I`am not a expert in this subject, but what I have read the situation is this:
Finland used to be ahead in goalie coaching couple of years ago, but right now countries like Canada and Sweden are close to the level of Finland. Reason for this is that goalie coaches from those countries come to Finland to study our goalie coaching system.
So to answer your question, yes, it is the coaching which makes good goalies. In Finland every team has their own goalie coach. There are also some specialist guys who put science in to goalie coahing. They ponder how to cover space as much as possible etc. They also advice goalies individually to create style which works best for each goalie. Also there are diffrent disciplines in finnish goalie coaching, but they try to learn from each other and respect different kind of styles.
I`am not a expert in this subject, but what I have read the situation is this:
Finland used to be ahead in goalie coaching couple of years ago, but right now countries like Canada and Sweden are close to the level of Finland. Reason for this is that goalie coaches from those countries come to Finland to study our goalie coaching system.
So to answer your question, yes, it is the coaching which makes good goalies. In Finland every team has their own goalie coach. There are also some specialist guys who put science in to goalie coahing. They ponder how to cover space as much as possible etc. They also advice goalies individually to create style which works best for each goalie. Also there are diffrent disciplines in finnish goalie coaching, but they try to learn from each other and respect different kind of styles.
I remember reading that in Finland teams started to hire specific coaches for goalies earlier than in other countries. Nowadays all junior teams have goalie coaches etc., but it's probably the same in most countries. IIRC goaltending used to be one of our weaknesses in international level in the 80s and 90s?
Finnish goalie coaches also have group meetings where they change their opinions with each other...what works and so on.
And it seems like they have shared the knowledge to other countries also. That I found little bit odd but hopefully it's vice versa. We need knowledge how to make goals and how to produce defense men
There was also the theory that in Finnish youth hockey creative play and risk taking is highly encouraged. Thus young goalies face a lot more shots and odd-man attacks.
Niitty, Rask (backup because of Thomas, starter in most NHL teams). Engren, Säteri, Rynnäs...
Ortio, Aittokallio, Chris Gibson, Perhonen (I have high hopes on this kid), Kilpeläinen...
And I still don't get why Vehanen is not in America
Kazan is a wealthy team and Vehanen is getting millions for each year, pretty good money for retirement. Not sure how much it currently is but he got (I think) 2,5 million € some time back and it is probably even more now and he isn't getting any younger so KHL is a good rational choice even if he did get offers. He is already 34.
I know he's a veteran goalie, and that of course he's earning a lot of money in Ak Bars. I expected him to make the NHL last summer due to the need of solid goalies in some NHL teams mixed with the great World Championship he made.
