Jabob Markstrom was taken with the first pick in the second round by Florida… after goalies Chet Pickard selected 18th by Nashville and Thomas McCollum taken 30th by Detroit. Markstrom is tall goaltender who also has Athleticism to go with sound technique. He displayed some of that in the WJC taking Sweden to the Finals where he stopped 132 of 140 shots for a .940 SV%. Of course he also display he can FLOP with the best going down when hit like Floppa Forsberg! Markstrom plays for Brynas in the SEL and has surpassed the other goalies especially McCollum who has hit the skids. So, so much for the Detroit never makes mistakes.
Markstrom is slated to play yet another season in Sweden and the schedule is to have him at least backing-up Vokoun by 2010-11.
While a goalies development is incredibly unpredictable. For every Cam Ward or Cary Price there is a Craig Hillier you still have to be pro-active in filling the pipeline with a goalie. Like it or not, Fleury still hasn’t shown the consistency of a first overall pick.
But when you look at other teams, say for instance the Capitals… they have both Varlamov and Neuvirth and most other teams have at least one key goalie in their system. We don’t. In fact, other than Fleury I think most would be hard pressed to remember a prospect goalie of any impact.
My theory on Anthony Stewart is this… hee can actually can play and his biggest problem is keeping his weight down. I’ve always felt that given the chance he’d be a solid third or fourth line wing… and for sure a bigger physical threat than the likes of Pesonen, Kennedy, Thomas or Minard. For Whitney I think this would be “fair” payback. Combined with Bissonnette that’s two big bodies on the wing.

Freddie Modin… he’s been a band-aid M*A*S*H UNIT player for years now plus has a no trade. If Shero did that I’d immediately create a fire Shero post!

As for Gonchar… everyone goes somewhere sooner or later. You either believe we need wingers or you don’t. If you believe Gonchar and Whitney are key defensemen then you’d have to explain how the Pens went (-3 without them in Novemeber.
When you aren’t winning and continue to keep it up without change you are bound to play about the same.

As for Columbus…Where do I sign, Filatov and Mayorov for Stall and Whitney. This is dynamite stuff, HOOK. Dumping the Salary and grabbing an entire line for Malkin….The only problem that I see is Cap space for Columbus…For this to work the Pens would probably have to take someone like Fredrick Modin as well and them the Jackets would want a pick. Whitney and Staal for the Russian youngsters is the same as trading for draft picks.

Gonchar goes nowhere. He is the only veteran influence on the team and at 5 Million is a bargain.