... the Senators have turned the page on Emery, hope for the future is personified by Elliott, the 23-year-old who figures to carry the load with the Binghamton Senators of the American Hockey League again this season.
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Considering that Gerber is heading into the final year of a three-year contract and Auld is a career backup, signed to a two-year deal worth $2 million U.S. this past offseason, it's easy to see the Senators have a long-term strategy involving Elliott.
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... the Senators want Elliott to push Gerber and Auld as much as possible.
"We have high expectations for him," said Brent Flahr, the Senators' director of hockey operations. "He's a real focused kid, and we just need to bring him along. You can't rush kids like that, especially at that position. It's not just going out there and playing. There are also things technically that you've got to work on, things strength-wise that you've got to work on."
I only saw him that one time he came up here. He looked very quiet, calm, and big in the net like Giguere. But it was hard to get a good read on him, because he was so well protected by the team, except for that kovalchuk shot, that i never got a chance to get a feel for his weaknesses.
I like that he thinks he's going to make it. My fingers are crossed. What are the little things he needs to work on, anyone know?
I like that he thinks he's going to make it. My fingers are crossed. What are the little things he needs to work on, anyone know?
The only things he needs to work on are very minor. He already has good reflexes, size, and mobility. The areas that I think he needs to work the most in are technique, and his angles. The other key is consistency over a stretch of games. He's spending most of his time in the AHL taking on about 40 games in a row to see if he's capable of holding up under the strain.
I think everyone forgets that Gerber was our best player for like the last month of the season last year.. Even though the defense in front of him was the worst we have seen any defense play in Ottawa in a LOONG time.
I only saw him that one time he came up here. He looked very quiet, calm, and big in the net like Giguere. But it was hard to get a good read on him, because he was so well protected by the team, except for that kovalchuk shot, that i never got a chance to get a feel for his weaknesses.
I like that he thinks he's going to make it. My fingers are crossed. What are the little things he needs to work on, anyone know?
I haven't seen him enough to know exactly what he's improved, but there were reports heading into last year that he needed to work on his body movements and rebound control. There were also reports that Eli Wilson (Sens Goalie Coach) redesigned Elliott's goaltending style. One could assume that it was part of an effort to correct some flaws in his game. Learning that new style took a few months of work and he rounded into form in December and then had a great second half of the season in Bingo.
I'm looking forward to seeing how he plays in the pre-season and to reading some good critiques from posters with a deeper understanding of the technical aspects of goaltending.
All signs point to Elliott splitting time with Auld next year, or at least getting a good amount of starts. I'm 100% confident in him being the future of the team in net.
All signs point to Elliott splitting time with Auld next year, or at least getting a good amount of starts. I'm 100% confident in him being the future of the team in net.
What happens with Gerber?
Injury? Buy out?
I agree with you that Eliott will be on the lineup next year but with Gerber as a backup
I think everyone forgets that Gerber was our best player for like the last month of the season last year.. Even though the defense in front of him was the worst we have seen any defense play in Ottawa in a LOONG time.
THANK YOU... it could be a disaster to bring Elliott up before he's ready, anyway... i want to see him get a FULL year as starter in Bingo before we give him serious NHL time, I'm still not convinced this guy is an NHL starter
And I have repeatedly said, and will repeat here, I don't (at this point) feel comfortable with an Elliott-Auld situation next year... I think Auld is a solid backup, but don't want him playing more than maybe 30 max games... and unless Elliott has an MVP type year, I don't like the idea of a rookie starter...
And I have repeatedly said, and will repeat here, I don't (at this point) feel comfortable with an Elliott-Auld situation next year... I think Auld is a solid backup, but don't want him playing more than maybe 30 max games... and unless Elliott has an MVP type year, I don't like the idea of a rookie starter...
Do you really feel more comfortable with a Gerber-Auld tandem? I sure as hell dont. But Elliott deserves some time to develop.
Uh, UFA next summer as already stated and there's a less than 0% chance he's re-signed. Even Murray wouldnt make that mistake.
I could see Gerber being resigned. If he doesn't have any meltdowns this year. And if he signs for 1 year. And if he signs cheap. And if Auld doesn't show any signs of being a capable #1.
So basically, more than a 0% chance, but not by much.
Do you really feel more comfortable with a Gerber-Auld tandem? I sure as hell dont. But Elliott deserves some time to develop.
At this point, yes, absolutely I do. We'll see how the season goes. But that's what I mean, if Elliott is lights out this year, well I guess maybe he can handle starter minutes next year. Either way, I'd like to have someone who can at least challenge him for starter minutes next year and bail him out if he has some rookie struggles (as would probably be expected of any young goalie), and I really don't think Auld is that guy.
I could see Gerber being resigned. If he doesn't have any meltdowns this year. And if he signs for 1 year. And if he signs cheap. And if Auld doesn't show any signs of being a capable #1.
So basically, more than a 0% chance, but not by much.
The bolded is what I find least likely. I wouldnt be surprised if Murray did re-sign him actually, but I doubt he'd be willing to give what Gerber would get on the open market, and he doesnt strike me as a guy who really wants to stay here for some reason.
I rarely make *SERIOUS* predictions, but when I do I am almost always right (not to toot my own horn, but because well its true!). Right here, right now I am going to say that Gerber will have his best season ever this year. He will be top 10 goalie (possibly top 5) this year in the league. I am not sure how well he will do statistically considering the defense we have this year has yet to prove itself one way or another, but night in and night out Gerber will give this franchise better goaltending than it has ever had.
I tend to agree that the Gerber Baby will have a fine year and Elliot will start the bulk of the games in Bingo to give him the feel of a number 1 guy on a good team. He may get a few games in with the big club, but will have to wait it out. I see an Elliot/Auld combo next season failing the Acquisition of a Luongo or something.
I don't know the number of games he's allowed to play in the NHL without having a big league contract, but he'll probably get the max number of those games over the season.
Gerber played well for us last year and I won't be sad if he starts the season for us. That being said I would like Elliott to get his chance as early as possible simply because I think hes ready now. Murray is just being cautious and not that it will be a bad thing for Elliott to start in the minors but if he starts in the big league and plays so well we are forced to keep him up then it will be an even better situation.
