Some rambling thoughts on our goaltending:
I have to say, I don't particularly trust our goaltending. I know, I know, their stats are pretty good, but, I still feel nervous on every shot on goal.
Maybe it's because, since the lockout, we have been witness to goaltending that ranged from mediocre to bad to OMG!!
Maybe it's because the goals that do go in are generally not of the 'nobody-could-have-stopped-that' variety but more of the 'he-should-have-had-that' or 'how-in-the-world-did-that-go-in' type.
So, I'm a little nervous.
Still, having said that, I don't see any way in which Kiprosoff is an upgrade. Sure, if they only want him as a mentor or insurance, it might not hurt. But, what are they discussing with him? An extension? That doesn't fit the 'mentor'/'insurance' template. And I think we all have in the back of our minds the Giguere experiment where they played him even though they had better, younger goalies on the bench and in the press box. There's a good chance if they trade for him, they are going to play him - come Hell or high water.
I do think that Luongo would be an upgrade, maybe even a significant upgrade. But his contract is so stupid that it cancels out any benefit to getting him.
Now one more thing before I end this ramble, which may seem contradictory to what I have just written. The reason for this trade discussion is the need for 'playoff experience'. Leaving aside the 'how-do-you-get-experience-if-you-don't-have-experience' argument, could you not look at playoff experience in other leagues as a precursor to how things might play out, in terms of handling pressure etc.?
So for the record, Reimer led his ECHL team to the championship and won playoff MVP and Scrivens took the Marlies to the AHL finals. Yes, not the NHL, but playoff runs nonetheless, with their own playoff pressures.
So, despite my nervousness and mistrust, I still think the best option is to stand pat.