Goaltenders of the future? Wings hope so
Four prospects hit the ice for a camp at Joe

The Red Wings' goaltender of the future might be on the ice this week at Joe Louis Arena.

If he is, he would be the first goalie since Chris Osgood in the mid-'90s to advance from Detroit's farm system to be the everyday starter.

As the face of the franchise -- captain Steve Yzerman -- skated off into the sunset, the future of the franchise was taking shape on the ice. This week, the Wings are staging their annual prospects camp, featuring recent draft picks who play in Europe, the minors, colleges and juniors, many of whom watched Yzerman's retirement announcement Monday.

Front and center, of course, is the latest crop of goalies: Jimmy Howard, Joey MacDonald, Stefan Liv and Daniel Larsson. Howard is the former college superstar, MacDonald is the unsung veteran, Liv is the gold-medal winner and Larsson is the latest draft pick.

The Wings might not have a starting goalie at the moment -- Osgood has been signed as a likely backup -- but they think the organization has plenty of depth between the pipes. Whether any of them play a lick in Detroit next season seems unlikely, but the following season... "We're just hoping one of these young kids takes it to the next level," assistant general manager Jim Nill said. "That's what we're waiting for. That's what we're hoping for, that one of these guys is going to take the next step."

The Grand Rapids Griffins, the Wings' affiliate in the American Hockey League, could have three goalies -- Howard, MacDonald and Liv -- rotating starts next season.

At times last season, the Griffins had Howard, MacDonald and Drew MacIntyre on the roster. Although MacIntyre isn't in Detroit this week, he is another prospect and was one of the best goalies in the ECHL with the Toledo Storm.

"It's never ideal, but it's up to the guys to challenge each other and work it out," Griffins GM Bob McNamara said. "At the same time, the better guys typically rise to the top.

"You've got three guys that are really high-end for the American league and, in some sense, ready to jump to the NHL in short order."

Howard is viewed by the Wings as a possible NHL starter, even though he allowed some bad goals in the AHL playoffs.

"He was a rookie playing in high-pressure situations in the playoffs," McNamara said. "At times, he handled it better than other times. He got us to the conference finals. I'm sure he'd like to have some of them back."

McNamara pointed out that Howard made the AHL's all-rookie team. The AHL's previous top rookie goalie was Cam Ward, who helped the Carolina Hurricanes win the Stanley Cup last month.

"He's got some experience in the playoffs," McNamara said of Howard. "He should be stronger for it next season."

Howard and the other goalies try to make the best out of their crowded situation.

"Those decisions that management make are out of our hands," he said. "The only thing we can do that's in our control is to just continue to work hard and give ourselves a shot."

Wings general manager Ken Holland has said repeatedly that, regardless of which other goaltenders the team takes to Traverse City, Howard, MacDonald and Liv should try to win a job in Detroit during training camp.

"I think that's the way all three of us are approaching it," Howard said, "and I betcha MacIntyre's approaching it that way."

MacDonald was viewed as a possible backup candidate for the Wings before experiencing back problems. He had surgery for a bulging disc and missed the final month of last season.

"Come September, I want to be 100%," MacDonald said. "I just have to come back, battle, and play like I have been."

Liv, a fourth-round pick in 2000 who has played the last seven seasons in his native Sweden, will play in North America for the first time. He has a one-year, two-way contract.

"I try not to think too far away," Liv said. "Take it day by day."

A third-round pick last month, Larsson already knows his assignment: He will play for Djurgarden in Sweden's elite league.

"It's a good experience to see how the game is over here," he said. "The play over here isn't the same as in Sweden.

"They go a lot more harder on the net than I expected. From the corners, they get so much faster on the goal. Not like in Sweden. It takes like an hour from the corner."

Jimmy Howard and Liv are the favorites to take over the red wings starter job in the future. I would probably put my money on howard.