I loved Carruth but I just don't buy the argument that Bowns isn't good enough to backstop us to a league title. He's posted his best stats for almost 5 years whilst being behind arguably the weakest defensive structure I've seen at the Devils in a long time. Yes he has bad games. All goalies do. Invariably when he's struggled we do concede soft one's but that's the nature of the position. When I thought this team needed tightening up at the back - a Strachan type player - we brought in Wilde. He's done well for us but I just didn't think that type of player was what we needed. I still don't. When we defensively carry some of the players we do, who don't seem particularly interested in team defence, it does leave us massively exposed. Bown's has had a good season even with all that's in front of him.
The same applies to Wall except, and this is purely a personal choice, just isn't the goalie for me. I don't like that overly aggressive style - the Fleury style - that means he's out of position and gets founds out. He's let in a few soft ones and doesn't fill me with confidence. This was evident for me from the start where him and Bowns were more of a tandem. At this level, a goalie should be ready to play regardless of ice time. If PR, has brought in a goalie that needs regular ice time to hit peak performance and doesn't play him then that's poor and setting him up to fail but I firmly believe the Devils expected Wall to be more impactful that he has been and that's what's restricted his ice time.