Goaltending/Turco released

[TSUCookieMonster]

To no one's surprise, Turco is being released by Dallas...

http://sports.espn.go.com/dallas/nhl/ne ... id=5081149

I would say *not* signing this guy is a no brainer.... but with Mason possibly making his exit, and Conklin not likely to be a number 1, I'm conflicted. Do we re-sign Mason?

Here are a list of the goaltender unrestricted free agents, http://www.nhlnumbers.com/freeagents.ph ... &type=none

Any of those guys jump out to anyone to be Mason's replacement?

[Sec310K67]

I wouldnt be suprised that Armstrong takes a look at him and brings him in. He was Turco's GM in Dallas and maybe all Turco needs is a fresh start somewhere else.

[TheoSqua]

Turco is no spring chicken. I personally don't think he's an upgrade over Mason and i'd prefer keeping Mason over going out and getting a different guy who will play just like him.

My first option would be to try to acquire a young goaltender with potential. Either Halak/Price from Monteral, Schneider from Vancouver, Bernier/Quick from LA, etc.

An interesting option could be Thomas Vokoun. He's a superior goalie to what we have playing for a team that's rebuilding with a quality goalie prospect (Jacob Markstrom) in the wings. He'd only have one year left (although that 5.7m cap hit is a bit much), so he should be relatively cheap and would give the team flexibility if Jake Allen or Ben Bishop look like they're ready.

If none of those options work out, i'd try to resign Mason. If Mason won't take a 1 year deal or a 2-year with the knowledge that he could potentially end the contract as a backup then i suppose you'd have to look into a equivalent goaltender who would sign a more team friendly contract.

[DaDitka]

An interesting option could be Thomas Vokoun. He's a superior goalie to what we have playing for a team that's rebuilding with a quality goalie prospect (Jacob Markstrom) in the wings. He'd only have one year left (although that 5.7m cap hit is a bit much), so he should be relatively cheap and would give the team flexibility if Jake Allen or Ben Bishop look like they're ready.

I like this a lot, however I think 'the dream' is near over for Bishop (he's going to be a career 'average at best' minor leaguer).

And personally, there is no way in hell I'd ever entertain the idea of bringing back Mason. He's clearly frustrated with some of his teammates, and while he's been adequate most of the time and maybe even 'kept us in the game' from time to time, he's never once stole a game. I would at the very least take a shot on someone with a higher ceiling then Mason. And I do believe Turco fits that bill.

[BoxCar]

An interesting option could be Thomas Vokoun. He's a superior goalie to what we have playing for a team that's rebuilding with a quality goalie prospect (Jacob Markstrom) in the wings. He'd only have one year left (although that 5.7m cap hit is a bit much), so he should be relatively cheap and would give the team flexibility if Jake Allen or Ben Bishop look like they're ready.

I like this a lot, however I think 'the dream' is near over for Bishop (he's going to be a career 'average at best' minor leaguer).

And personally, there is no way in hell I'd ever entertain the idea of bringing back Mason. He's clearly frustrated with some of his teammates, and while he's been adequate most of the time and maybe even 'kept us in the game' from time to time, he's never once stole a game. I would at the very least take a shot on someone with a higher ceiling then Mason. And I do believe Turco fits that bill.

Last year we were talking about how amazing Chris was in the second half. I agree, we can find better, and he let in more than his share of softies this year- but give credit where credit is due: Mason "kept us in the game" fairly frequently given our sparse scoring, below-average defense and outstanding ability to find the penalty box. I'd say I feel like this sells him a tad bit short, not short enough for us to throw meaningful money at him, but whether or not he secured wins for us that would have otherwise been losses ("stealing a game") is debatable at worst- like I said he was a huge reason why we streaked to the playoffs last year.

I'd be cool with Vokoun, but if Keith Ballard thought it necessary to try to decapitate him, what do you think will happen when Brewer and Jackman watch him get scored on? Getting him may be sentencing him to death.

[dmiles2186]

I'm fully planted in the "NO" camp when it comes to Turco. The guy just makes too many mistakes, mostly when it comes to playing the puck. And they aren't basic misplays, they are boneheaded, "WHAT IN BUDDHA'S NAME WERE YOU DOING THERE?" kind of mistakes. I know goalies are limited in what they can do with the puck, so when you have one who messes those few chances up, it's not good.

I think Turco is more of a #1 than Mason, as he's proven over the years. But he's played #1 minutes for so long, Mason was a backup for many years. He doesn't have as much wear and tear as someone else his age. If you give me a choice between Turco or Mason, I'm taken the Bearded One.

However, I would like to explore other options...a younger, coming into their prime, possible #1 goalie, like was mentioned earlier in the thread. Another I'd add to that list is Josh Harding. He's 26, backing up Backstrom in Minnesota...I think he needs his shot like Craig Anderson. Only problem is, Harding is an RFA this year. Lots of choices....hard to say what we'll go with. That's what JD, Stretch Armstrong, and Co. are paid the big bucks.

[philco_3]

If we upgrade our Defense I would say keep Mason. Mason kept us in several games, but there was many times where Jackman would put the puck on the other teams stick or wasnt able to hustle back to mess with the guy on the break away. Of course every time I see Mason play the puck I cringe. And plus I'm tired of this team being in a new goalie every 2-3 years.

[glen a richter]

I'm starting to think that the problem with Ben "Too Tall" Bishop is that he actually is too tall to play goalie. Maybe they can convert him to defense, convert Junland to forward and trade Brewer and Jackman.

Jake Allen is still a few years down the road, so any stopgap would have to be for more than one year. If they could trade for Vokoun and extend him for two more years, then I'd be down with that. Too bad they didn't get Bryzgalov when everyone had the chance.

[JPonder94]

I see Curtis Sanford is available...

Maybe CuJo could come out of retirement too!

[WaukeeBlues]

I say we draft nothing but goaltenders this draft.

[TSUCookieMonster]

I say we draft nothing but goaltenders this draft.

Just look at how many goalies the Blues have went through... promising or not, the roster is VERY long for a mere 10 years... I feel like Fuhr/Turek were the last true 'starter' goalies we have had... I'm not saying this list is full of great names, but geez... you'd think we'd find at least ONE keeper...

Since 2002:
Sanford
Barasso
Brathwaite
Rudkowsky
Johnson
Beckford-T
Divis
Bacashua
Osgood
Schwarz
Lalime
Legace
Bishop
Toivonen
Mason
Holt
Conklin

I mean, damn.. that's a lot of people coming through... I would love to have Vokoun on this squad. He has always been quality.

Edit: I count 17 names. That's about 25% of the Blues NHL goalie total since their incorporation in '67. So I guess that's horrible when considering, but still too high in my opinion and I only counted goalies since 2002...

[WaukeeBlues]

When we had the Sanford/Cash combo I think that's about as close as we got. Both have fallen off obviously but I think Sanford was about the best we've ever done on that list (homegrown I mean). Johnson a close second/maybe even first now that I think about it. He's been able to stay employed in the NHL anyway

Yea I don't get it either. I know it's always a crapshoot with goalies, even those in the top 3 of the draft, but still, you'd THINK we'd catch a break and have a starting goalie for longer than a season and a half. Apparently not.

[fargoblues]

PASS on Turco. That is all.

[DaDitka]

I say we draft nothing but goaltenders this draft.

Just look at how many goalies the Blues have went through... promising or not, the roster is VERY long for a mere 10 years... I feel like Fuhr/Turek were the last true 'starter' goalies we have had... I'm not saying this list is full of great names, but geez... you'd think we'd find at least ONE keeper...

Since 2002:
Sanford
Barasso
Brathwaite
Rudkowsky
Johnson
Beckford-T
Divis
Bacashua
Osgood
Schwarz
Lalime
Legace
Bishop
Toivonen
Mason
Holt
Conklin

I mean, damn.. that's a lot of people coming through... I would love to have Vokoun on this squad. He has always been quality.

Edit: I count 17 names. That's about 25% of the Blues NHL goalie total since their incorporation in '67. So I guess that's horrible when considering, but still too high in my opinion and I only counted goalies since 2002...

Again, I reiterate, we have to be one of the worst drafting franchises in this league. Which is amazing when you consider how many different people have been involved in making those decisions over the years.

Of course part of it could be blamed on poor coaching and instruction in the lower levels and their inability to cultivate this young talent.

[TSUCookieMonster]

Of course part of it could be blamed on poor coaching and instruction in the lower levels and their inability to cultivate this young talent.

Where did this Payne guy come from again???

[xbleed83bluex]

Wait a minute. Manny Legace is only making 500,000 a year? Poor guy. Well, by hockey player standards.

[DaDitka]

Of course part of it could be blamed on poor coaching and instruction in the lower levels and their inability to cultivate this young talent.

Where did this Payne guy come from again???

And hopefully we start bucking this trend, but there is absolutely no defending this organizations lack of home grown impact players over the last 20 (or more) years.

[abc789987]

Of course part of it could be blamed on poor coaching and instruction in the lower levels and their inability to cultivate this young talent.

Where did this Payne guy come from again???

And hopefully we start bucking this trend, but there is absolutely no defending this organizations lack of home grown impact players over the last 20 (or more) years.

I still think not having very high draft picks for 20 years is a reasonable excuse.

[WaukeeBlues]

Of course part of it could be blamed on poor coaching and instruction in the lower levels and their inability to cultivate this young talent.

Where did this Payne guy come from again???

He was a weakness leaving the body.

[Blues Dude 9]

I was at the 3/4/10 games @ Dallas.

It was apparently some kind of special day for Turco because he broke some Dallas record for starts or some crap like that. Shortly after that pre-game announcement, another was made that his parents and family were in the stands.

At this point I was worried that such a special night would result in a beatdown of the Blues.

Turco is still Turco though. The game ended 6-1. Turco let 4 through and was pulled. If Turco can't even give a team like the Blues a game, even though the night was so special for him, there isn't a team in the league that should take the risk of signing him.