Detroit is gonna get more than that. Your basically just upgrading Calgary's goalie and forward and giving them picks. Detroit ha son need for Smith and probably wouldn't be interested in Lazar. Howard gets a 1st and a prospect by himself easily. Nyqvist probably gets a better prospect than Lazar by himself too

Its been reported all Detroit is looking for Howard is a 1st Round pick.... & that most teams are willing to give up a 2nd but nothing more. Howard is a 34 UFA. People like you forget you actually need to field a roster and cant just take A prospects and picks you need to field an NHL team and CGY is not sending down Rittich so Smith is a must in a deal swapping goaltenders here.

Edit: Curtis Lazar has 35p in 45 Games in Stockton atm and had 25p with the Flames last season, its a pretty good bottom 6 Center just the Flames dont have a roster spot for him.

--> Detroit would need to take Smith back because (a) they need someone to play the rest of the year, and (b) Calgary would need to get rid of the salary. Smith is a UFA after the year so Detroit wouldn't need to keep him
--> Lazar has some value, although not a lot, and on a weak detroit team probably cracks their 4th line
--> any GM who gives up a 1st and a prospect for Jimmy Howard is an idiot and wholly incompetent. The reported asking price for him is a first, and no one is going to do that. Most likely scenario he stays put , re-signs and rides out the rest of his career as a Wing. Nyquist is where the value is in this trade.

From the Flames perspective, no benefit in giving up this much for Howard. He's worse than Rittich. Give up a 2nd and a prospect for Nyquist, sure, but don't see the Wings going for that. If you're going to take a swing, may as well go for the difference makers and go all in. These two players won't really move the needle IMO.

Incoming 1st round exit

Idk id disagree i think Howard is a huge upgrade Smiths S% @ 0.889 & Rittich is @ 0.911 sure but is he actually ready to be a Starter for a playoff contender no less.

Agree he's a huge upgrade on Smith. Not sure he's more than a marginal upgrade on Rittich--so not worth giving up assets for him, especially when he'd only be a 3 month rental and might not make a difference. Howard isn't an option you go after to be an upgrade on back-up. If you bring in Howard, you're bringing him in to play. Think you only bring in someone to take over the #1 if Rittich completely falls apart. If that happens, also think you look to other options with bigger upside and that might have longer term than Howard. Just my thoughts on how they SHOULD be approaching it though--this is the same organization that thought giving a 34 year old Mike Smith a 3 year, 4.5 mil contract was a good idea.

Holy smokes, what a really cool completely original one liner!! I don't know if I have heard anyone else say that about the Flames, came up with that all on your own? Head on back to the facebook comments honey buns.

who do people believe mike smith has any value when he has none whatsoever.......