IIHF World ChampionshipDiscuss International Tournaments like the WJC, Olympics, and World Cup, as they take place, or discuss past tournaments. performances.
I think you guys are overreacting just a little on your goaltending situation. You do have some good depth. There are at least 2-3 countries with no depth but a solid #1. Trouble is, because you only play one goaltender, that might be more important than depth.
I think someone will step up between now and Sochi and you'll be fine. Carey Price and Mike Smith are probably the most likely. I've always liked Smith and never understood why Dallas got rid of him (yes Brad Richards is good, but to lose Smith when Turco was shown signs of age was rough).
I wouldn't start mentioning Holtby in any conversations just yet. Remember, this is a guy who couldn't beat out an aging Vokoun and a crappy Neivirth just a month ago.
I think you guys are overreacting just a little on your goaltending situation. You do have some good depth. There are at least 2-3 countries with no depth but a more solid #1. Trouble is, because you only play one goaltender, that might be more important than depth. Unless that #1 gets hurt, imagine where Slovakia would be if Halak is injured come Sochi?
I think someone will step up between now and Sochi and you'll be fine. Carey Price and Mike Smith are probably the most likely. I've always liked Smith and never understood why Dallas got rid of him (yes Brad Richards is good, but to lose Smith when Turco was shown signs of age was rough).
I wouldn't start mentioning Holtby in any conversations just yet. Remember, this is a guy who couldn't beat out an aging Vokoun and a crappy Neivirth just a month ago.
I think everyone is over reacting
The Canadian goaltending will be fine, just cause there's Rinne's, Quick's, Lundqvists and what not out there doesn't mean we're in trouble, Miller was the tourney MVP and look how well that worked out. I'm more worried about our offense or defense not showing up.
The answer is easy.
In Canada you play way to many games,and therefore the goaltenders training way to little.
That goes for the WHL,AHL and NHL at least. The ideal dose of training is 3 practises for every one game
A goalie nead to work on details,details and details.
And all this goes for skaters to,but it`s even more important for goaltenders.
Just my two cents.
Last edited by fredrikstad: 05-06-2012 at 05:51 AM.
The answer is easy.
In Canada you play way to many games,and therefore the goaltenders training way to little.
That goes for the WHL,AHL and NHL at least. The ideal dose of training is 3 practises for every one game
A goalie nead to work on details,details and details.
And all this goes for skaters to,but it`s even more important for goaltenders.
Just my two cents.
I believe that the US has similar development systems as Canada and they are pumping out elite goaltenders left and right.
I believe that the US has similar development systems as Canada and they are pumping out elite goaltenders left and right.
Of the top six American goaltenders right now, five (Quick, Thomas, Miller, Schneider, and Howard) came through the college system which features less games and more practice. Anderson is the only one who went the CHL route.
Of the top six American goaltenders right now, five (Quick, Thomas, Miller, Schneider, and Howard) came through the college system which features less games and more practice. Anderson is the only one who went the CHL route.
Quote:
American players go get a brain before they start making money, Canadians go straight for the money.
Of the top six American goaltenders right now, five (Quick, Thomas, Miller, Schneider, and Howard) came through the college system which features less games and more practice. Anderson is the only one who went the CHL route.
Of the top six American goaltenders right now, five (Quick, Thomas, Miller, Schneider, and Howard) came through the college system which features less games and more practice. Anderson is the only one who went the CHL route.
..And training more than playing games is a theory that holds for European goaltenders aswell. Goaltenders need games for development, but there's probably something true to the fact that you can play too many games aswell. Whether that's the reason or not, who knows. Maybe the Canadian goaltending coaches on youth level have fallen behind?
..And training more than playing games is a theory that holds for European goaltenders aswell. Goaltenders need games for development, but there's probably something true to the fact that you can play too many games aswell. Whether that's the reason or not, who knows. Maybe the Canadian goaltending coaches on youth level have fallen behind?
There has definately been a dearth of top-notch Canadian goalies coming up over the last few years. It could just be cyclical. The U.S. had a similar drought in the early-mid 2000s where the cream of the crop was DiPietro, Esche, and Grahame. USA Hockey has made more of an attempt to a create a "world" view with its development programs, and I think its paying off.
There has definately been a dearth of top-notch Canadian goalies coming up over the last few years. It could just be cyclical. The U.S. had a similar drought in the early-mid 2000s where the cream of the crop was DiPietro, Esche, and Grahame. USA Hockey has made more of an attempt to a create a "world" view with its development programs, and I think its paying off.
To me, it seems that Hockey Canada has become arrogant over the last few years and their management decisions have been questionable at best. It's a real shame because our depth at forward and defence is staggering, perhaps as good as it's ever been. Our elite goaltending list is short to non-existent. Problem is, internationally, in short tournaments, goaltending is by far the most important position.
At first, it seems inconceivable that Canada won't medal in Sochi, based on the sheer amount of young talent (Crosby, Stamkos, Giroux, Toews, Pietrangelo, Doughty, Letang), combined with experienced "veterans", who are still fairly young themselves (Nash, Staal, Getzlaf, Perry, M. Richards, Weber, Keith) but with the poor level of goaltending we've been getting recently on all levels, it's entirely plausible.
Price looks like the clear number 1 with Ward as the back up. You also have Smith and Holtby if they are as good as the look. You also have to think LA will one Bernier eventually and he will get his chance to prove himself.
Canada's going through a phase where we don't have a lot of world class goalies - I think we've just been spoilt by the Roy/Brodeur days. Russia hasn't had an elite goalie since the Soviet era, Sweden didn't have one in the 20 years between Lindbergh and Lundqvist, and until the last 10 years Finland was in the same situation.
He definitely could have played even better, but that's a very adequate performance when you're playing for Team Canada.
Yeah, Luongo's performance was decent, but what I'm referring to is a goalie capable of stealing a game for us. Over the years, I've watched quite a few games where Canada loses, despite thoroughly outplaying, outchancing, and outshooting our opponents, saved only by spectacular displays of goaltending. Some examples include Martin Gerber for Switzerland in Canada's 2-0 loss in Torino and Ryan Miller for USA in Canada's 5-3 loss in Vancouver. Is it so much to ask that we have a poor outing (like our game against Team USA a couple days ago) and have a goalie steal a game for us? Just once?
Admittedly, I didn't watch the game, because part of me knew that we'd lose today, so I haven't seen the goals allowed, but one again, our goaltending has let us down in an elimination game. I'm not saying that Cam Ward was the only one at fault here, because from what I've heard, the whole team played like **** (surprise surprise). But again, here are the stats:
Cam Ward: 4 GA on 28 SOG = .857
While our opponent:
Jan Laco: 3 GA on 36 SOG = .917
I'm so sick of looking at Canadian goaltenders in these tournaments and seeing a save percentage starting with an 8. It's getting embarrassingly bad.
Admittedly, I didn't watch the game, because part of me knew that we'd lose today, so I haven't seen the goals allowed, but one again, our goaltending has let us down in an elimination game. I'm not saying that Cam Ward was the only one at fault here, because from what I've heard, the whole team played like **** (surprise surprise). But again, here are the stats:
Cam Ward: 4 GA on 28 SOG = .857
While our opponent:
Jan Laco: 3 GA on 36 SOG = .917
I'm so sick of looking at Canadian goaltenders in these tournaments and seeing a save percentage starting with an 8. It's getting embarrassingly bad.
Disagree with your assessment of Luongo. You first say we haven't gotten great goaltending for a long time and then reference the .920-.930 save percentage range, then when someone mentions Luongo had a .927SVP at the Olympics you go on to reference the games Brodeur lost for us.
Anyways, I've never had faith in Cam Ward and tonight, despite what his biggest fans will tell you, he let us down. We needed the big save from him and instead he was outplayed by Jan Laco. Ward should definitely NOT be on the Olympic team.
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I told ya so. I was right all along!
