The Goaltending Foxhole, Part Four

Now this is where things get fun. We’ve already looked at the first three levels of goaltenders. Please, feel free to go back and read them if you haven’t already. Today, we take a look at some of the game’s top goaltenders that have a quirk or have struggled in crunch-time. Some of these guys don’t fall into the “Talented But Unproven” category, simply because their talents have been on display for more than half of a season. Yet, I’m still not entirely sure what to make of them. This section will be called:

The Enigmas

Ondrej Pavelec
The man that has been tapped as the Jets’ goaltender of the foreseeable future, Pavelec has impressed me on more than one occasion with the Atlanta/Winnipeg franchise. He’s also made me shake my head on more than one occasion at his play. I know his team has been awful defensively since he’s been with the big club, but he’s been prone to bad goals as well.

If Sergei Bobrovsky is going to be an NHL number one goalie, it may not be in Philly

Sergei Bobrovsky
Bob came out of nowhere to be an early season stud for the Flyers in 2010. Then, it appeared that he got a little worn down by the longer NHL schedule, and he wasn’t near as strong in the latter part of the season. Played well overall, the Peter Laviollette decided to play hot potato with his goalies in the playoffs. Now Bobrovsky sits behind Ilya Bryzgalov in the Philly net. Tough breaks for Bob.

Ray Emery
The oldest member of the list, Emery has backstopped a team to the finals, battled injuries and personal demons only to fight his way back to form last year. Emery doesn’t get the benefit of the doubt here because of the amount of time he was on the shelf over the last few years. We won’t know if he can take a team to the Finals the same way he did with Ottawa in ’07. Unless someone loses each of their current goalies.

Craig Anderson
A guy that played a few pretty good seasons as a backup into a starting gig, Anderson was at his very best when he helped take Colorado back to the playoffs in 2010. The biggest problem for Anderson since then is the fact that he’s been playing for some of the worst defensive teams in the league in Ottawa and last year’s version of the Avalanche. Anderson’s numbers this year haven’t been great, but he’s stolen a few games for the Avs.

Michal Neuvirth is currently learning behind Tomas Vokoun in Washington

Michal Neuvirth
The only thing getting Neuvirth on this list is the fact that he was the guy last year in Washington. Neuvirth was great in the regular season and against the Rangers in the playoffs. But since the Tampa series, Neuvirth has been incredibly bad for a good team. If he’s going to be the guy going forward for the Caps, he’s got to show more.

Semyon Varlamov
The talent is there, without question. But injuries and the inability to get in a groove have held Varlamov back over the last few years. This season, the Avalanche gave up a ton to get him from the Capitals, and they’ve been rewarded with inconsistent play thus far. It’s been the story of his career. But, from reading The Goalie Guild (which had a big help in the inspiration for this list), the Avalanche don’t have a goaltending coach for Varly. Hopefully, he’s been listening to J.S. Giguere.

Without Brian Elliott, the Blues may be one of the league's worst teams

Brian Elliott
Before you call me an idiot for putting Elliott this high, hear me out. The guy has been a good goalie since he came into the league. Not great, but good. He helped get the Senators to the playoffs a few years ago with some great play. He was atrocious last year for two of the league’s worst teams in Ottawa and Colorado. St. Louis took a flier on him this year, and they’ve been rewarded with outstanding play from Elliott. Elliott helped take Wisconsin to a national title as a senior, and he was even playing well before Ken Hitchcock arrived in St. Louis. I can’t put him higher though, because I don’t know if this will keep up and the Blues go back to the guy they’re paying a lot of money to. Speaking of him…

Jaroslav Halak
What the hell happened, Jaro? He never had a chance to take the top spot in Montreal, takes the Habs on a magical playoff run two years ago, gets a chance in St. Louis to be the top guy last year and plays very well early. Then, the wheels fell off and Halak hasn’t been able to re-gain the form he showed at times in Montreal. He’s been victimized by bad goals, yet he makes a save or two per game that brings you out of your seat. I know he’s capable of getting white-hot, but that hasn’t happened for quite some time. Thanks, Jaro, but you can take a seat.

Cory Schneider
Yes, this choice does break the rules listed at the top. But it’s my list and I can do what I want with it! There’s no question the Schneider is going to be a number one goalie somewhere in the NHL. No one knows if it’s going to be in Vancouver or elsewhere though. He’s been lights-out this season playing in relief of Roberto Luongo. He was also great last year and was called upon to take over for Luongo in a clinching playoff game. If I’m any team that needs a plan in net for the future, I would get on the phone with Mike Gillis right now. I’m talking to you, New Jersey.

Tuukka Rask
Rask is being very patient behind Tim Thomas. He has the chops to be a top guy, and he took the Bruins to a series win in 2010. He was also in net for the team’s collapse against the Flyers that year too, so I have to dock him for that. He fits in above Schneider because we’ve seen more of Rask over the last few years.

Mike Smith is thriving in the Desert this season

Mike Smith
Now that he’s out of goaltending hell in Tampa, we’re finally able to see what Smith can do as a goalie. He’s healthy and he’s been great for the Coyotes this year. As good as he’s been this year, it has yet to be seen how he does over an entire season. He’s also fun to watch because of how well he handles the puck. Talk to me in a few months with Smith.

Corey Crawford
It took him some time, but Crawford now has a stranglehold on the Chicago net. He was a blast to watch last year, and he nearly won the team’s game seven in Vancouver last year by himself. He continues to get better, and it may not be too long before Crawford is one of the league’s elite goaltenders. My only concern is how quick his coach likes to give his goalies the hook. All it takes to possibly put Crawford back on the bench is a 4-5 game stretch of poor play.

Kari Lehtonen
I had an incredibly hard time trying to figure out where to put Lehtonen. He’s been great since he arrived in Dallas, nearly taking a lesser-talented team to the playoffs last year. He also got out to a great start this season for the Stars. From what I had been told, it was because he dedicated himself to getting in shape and getting healthy. That gives me the idea that he could give up if things are going south. He battled injuries and some bad hockey teams while in Atlanta, but was good the year he took them to the team’s only playoff appearance. He responded by getting abused by the Rangers in his only playoff action. So until he can prove that he’s worthy of being a top goalie, I have no choice but to put him here.

Jonathan Quick
Another guy that’s been great since he was handed the keys to his team, Quick is putting up great numbers for the Kings once again this year. He’s also got to deal with Jonathan Bernier behind him, who could take that spot at any time. My biggest issue with Quick is how badly he’s fallen apart in the playoffs. Yes, he stole LA’s two (nearly three) wins last year against the Sharks in the playoffs. But he was taken to the woodshed by Vancouver the year before, and had he not collapsed in game three against San Jose, who knows how that series ends. Yes, I was smiling the entire time I typed that. Perform in the playoffs, young man.

Jonas Hiller
When he’s good, he’s really good. But Hiller’s high points came the year he led the Ducks to a playoff win as an 8-seed (my smile is no longer present) and last year before he came down with vertigo. Hiller returned this year to what has turned out to be a pretty bad Ducks team, and his numbers have suffered. I’m not going to throw the guy to the wayside, he’s still plenty talented and can steal games if he gets hot. Catching with his right hand is also a different look for shooters. But I need to see him put together a long stretch before thinking about moving him up.

Antti Niemi is the only goalie in this section to have started for a Stanley Cup winner

Antti Niemi
While I had a friend tell me he thinks Niemi deserves to be an elite goalie, I can’t put him there yet. Yes, he’s won a Stanley Cup. Yes, he’s carried two teams to great seasons. But his Cup had more to do with the team in front of him than anything, and he’s been leaky in a few playoff series over the last two years (LA and Vancouver last year, at times against Philly in ’10). So until Niemi can put together a season AND playoff season where he’s lights-out, then his ascension to the elite could come quickly. For my own sanity, I hope it’s this season. The good news is that he’s been superb for the Sharks this season and is a big reason why they’re the top defensive team in the West as of right now.

Jimmy Howard
This guy is on the fast-track to an elite level. I even hate having him here. Howard took the league by storm as a rookie, but he regressed a little bit last season, posting less than impressive numbers. Howard erased any concern that his team had about him in the playoffs, posting solid numbers in 11 games. This season, he’s gotten off to a great start and has kept the Red Wings in the hunt for the top spot in the conference. The only issue I have, and this is based off the times I’ve gotten to see him the most (the playoffs against San Jose), is that he’s prone to giving up a bad goal that can swing some momentum. He appears to be the Red Wings’ guy going forward though, so all is good in Detroit’s net.

Ilya Bryzgalov hopes to get his game turned around in time for the playoffs

Ilya Bryzgalov
Bryzgalov just missed out on the elite level, and anyone that’s seen him play in Philly this year can understand why. He was outstanding in Phoenix for four years, posting great numbers for teams that aren’t as talented as others in the league. However, we could be seeing that those results were a product of Dave Tippett’s system since Mike Smith is having success. There’s no question Bryzgalov is a talented goalie. He’s openly said he’s had some confidence issues in Philly so far, and now we’re starting to see Sergei Bobrovsky get more playing time. He demanded big money, got it, and is slacking. It’s almost as if he’s using the more talented team in front of him as an excuse to let his guard down. That’s not how it works, in the end you still have to stop the puck, Breezy.

Well that covers it for The Enigmas. We’ve finally reached the elite. Come back tomorrow, when I reveal the one goaltender that I want in net for one game only.

And please, react to me! I enjoy the feedback.

2011-12 NHL Season Preview: Dallas Stars

Dallas Stars

A Look Back at 2010-11
Oh what could have been. The Stars played outstanding hockey for much of the 2011-12 season, leading the Pacific Division for a good portion of the season thanks to their high-powered offense and a surprisingly good defense. The Stars had the Sharks, Coyotes, Kings and Ducks in the rear-view mirror as late as the all-star break. That’s when things changed and the Stars suddenly couldn’t buy a win to keep pace with the hard-charging teams behind them. Despite how bad the Stars were in the last quarter of the year, they still had a chance to earn a playoff spot on the last day of the season. That wasn’t enough to get the team into the playoffs, as they came out flat against the Minnesota Wild and lost that chance. It signaled the end of the Brad Richards and Marc Crawford eras in Dallas, and the Stars walked away with a whole lot of nothing in return for Richards. The combination of being passed by everyone in the division and ownership instability, and the Stars have to be considered a disappointment last year. Grade: D+ (There was some good that came out of it, but they fell apart in dramatic fashion.)

A Look Ahead to 2011-12

Forwards

Loui Eriksson will be in his first season playing without Brad Richards

For the first time a very long time, the Stars won’t have a bona-fide number-one center now that Richards is gone. They will, however, welcome plenty of new faces to their lineup, but their returning forwards are the strength of this team. Expect for the Stars to line up with a top unit that features Mike Ribeiro centering Loui Eriksson and Jamie Benn. Ribeiro led the Stars in assists last season, and he will have the task of getting the puck to the two talented wingers. Eriksson was called the league’s most underrated player last season, but after his third straight season with more than 60 points, no one is taking the talented winger for granted. Benn is already being touted as the Stars’ sleeping giant on offense. He had a great year last year and plays well past his young age of 22. Expect him to surpass his 56 points from last year, even if the Stars move him to . Team captain Brendan Morrow had a great year last year, scoring 33 goals while playing on the second line while playing the physical game Morrow has been known for his entire career. He’ll fit in nicely on the team’s second line.

Once you get past those four players, the Stars face quite a few questions as to where the production will come from. Michael Ryder should be a candidate to team with Morrow on the second line. Ryder is fresh off a Cup win with Boston and he played very consistent throughout that playoff run. That had always been a knock on Ryder, and whether or not he can bring a whole year of solid play to the Stars is a giant roll of the dice. Radek Dvorak, Vernon Fiddler, Eric Godard and Jake Dowell also join the team this year, but the Stars won’t expect much out of those three in terms of offense. Dvorak and Fiddler were brought in for checking a penalty killing purposes and Dowell and Godard bring extra toughness to the team.

Rounding out the Stars’ forwards include mega-pest Steve Ott, Adam Burish Tom Wandell, Krys Barch and Toby Petersen. Dallas does boast a few prospects that could make the lineup in Tomas Vincour and Scott Glennie. Glennie is a former first-round pick that could help out the Stars’ offense if he can ever crack the lineup.

The Stars don’t have much past the top line that’s scares opponents offensively. The way their lineup is constructed, the Stars are going to try to play a slew of low-scoring games. The fact that their ownership is also in limbo means the chances of the Stars picking up any offensive help are pretty slim. That’s not a good sign for this team that was so fun to watch a season ago. Grade: C

Defense

Stephane Robidas is the elder-statesman on the Dallas blue line

The Stars were 15th in the NHL last season in goals against. But with a lineup that I expect to struggle with scoring this season, that ranking to going to have to be better. Trevor Daley, Nicklas Grossman, Mark Fistric, Stephane Robidas and Alex Goligoski are all locks to play every night they are healthy. The first four in that group are all very sound defensively, and Daley is beginning to evolve into one of the league’s better defensemen. Goligoski is an offensive wizard on the back end, an area that the team desperately needed to improve last seasaon. He should help the team’s power-play remain strong because of his ability to distribute the puck. Robidas has the most experience on the blue line and will be counted on for great defense and the occasional point. Grossman and Fistric are rocks in the Dallas zone.

Sheldon Souray and Adam Pardy were brought in to compete for the final spot on the Stars’ blue line. Souray is an interesting case, as he was nothing short of a bust when he was in Edmonton due to his inability to stay healthy. But while he may never get back to the level he played at when he was with Montreal, he still has an absolute rocket for a shot and he might have the chance to contribute on the power-play for the Stars. Should he stay healthy and team with Goligoski, the Stars suddenly have a potent attack from the blue line. Pardy never really fit in Calgary, but he should see some time on the Dallas blue line this year.

Prospect Philip Larsen saw some time last year, and he may not be far off from being a full-time player for Dallas. Dallas also boasts a pair of promising prospects in John Klingberg and Jamie Oleksiak who won’t be with the Stars this year, but could be within the next few years. Grade: B

Goaltending

Kari Lehtonen was great last year, but how he performs in year two could prove the difference in the Stars' season

Well look who finally showed up to play. For a guy that has always had the ability to be a franchise goalie, Kari Lehtonen finally put his skills to use last year. Lehtonen was also blessed with a clean bill of health for the first time in his career, and that doesn’t hurt. Lehtonen kept the Stars in the majority of his games last year, and this season he is going to be counted on to do the same. I’m still skeptical about his ability to stay healthy, and I wouldn’t be shocked to see him bit by the injury bug. I don’t hope it happens, but forgive me since he hasn’t put together a pair of healthy seasons yet in his career. But if Dallas wants any shot at challenging for a playoff spot this year, Lehtonen not only needs to stay healthy, but play above the level he was at last season.

Andrew Raycroft is back for another year to back-up Lehtonen. Raycroft was pretty good when he was called upon last year, and as a former starter he needs to be ready to go at any time with Lehtonen’s history of injury woes. Richard Bachman is next in line, and he’s about as good of a number-three option as anyone in the league. As it is with most teams, goaltending is going to go a long way in terms of the Stars’ success this season. Grade: B

Prediction
The good news is that the Stars will be competitive on a nightly basis. The bad news is that they play in a very tough division and tougher conference with plenty of teams that are going to score plenty of goals. The playoffs aren’t out of the question, but the Stars are going to have to have a lot go right for them in order to get in. 5th in Pacific, 12th in West