With the news that Jaroslav Halak’s rights were traded from Montreal to St. Louis earlier today, the free agent goalie carousel was set in motion and has now started to spin. Let the madness begin. Below is some insight on the fantasy fallout, from the trade, including the impact it has for goaltenders on both teams.
Developing prospects is more like alchemy than an exact science. With 30 NHL organizations controlling the rights of anywhere from six to 16 goalies, it’s a special elixir of scouting, coaching philosophies and systems that creates a pedigree of puck stoppers. Once a prospect is drafted or acquired, the organization’s main goal is to provide as many opportunities as possible for goalies to continue improving their skills. But because teams can only carry two or three at a time, it’s only a matter of time before good play by one goalie in the organization leads to another’s misfortune.
I will never forget when Michael Leighton was pulled in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final. Watching him skate to the bench and walk down the runway was a moment of pure emotional openness. His demeanor and the agony in his eyes screamed helplessness. Even though his tense, hesitant play led to some weak goals, Leighton was yanked on a shot he had no chance of stopping. That single fleeting moment, well, it tells a very important story.
There are many moments during a game when a skater can afford the luxury of taking their eyes off the play. They can catch some air in the penalty box, quickly re-tie their skates or re-tape their stick on the bench or even take the rare shift off to recover from a gut-wrenching blocked shot.
Not so for a goaltender. They must be so attuned to the puck’s movement that even the most sudden bounces must be stopped. Juicy rebounds off lively back-plates, crazy caroms off the glass, deflections, re-directions, hard shots from bad angles – it doesn’t matter. If the goalie sees the puck, he must effectively make saves, control rebounds, recover quickly and be ready for the next shot. (*1)
Don’t look now, but the goalie factory known as Finland has just churned out another quality fantasy prospect. Meet Jussi Rynnas, the second European goalie to attract attention from a number of NHL teams and ultimately choose to start their pro hockey career with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Rynnas, who turns 23 on Saturday and is a monster in his own right, just completed a breakout rookie season in the SM-Liiga with Assat Pori. In 31 games for one of the league’s weakest teams, he posted a brilliant 2.50 goals-against average and a league-high .929 save percentage.
The second round of the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs has been a great display of the dynamic surrounding games played and workload. Why does it seem like the workhorses are wearing down, while those that didn’t play as many games during the season are performing better? Although there’s no direct correlation or clear-cut answer to the question, what we are seeing right now is no random coincidence.
The first round of the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs has provided me with more entertainment and topics of discussion than I ever imagined. Surprises lurk around every corner, as goalies have proven their worth in a myriad of different ways. Yes, the Playoff Beasts are emerging, and the sight is a welcome one for all of us fantasy goalie aficionados.
And thanks to the patented Playoff Beast Tracker, we can all follow along and chart some of these inexperienced goalies. So let’s take a look at some key dynamics that have surfaced over the last two weeks and see what we’ve learned so far about goaltending in the playoffs!
Every save in the Stanley Cup Playoffs is magnified to such an extreme degree that each shot could mean the difference between winning and losing a series. And when it comes to a goaltender suppressing that pressure, whether the force comes from an internal or external source, there’s a certain amount of equanimity that must be executed in order to stop pucks effectively in a seven game series.
As they say back where I’m from around this time of year, “Time to saddle up and ride, boys.” Yes, the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs are here and that means my second-annual Playoff Beast Tracker is back! Just like last year, I’ll update this chart on a nightly basis with stats that truly matter when it comes to analyzing goalies in the postseason.
If I had to compare the goaltending heading into the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs to anything, it would probably be trench warfare. Some of these goalies won’t look pretty, but they will still win games and effectively help their team win the Cup. It will be a dirty, lung-bursting job for many young and inexperienced goalies, but it will still get done, as there are seven goalies with no playoff experience, including five of the eight “starters” in the Western Conference.
The current state of Minnesota Wild goaltending displays a promising and bright future, thanks in large part to their 2009 NHL Entry Draft picks making big waves this year in their respective junior leagues. Combined with solid experience and good youth at the AHL and ECHL levels, the Wild have bright stars illuminating the team’s path and a classy depth chart worthy of that recognition.
