Poll Results: Backup Goalie

For those of you who might have missed it a couple weeks ago, I wrote an article about the available backup goalies on the market right now. Here it is... http://blue-review.blogspot.com/2007/08/available-backup-goalies.html. I used the article as a starting off point for the most recent poll on what backup goalie that YOU would want the Rangers organization to sign. The results where as follows:

Ed Belfour (0%)
Curtis Joseph (25%)
Robert Esche (50%)
Sean Burke (12%)
Stick with Valiquette (12%)

*Note that there were two goalies in the article I wrote, Alex Auld and JS Aubin, that weren't included in the poll. Auld was not included because he signed with Pheonix recently. And Aubin has never been a full season starter for any team and therefore he is most likely the weakest of the group.
------------------------------------------------------
The results of the poll were quite logical to me for many reasons. First, I expected Robert Esche to get the most votes (50%), because he is the youngest goalie, he has been the Olympic goaltender for the USA, and he is quite familiar to Rangers fans. As a member of the Flyer's organization, he put up several impressive perfomances against the Rangers over the years. Not to mention the fact that he won't take a whole lot of money to sign.

It was clear why Ed Belfour got zero votes. The organization just can't spend that kind of money on a backup goaltender, given their salary cap restraints. Hence why that rookie bonus will be the reason why you probably won't see Al Montoya this year as Lundqvist's backup. Not to mention the fact that Belfour wants to be a starter.

One out of every four of you thought that CuJo would be a good option. Although I am a fan of Joseph, I have a feeling that his agent would use his stoic career as a reason to drive up his salary demands. I also think he wants to go to a team where he would play the most and obviously this would not be that place. I wouldn't rule him out, but I would say that his signing is unlikely.

Sean Burke garnered 12% of the reader vote. My opinion of Burke at this point in his career is that he is a journeyman backup goaltender. He is a decent option for the blueshirts, but he is not a spring chicken. Optimists would say that he is experienced... pessimists would say that he should have retired years ago.

The remaining percentage (12%) voted to let Steve Valiquette handle the role of backup to King Henrik. I am guessing that readers who voted for this option, probably don't want any more salary added to the team's already bloated payroll. I respect the opinions of those readers, but I do believe that Sather is trying to win the Cup while Jagr is still around and you CANNOT have Steve Valiquette as your backup goaltender in that scenario. Although goalies have a less chance of getting injured compared to fowards and defenseman, it happens nonetheless. Rangers fans should be extra sensitive to this considering what has happend to Mike Richter and Dan Blackburn over the last decade (or so). If the team is serious in their Cup run, they need someone that the team can trust behind Lundqvist. As noted above, there are several options out there right now that would be feasible. Most of us just wish that Sather would sign one of them soon, before they become unavailable.

By the way, I agree with the majority of the readers and believe that Robert Esche would be the most ideal signing for the Rangers organization.