They did it again

The NHL has been doing everything they can to increase scoring over the past several seasons. From rule changes to equipment regulations the directive has been to curb the success goalies are having in the game of hockey and put more pucks in the net. Everything the NHL has done to this point has not been able to slow down the dominance that goaltenders are having. I wrote is an earlier post that the new 3 on 3 overtime was going to hurt goaltender statistics, which I still believe, but another rule change I think will have a greater affect on goals against and it will be to help goalies tremendously.

This season coaches will be able to challenge possible off-side violations and goaltender interference. The off-side calls should have a very limited overall impact but I believe the ability to challenge goals based on goaltender interference should have dramatic consequences. Not only will there be goals called back but the true underlying value to goalies is that players will be be more conscious of not interfering with goalies and therefore giving them room to work. If you have ever put on the pads you know that balance is the key to making saves and it doesn't take much to throw that off. If players are worried that goals will be called back because of them making contact with the goalies then they will stay away and this will lead to a lot more saves than goals not too mention a few less screen situations will be great.

Therefore the potential if having a goal called back vs the actual number of goals that will be called back will be the biggest affect of the rule. My belief is this will have a greater impact than the 3 on 3 overtime and therefore I will predict there will not be an increase in goals scored this season in the NHL. Just a few called back goals early on in the season should do the trick. So far the NHL games I have watched have been tremendous and I hope you enjoy watching the games!

Three Goalies for NHL Teams?

The question of carrying a third goalie on NHL teams was a hot topic last season when Florida's Roberto Loungo and Al Montoya were injured in the same game and Panthers goalie coach Rob Tallas had to suit up. Devan Dubhyk recently was quoted (see below) in a Kevin Woodley NHL.com story placing value of a third goalie to allow for additional goalie specific training during the season while managing workload. NHL teams traditionally carry two goalies which means the goalie practice workload is often subject to the team needs although the two may be very different. What I propose is that NHL allows teams carry a third goaltender who is not a prospect but classified as a coach. Ideally, he would be a recently retired pro who is making the transition into coaching. This position would be similar in nature to a bullpen catcher in major league baseball.

Having a third goaltender available for practice allows the goalie coach to control the amount of work and the type of work a starting goaltender is getting. There may be certain days that a head coach feels that the team needs some extra time on the ice while it would be better to get the starter off after a 20 minute skate. With two goalies, a head coach needs both goaltenders in net in order to run traditional drills or scrimmage like situations. With a third goalie, the goalie coach can opt to work with a goalie in a controlled environment as opposed to regular practice as Dubnyk stated. It would also allow the option for the starter to do parts of practice as opposed to every drill and leave a goalie on the ice after practice for extra player work. There are also times that injured players skate apart from the team where it would be a benefit to have a goalie for them to shoot on. A third goalie would also be available in case of a last minute injury to one of the two rostered goalies.

From a development aspect it is not in the best interest of a prospect to serve as the third goalie as they need the benefit of games to gain experience in the minor leagues. If the third goalie on an NHL team is a former professional (NHL, AHL, ECHL) interested in becoming a goalie coach he would be capable of challenging shooters in practice, staying on the ice as long as players wanted to stay out, fill in for the starter when needed as well as assist in practice planning, pre-scouts, video preparation and analysis and in game analytics. This position would not only assist the teams head goalie coach but position the third goalie to be an excellent candidate for an NHL assistant goalie coaching position. If the NHL was to recognize a teams third goalie coach as a non rostered coaching position as opposed to a playing position it would be financially feasible for clubs to make this position available and produce the next generation of professional goalie coaches.

Unmasked: Third-goalie option a must in NHL today

"Dubnyk has credited the three-goalie rotation for being able to start a franchise-record 38-straight games late last season. With two other goalies around, it allowed him to get on the ice early to work on position-specific drills with Wild goaltending coach Bob Mason without worrying about sticking around for the rest of practice. Given most practices are geared toward everyone but the goaltender, with shooters regularly given more time and space to make late passes and pick corners they might be lucky to see once all season in a game, it allowed Dubnyk to focus on his mechanics without getting worn out making hundreds of practice saves. Most goalies don't have that luxury, and the extra work they have to do between games exacerbates the need to have a third option, as the Canucks learned when Markstrom was injured in practice this week."

Not since 1967...

Not since 1967 have two NHL rookie NHL goalies faced off against each other in their first career start. That was the case last night as Stop It Goaltending's Mike Condon played his first game for the Montreal Canadiens and at the opposite end Matt O'Connor debuted for the Ottawa Senators. The Habs won the game 3-1 and both goalies played very well. The similarities they have are equally as striking as the fact they played their first NHL game against each other.

Both Mike Condon and Matt O'Connor were passed over in the NHL draft. The two rookie goaltenders opted for the NCAA college route, Condon (Princeton University) and O'Connor (Boston University), as opposed to taking the major junior path. Neither goalie stepped into college and were handed the starting positions. Both Condon and O'Connor battle every week in practice to get games and only became a starter their final season of college hockey*. Mike Condon stands 6'2 and Matt O'Connor at 6'5 which is consistent with NHL standards these days.

Injuries have played a distinct role is last nights events as well. Ottawa's Matt O'Connor, was slated for the AHL this season but was called up due to Andrew Hammonds injury. At Boston University, O'Connor was splitting time with Sean Maguire his first too seasons but a concussion kept Maguire out of hockey last year which gave O'Connor the chance to take the ball and he ran with it. During senior year spring break, Mike Condon signed a PTO in the ECHL in which he played four games. At the time he was to return to school, he was offered an AHL spot with the Houton Aeros because of an injury. Upon arrival not only was the starter injured but also their backup which thrust Condon into the starting role. Mike Condon responded with five stellar games which led to an entry level contract with the Montreal Canadiens.

There are definitely circumstance where a 20 year old goalie comes into the NHL and makes an immediate impact, think Patrick Roy, but for the vast majority of goaltenders time is the most important asset they have. At the younger ages it is physical skill that differentiates one goaltending for the other. As the pyramid closes at the older levels it is the mental game that separates all of these gifted athletes. The ability to read a play, read a release and control emotions can only come over time. So goalies, relax, enjoy the process and work hard so when your number is called you are ready.

*Mike Condon played all four seasons at Princeton and Matt O'Connor played three years at Boston University.

Work + Persistence + Timing + Luck
Yesterday was a pretty exciting day at Stop It Goaltending. The Montreal Canadiens waived backup goalie Dustin Tokarski to make room on the roster for Mike Condon. Mike has been training at Stop It Goaltending since he was a Bantam while playing for the Boston Junior Eagles. After the initial excitement of the news had passed I started thinking about Mikes path to the NHL and the path's of the other SIG goalies that have made it to the best league in the world. Here is what struck me...

1. You have to put your work in: I chatted with Mikes dad Ted yesterday and we were reminiscing about Mikes private goalie lessons at our old facility in Methuen, MA twelve years ago. The countless hours of goalie lessons, camps, practices, tournaments, games and off-ice training that it takes to make it is enormous. In the book "Outliers" they refer to this as the 10,000 hour rule. There is no way around putting in the work and sacrifices.

2. You must be persistent: Mikes path to this point was not easy. He sat on the bench for two seasons at Belmont Hill Prep School waiting his chance to play and was not drafted into the NHL. Mike had to battle all week at practice to get starts in college while at the same time keep up with the heavy dose of academics at Princeton University. As a pro Mike had to start in the East Coast League and work his way up. You need to face adversity to really see where you can get to in life. You need to struggle and as Mikes dad put it..."keep your head down, your mouth shut, and keep moving forward ."

3. You need timing and luck: As I look at success in the world of goaltending I can't help but keep coming back to timing and luck. I know some terrific goalies that are in a situation where they can't get a start and others that are not as talented but play every game. In order to make it timing and luck have to be in your favor but in order to capitalize on it you must put in your work and be persistent.

I believe Mike becomes the 15th goalie that has trained at Stop It Goaltending to play in the NHL. Some of these goalies have trained their whole career at SIG while others may come and have come periodically to work with me and my staff. The SIG coaches and I continue to evolve thanks to the opportunity of work with dedicated goalies such as Mike and take great pride in all of our goalies successes on and off the ice.