Jared Coreau sent down to Grand Rapids, Jimmy Howard set to take spot

For those that were thinking that there may be a goalie controversy in Detroit, it isn’t the type you were initially thinking. Jared Coreau was sent down to Grand Rapids and Jimmy Howard is now slated to be the back up.

Is that it for a Coreau in a Red Wings’ uniform? What should the expectations be for Howard as the season is nearly over?

In fourteen games this year, Coreau has had a sub .900sv%. Not any good. In fact, not even NHL back up quality. How he even got into the goalie conversation on this team is beyond me. Mind you Coreau’s AHL numbers are pretty good considering. So it isn’t wrong to expect more from him. Howard may be gone after this year as well, so the grooming may have already started.

Howard on the other hand in fifteen games started has a .934 sv% in his time with the team this year. That is Vezina level good. Seeing more of him down the stretch is going to be a necessary step. Not only for the team but for the teams interested in his services. Howard has taken lumps in his time with the team and is still playing well. There is something to be said about that.

Coreau still has an AHL future to him. His NHL time may be too small of a sample to draw any real conclusions. It definitely isn’t a great start to his career in the big leagues. At 25, he doesn’t have much more time to leave an impression either.

Howard is in an even odder spot as an established player who needs to find the right spot. His goaltending earlier in the year saved the teams tail often. Is he going to be expansion fodder or more of a player kept permanently on the block?

The games may seem pointless right now but these are questions that need to be answered. This is the perfect opportunity to look at these players in a vacuum.

Who exactly is going to step up?