK, name some names. Who were these commentators who had it so wrong?

by dstaples on Jul 9, 2008 7:55 PM MDT reply actions

Oh he's right alright.

I remember a lot of folks who wondered why they had waited all year to get a goalie and then went out and got Roli.

It wasn't all that popular, iirc.

by Black Dog on Jul 9, 2008 8:34 PM MDT reply actions

OK, name some names. Who were these commentators who had it so wrong?

Sorry, Dave, but it's been two and a half years, and my memory isn't good enough to give you an exhaustive list. As I recall, the general consensus was that Lowe had overpaid for a goaltender, especially considering that the Oilers were going nowhere in the playoffs.

I'm pretty sure that Mike Brophy was in that camp. Al Strachan and Craig Button too. There were plenty of others, but I only remember the blowhards because their comments were the most egregious.

by Jonathan Willis on Jul 9, 2008 8:53 PM MDT reply actions

From Sports Forecaster:

What does it give the Edmonton Oilers?
Holy overpayment, Batman! The Oilers finally found a netminder they can call their starter, but the price was incredibly steep. Roloson, who lost the starting gig in Minnesota to Manny Fernandez this season, is an upgrade over Ty Conklin, Jussi Markkanen or Mike Morrison but not worth a first-round pick. Moreover, he's not guaranteed of remaining in Edmonton, since he's a potential unrestricted free agent this summer. The conditional draft pick will only come into effect if Roloson re-signs with Edmonton. Still, a first rounder is a big price to pay for a team likely to finish seventh or eighth in the Western Conference.

What does it give the Minnesota Wild?
Wild GM Doug Risebrough has come under fire for his lack of impact moves, but this is a slam dunk for Minnesota management. In exchange for the team's backup goalie, the Wild add a second first rounder in 2006--and potentially an extra third rounder. While it's true that Roloson may help the Oilers stave off the Wild for the final postseason berth in the West, Risebrough is doing the right thing by looking at the bigger picture with this trade. This deal is a colossal victory for Minny.

As per HFBoards.

by Jonathan Willis on Jul 9, 2008 9:02 PM MDT reply actions

Yeah,

I remember Pierre saying that we could have had Martin Biron at the beginning of the year for not as much as K .Lowe just paid for Roloson. Also, that GM's knew Lowe was desperate and that was why the overpay.

He was not wrong but did not have great things to say about the trade.

by Jon on Jul 9, 2008 11:11 PM MDT reply actions

Thanks, Jon, for digging that up.

I thought it was other Oilogosphere posters and bloggers you were talking about who were unhappy with the deal.

Who was it that Minny drafted with that pick? Don't look it up. I only ask to make the point (one more time) that low first round picks tend not to be worth very much.

If the Oil want to try to get an RFA shut down defenceman, giving up a 2nd pick would be nothing at all.

But I don't know if there's anyone available, who would not be matched.

by dstaples on Jul 9, 2008 11:15 PM MDT reply actions

Who was it that Minny drafted with that pick? Don't look it up. I only ask to make the point (one more time) that low first round picks tend not to be worth very much.

As I recall, Minnesota traded the pick to L.A., but I can't be sure about that.

by Jonathan Willis on Jul 10, 2008 6:14 AM MDT reply actions

I remember the one guy being high on the Roloson trade was Pierre McGuire - which didn't really increase my confidence - but I remember him goinf on about Roli's REBOUND CONTROL!!...and with guys like PRONGER!!!!clearing those CONTROLLED REBOUNDS!!!! out of the crease, the Oilers would be a much better team.

BTW, I think that Markanen would have been the starter that year - especially coming off the year he had in Russia - but he injured his collarbone just prior to training camp and I think that really effected his play. Remember as well that Conkin was named the best goaltender in the World Championships in 04 - so playing with that tandem really looked to be a good bet.

Another tandem to watch this season would be Smith (0.893 with Tampa) and Kolzig (0.892 with Washington)

by Oilman on Jul 10, 2008 8:36 AM MDT reply actions

Ty Conklin will do well in Detroit. That organization has the midas touch.

I only ask to make the point (one more time) that low first round picks tend not to be worth very much.

I agree 100% with that statement but the Oilers lose in the first round like the odds said they would and the pick is much better. Regardless the move payed off and them some. Kudos KLo.

Roloson is a playoff gamer and most of us didn't know that at the time so it seemed like an overpay. For that reason, I don't see the Oilers moving Roloson. They should have cap flexibility and the value of a guy who elevates his game in the playoffs (even as a backup) has got to be higher than a 3rd round pick or whatever we'd get.

The Avs arent looking good this year. They've been due to tank for a couple years now but it seems like every time they look to drop a kid like Svatos comes in and scores 40 goals. Or Stasny.

by Sean on Jul 10, 2008 8:50 AM MDT reply actions

i was critical of the roloson pick up. i would subject anyone who would listen to my "why would you trust a guy named dwayne?" rant. after game 1 of the first round, i put a "I trust dwayne" sign on my desk.

by heed on Jul 10, 2008 9:54 AM MDT reply actions

Another tandem to watch this season would be Smith (0.893 with Tampa) and Kolzig (0.892 with Washington)

Agreed, although I really think that Mike Smith is a better goaltender than he's shown in Tampa. That said, the Tampa Bay defensive corps this year will probably strive to be mediocre, and usually miss the mark.

by Jonathan Willis on Jul 10, 2008 1:31 PM MDT reply actions

Tampas D depth right now is Matt Carle, Andrew Hutchinson, Filip Kuba, Mike Lundin, Shane O'Brien, Alexandre Picard, Paul Ranger, Matt Smaby, Ty Wishart. Smith and Kolzig will not get much help.

by Oilman on Jul 10, 2008 3:05 PM MDT reply actions

Look at Gallagher coming up with his own posts!!!

Congratulations, Oilman!!:)

I have to admit that I supported Conkkanen as a cost-effective duo but Conks didn't play fuckall in the lockout season and I remember watching him play the last Ex game on PP at Vand while it was still warm-up games, I instantly felt sick and worried about the upcoming season.

by Dennis on Jul 11, 2008 12:19 AM MDT reply actions

but Conks didn't play fuckall in the lockout season

I sometimes wonder how much different things would have gone if Conklin had taken a job in Europe for 2005-06. Impossible to know now, I suppose.

by Jonathan Willis on Jul 11, 2008 6:19 AM MDT reply actions

Look at Gallagher coming up with his own posts!!!

Congratulations, Oilman!!:)

I’m a little confused- presumably you mean Tony Gallagher- has he been extremely critical of the Tampa Bay Lightning? Because that would bother me, given that a) I’m critical of Tampa Bay and b) Tony Gallagher is a twit.

by Jonathan Willis on Jul 11, 2008 6:38 AM MDT reply actions

I have to admit that I supported Conkkanen as a cost-effective duo but Conks didn't play fuckall in the lockout season and I remember watching him play the last Ex game on PP at Vand while it was still warm-up games, I instantly felt sick and worried about the upcoming season.

I believe the first game that season was against Colorado an Horc scored a couple of goals and the Oilers won - but Conklin was atrocious. I remember thinking "not a good sign".

Watch Conklin become the starter for the Wings and win 100+ games in the next 4 years.

by Oilman on Jul 11, 2008 9:50 AM MDT reply actions

Jonathon...dennis is talking about this guy

by Oilman on Jul 11, 2008 9:58 AM MDT reply actions

Oilman: Thanks, I was confused.

by Jonathan Willis on Jul 11, 2008 1:29 PM MDT reply actions

dstaples, have a look at the hfboards archives from that era - I still read them hen, and there was an awful lot of negativity (and positivity) surrounding the Rolo acquisition.

I remember being cautiously optimistic, mostly cos I'm a Loweapologist, but even then the first few games I was thinking what the hell has he done...

by MikeP on Jul 12, 2008 7:35 AM MDT reply actions

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