Goaltending Plan For New York A Problem

New York Islander Fan Central | 8/09/2011 03:18:00 PM |


Simply put, how do you keep six goaltenders sharp/effective for what is two starting spots when all of them need to start, with many/most coming off surgeries?

What happens to the two goaltenders on the outside?


There were two NYIFC entries 4/30/11 Why New York Can Win Next Season & 5/3/11 Why New York Can Lose Next Season.

Our analysis at the time did not touch on this subject much at all.

Garth Snow has a problem here, one he has to be patient about because many of them just had surgery or were injured at the World Championships, a lot of assets have been invested into this issue.

Having written that if you draft the first goaltender overall in Mikko Koskinen, he has to play fifty games. Going by Kevin Poulin's progress and what others have written or said about his ability, how does he not play fifty games?

Anders Nilson is the only prospect since the lockout ended who got a max contract, drafted in the third round. Based on his last season in the SEL, how does he not play fifty games?

How can anyone be effective playing one game a week at best for an AHL team---that on paper is not going to scare anyone?

These are not three AHL veteran backups, they were selected to not only start but make a serious run at an NHL job. The AHL just cut it's schedule to eighty games, how can management get them the work they each will need to progress?

At the AHL level, Al Montoya was a disaster last year as a backup. What if he does not start (or not healthy) will we see the goalie who was terrible in San Antonio, or the goalie who was solid in New York for a month?

If Nabakov is healthy (he was injured at WC) or proves from day one of camp he is back to being the goaltender he was in San Jose, how does he not start? What good will he be as a aging backup for the first time in years off a terrible season for him?

Rick DiPietro's knees remained healthy last season, his hip/forearm to the face is what cost him games. Obviously he could not play back to back yet, has periods of rust that had to be expected. What happens if he's completely healthy or again has setbacks/rust?

What if he's finally back to be a top goaltender?

Garth Snow has a problem here, one he cannot address until the club get's into camp, and management sees who is healthy and effective.

A year ago, Snow traded Roloson after DiPietro was durable into December, then he hurt his HIP in Calgary, Lawson came up and got hurt, Poulin came up and got hurt.

It's not as easy as moving Nabokov, and hoping other goaltenders stay healthy, he could be the best alternative----or not.

This blog is no fan of the three goalie system with goaltenders that are all used to starting. There seems to be no way out at this time because what if a trade is made and more injures happen?

Koskinen has had two surgeries in two years?
Poulin has had very serious knee issues/surgeries and got hurt warming up?
Nabokov was so out of shape he needed a month going on waivers, then got hurt at the World Championships?
Montoya got hurt at World Championships?
DiPietro's last two plus years have been a nightmare on injury front, aside from knee swelling there were no significant setbacks.

All management can do is wait.
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Islanders website: Announced some uniform number changes with the most significant Hamonic, deHaan.
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NYIFC Twitter feed links to Bob Nystrom at ABLI meeting today, who's task is to present plans to Ed Mangano within his time frame, which may or may not include a new Nassau Coliseum.
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Bravo Alexei Kovalev for calling out Ottawa media, but not on what is in their luggage, keep it to their professionalism in reporting because that is what's relevant.



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