Latest news with #goalies
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
From McDonald's To The NHL: How ‘Undersized' Jaroslav Halák Became The Best Slovak Goalie Ever
When you look back at the history of Slovak hockey, elite goaltenders have been few and far between. There used to be a common joke: Slovakia had A-level forwards, B-level defensemen, and C-level goalies.
National Post
09-07-2025
- Sport
- National Post
Canucks: Arturs Silovs' future is cloudier than ever
Article content And in Vancouver, he's clearly back to being No. 3 again, now that Demko has signed a contract extension. The plan in goal, for the near future anyway, is to have Demko and Lankinen sharing the Canucks' crease, leaving Silovs sitting behind a logjam. Article content In a sport where shooters are ascendant, there are a great many goalies who have shown themselves to be good, but not great. Given how he struggled in the 2024-25 regular season, whatever enthusiasm he has re-energized around himself will still be somewhat muted. Article content Goalies with a longer NHL CV than his, like Vitek Vanacek or Kaapo Kähkönen, draw only mid-round draft picks in trade — or like Kähkönen simply move on waivers — so Silovs' trade value likely isn't huge. Article content Whatever value in trade Silovs might have will be at its maximum coming out of training camp. Another team may have a need for a goalie because of an injury and won't want to wait to see what other goalies might be exposed on waivers. Don't forget that last year's initial No. 3 goalie in Vancouver, Jiri Patera, was claimed by the Boston Bruins on Oct. 2 but was then reclaimed on waivers by the Canucks five days later. Injury limited Patera to just seven games with Abbotsford last season. Article content He wasn't the only goalie claimed on waivers last season. James Reimer and Kähkönen both found new teams through waivers. Both, though, had longer NHL track records than Silovs. Article content
New York Times
25-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Where will all the goalies go? Breaking down the NHL's upcoming moves in net
With all of the hockey world's attention on Mitch Marner, teams needing centers and defensemen, and the Florida Panthers getting obliterated at the Elbo Room, one thing we haven't had time to talk about all that much is what's happening in goal around the league. Though there might not be as big of names available in net in free agency this year, there is still likely going to be a lot of movement. By my count, two teams potentially need a new starter and at least another six need to sign a backup. Advertisement At least eight established goalies, meanwhile, are either on the trade block or buyout/demotion candidates. And there are 10 experienced netminders who are UFAs and another nine who are set to become RFAs on July 1. Add it up, and there could be quite the game of musical chairs happening in NHL creases over the next few weeks. To make sense of it all, here's my goalie big board for 2025. Slots marked in blue are pending RFAs. Those in red are trade, buyout or demotion candidates. And orange indicates a clear-cut opening at the position. This isn't an exact science, as some of those I've listed as No. 3s could end up with the backup role, and some of those as No. 2s could end up getting supplanted by a free-agent signing or trade acquisition. But after talking to some people around the league, I think this represents a decent portrait of where things stand. Let's further break these teams down into separate groups, with a bit more information on the most interesting clubs at the bottom. Boston Bruins, Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Blackhawks, Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, Detroit Red Wings, Minnesota Wild, Nashville Predators, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, St. Louis Blues, Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs, Utah Mammoth, Washington Capitals, Winnipeg Jets That's 16 teams, or half the league, where there's probably not a lot to see. In some cases, such as Detroit, they could make a move, but with other needs more pressing, I wouldn't bet on it. There are some unknowns here, such as Connor Ingram's health status with Utah, and how some young goalies such as Jesper Wallstedt will fare, but for the most part, these feel like teams unlikely to make a major change. Anaheim Ducks, Buffalo Sabres, Calgary Flames, Florida Panthers, Los Angeles Kings, Montreal Canadiens, New Jersey Devils, Ottawa Senators, Pittsburgh Penguins, Seattle Kraken, Vancouver Canucks, Vegas Golden Knights Advertisement Some of these teams have big names on trade boards right now, but they don't have to make a move. John Gibson in Anaheim, for example, is down to two years left on his deal, has been supplanted as the No. 1 and has been in trade talks for years. Could it finally happen, as general manager Pat Verbeek gets aggressive? Yes. But it doesn't have to. Similarly, the Penguins, Kraken and Canucks all have veterans with big contracts who have struggled and could get moved or bought out in Tristan Jarry, Philipp Grubauer and Thatcher Demko, but there is no significant pressure on those GMs to do so. Buffalo, Montreal, New Jersey, Ottawa and Vegas, meanwhile, need to decide whether they feel like their younger backups are enough or whether they need to dip into the free-agent market for more help. Both the Panthers and Kings need a UFA backup to spell their aging No. 1. And Calgary needs a veteran to relieve rising star Dustin Wolf from time to time. Two consecutive runs to the Stanley Cup Final. Two losses to a Panthers team that has a likely Hall of Famer in net. It feels time for a rethink for the Oilers in goal, but what do you do? Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard are signed cheaply, and Edmonton isn't flush with cap space given the need to sign Evan Bouchard. It is going to attempt to ship out some underperformers, including likely one of the netminders, but getting the new addition right is pivotal. Signing Jake Allen feels like one possibility, but he turns 35 in August and likely commands a three-year deal at more than $10 million total. None of the other UFA goalies would seem to be No. 1 material for a Cup contender, so the trade route could be another avenue to pursue. The Flyers are in the unique situation of having three goalies signed … and not wanting to rely on any of them after a really tough season in goal. Samuel Ersson was their top option with an .883 save percentage, but Russians Ivan Fedotov and Aleksei Kolosov feel destined for the AHL (or KHL) this season. Advertisement Philadelphia has the cap room to make something happen here. Perhaps it's the right fit for Allen? Or maybe it goes big on a trade for someone like Gibson, Demko or one of the Edmonton goalies? Definitely a team to watch as they continue to be heavily in the trade and free-agent mix after acquiring Trevor Zegras earlier this week. The future in the Sharks crease is Yaroslav Askarov's. But is he ready to be their No. 1 of the present? The 23-year-old No. 11 pick in 2020 performed ably in the AHL last season with the Barracuda and was fine in the 13 games he played in the NHL. But taking on a bigger load on a rebuilding club like San Jose could be a lot to ask, even with his considerable pedigree and upside. Committing to Allen likely doesn't make sense at this point given his age and the need for term, so we suspect the Sharks will invest in a UFA veteran like Dan Vladar, Anton Forsberg or David Rittich who can tandem with Askarov and show him the ropes. It appears time might be up for Elvis Merzlikins after his prolonged struggles (plus some drama) and the emergence of Jet Greaves. (There's more on that from our CBJ beat writer, Aaron Portzline, here.) The Blue Jackets only missed the playoffs by 2 points last season and likely would have made it with better showings from Merzlikins (.892 save percentage) and Daniil Tarasov (.881). Greaves had an outstanding season last year in the AHL and in 11 games with Columbus and now will be waiver eligible, but how much can it rely on him next season? And what should it do with Merzlikins and Tarasov, assuming it can't find takers in a trade? Alexandar Georgiev, Alex Lyon, James Reimer, Ilya Samsonov, Vitek Vanecek (Top photo of John Gibson and Jake Allen: Steve Roberts / Imagn Images and Elsa / Getty Images)
New York Times
16-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
NHL vibe check: Oilers' two-way support, the taxes debate and trading top-5 draft picks
As much as the NHL has evolved into a two-goalie league in the regular season, that trend hasn't carried into the playoffs. Most teams, no matter how even the regular season split may be, primarily lean on one guy in the playoffs, especially those that go on deep runs. So, Stuart Skinner starting 67 percent of the Edmonton Oilers' playoff games isn't exactly traditional. Advertisement It's out of necessity. As much as Skinner rebounded against the Stars, with 6.38 goals saved above expected in five games, the Florida Panthers are exposing his weaknesses. After giving his team a chance to win with a quality start in Game 1, he fell below expectations in his next three outings, which pulled Calvin Pickard back into action. The change from Skinner to Pickard helped stabilize the Oilers in Game 4, enough to spark a dramatic overtime comeback. But Pickard didn't instill much confidence in a Game 5 loss that pushed the team to the brink of elimination. And that makes the decision for Game 6 a lot more difficult. When Connor Hellebuyck allowed two early goals in Game 7 against the St. Louis Blues back in Round 1, it made sense why the coaches kept him in net. Despite all of his playoff demons, he's the Winnipeg Jets' ride-or-die goalie, and that was his game to lose. It's why many disagreed with Peter DeBoer's decision to pull Jake Oettinger in a Game 5 elimination in the Western Conference final, too. But the Oilers don't have a ride-or-die goalie. If anything, it's Skinner who has a bit more history with the team; his play is just too volatile to earn that title fully, and this postseason reflects that. Pickard isn't that, either — as much as he has helped Edmonton get back on the rails at times this postseason, he adds an element of chaos and volatility, considering how aggressively he plays. Just take this Game 4 sequence, when he overcommits at the top of the blue paint to Carter Verhaeghe, who moves the puck laterally to Matthew Tkachuk. EKHOLM AND RNH DENY TKACHUK 🤯 — Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 13, 2025 That would be a tough save for even the best goaltenders, especially if Tkachuk doesn't take a second to accept the pass, then shoot it. Instead, Mattias Ekholm and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scrambled for a block to keep the score tied. As series go deeper, teams can gather more intel on their opponents. And players can learn goalie tendencies to pinpoint their weaknesses better, too. That's true on both sides of this matchup, with the Oilers trying to target Sergei Bobrovsky up high more. So that makes the Oilers' decision even more daunting, since the Panthers seem to have Skinner and Pickard figured out. Advertisement But it's not the only problem for Edmonton heading into Game 6. The Panthers have three things working for them: an elite offense, an elite defense and a goaltender who can be an elite difference-maker. It's a key reason Florida is in the Stanley Cup Final for the third straight year. The Oilers … don't have those three elements consistently enough. The offense is elite, especially when the supporting depth steps up around Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard. The team defense can be great, as it was against the Golden Knights and Stars earlier this postseason. And that two-way support can put a shaky goaltending tandem in a position to succeed. Without that two-way support, the Oilers are left with lopsided results like Game 5. The Panthers become an even more dangerous team later in a series because they wear down opponents with their forecheck and grinding style. That showed in Game 5, with 15 shot attempts (and four goals) from the home plate area at five-on-five. The Oilers, on the other hand, only mustered five shot attempts — two in the first period (from McDavid and Connor Brown), McDavid's third-period goal and two other low-percentage shots. Florida feasted on the Oilers' third line of Jeff Skinner, Adam Henrique and Trent Frederic. Darnell Nurse, Jake Walman, and Troy Stetcher were all crushed in their minutes, too. Not only did the Panthers challenge them offensively, but also they made key defensive plays to limit Edmonton's best in the slot. So, first and foremost, if the Oilers are going to fight off elimination on Tuesday, the team has to drive to the middle of the ice and keep the Panthers out of it. Speaking of driving to the middle of the ice, that's exactly what Marchand did in Game 5 with two highlight-reel goals. OH MY BRAD MARCHAND 😱😱😱 — Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 15, 2025 Marchand was a force in Game 5. Along with two goals, Florida had a 15-5 edge in shot attempts in Marchand's five-on-five minutes and an 89 percent expected goal rate. That added up to a game-high 4.59 Game Score, which ties his high this postseason (Game 7 against the Maple Leafs). It was another sparkling game in what has been an outstanding postseason. Along with 20 points in 22 games, he is rocking a 62 percent expected goal rate in the playoffs, and a 21-6 goal differential in his five-on-five minutes. And in the Final, he's been an absolute menace against the Oilers. Advertisement Marchand is showing exactly what he still has left in the tank. There were signs in Boston, even this year. While his scoring has declined in recent years, the Bruins were still a better team in his minutes, no matter his usage. Even with all those signs, acquiring players is always a gamble. As much as teams can estimate fits, the reality is no one knows how a player will mesh with another club until it happens. His skills and characteristics fit perfectly in Florida, and his role on the third line puts him in a beneficial position. Most teams will struggle to contain Aleksander Barkov, Sam Reinhart, Matthew Tkachuk, Carter Verhaeghe and Sam Bennett in the top six. Few have the chops to also play the matchup game against a third line of the Panthers' caliber. Still thinking about this goal from Brad Marchand 🤩 What a #StanleyCup Final he's having 💪 — Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 15, 2025 And as they've shown earlier this postseason, that third line can shift capacities into a matchup role when needed to take some of the burden off the Panthers' top scorers. Marchand is showing, on the NHL's biggest stage, that his versatility is still a strength. And that's going to get him paid this summer, even at 37. Evolving-Hockey projects a three-year deal worth $7.19 million if he signs outside of Florida, and the recency bias of his Conn Smythe-caliber play could juice that number even more. While the Panthers and Oilers fight for the Stanley Cup, 30 other teams are already in offseason mode. The Rangers have already made some changes over the last two months, from firing Peter Laviolette and hiring Mike Sullivan to trading Chris Kreider. But there's one other intriguing storyline: the return of their former head coach to the bench as an assistant. Unlike other instances where coaches return to their former clubs, there hasn't been a ton of distance between David Quinn's firing (May 2021) and his hiring. There hasn't been a major front-office reshuffle, either. Advertisement Quinn had his shortcomings in New York four years ago. Up-and-coming talent didn't develop well enough, the even-strength offense lacked and he and his staff didn't make enough adjustments over the years to change that. The question now is how much he has learned in San Jose and Pittsburgh, and whether it will translate to a different capacity. Quinn helped build the foundation of the Rangers' power play, which helped carry the team over the years (until this past season). And he helped turn around the Penguins' power play last year after a disastrous 2023-24. Maybe he can help get Mika Zibanejad's scoring back on track — if the Rangers veteran isn't moved this summer, too. As promising as that seems, defensive help is even more pressing — and the Penguins' deployment was suspect, at best, last year. That's where the Rangers need the most help, and the pressure is on Quinn to deliver this time around. Just when it seemed like the coaching carousel was done spinning for the offseason with all eight vacancies filled, one more opened up. The Stars dismissed Peter DeBoer after a third straight elimination in the Western Conference Final. The Jake Oettinger situation contributed to DeBoer's dismissal, but that was the final straw, not the first. The offense drying up for the second straight year against the Oilers in the conference final was even more damning. With a star-caliber roster in place, management has to find a coach who can take them to the next level. Sometimes teams opt for a veteran option in this position, but Dallas just fired a veteran with five NHL head coaching jobs under his belt. Maybe a new direction will push this team further. The challenge is that eight head coaches have already been scooped up this summer. Candidates like Brad Shaw and Jay Leach have been hired or retained in assistant capacities. Advertisement There are still interesting names out there, because, contrary to popular belief, there is a large pool of options to draw from, beyond the same names that keep circulating. Two under-the-radar names stand out for Dallas. The first: Oilers assistant coach Glen Gulutzan. Not only did he design a power play that contributed to the Stars' elimination in each of the last two seasons, but also he has some head coaching experience without being considered a retread. Eleven other teams have a head coach who was last an associate or assistant at the NHL level, including three of this offseason's hirings. If looking at current assistant coaches seems like the best route, then the Columbus Blue Jackets' Misha Donskov, as pointed out by The Athletic's Aaron Portzline, could be an under-the-radar pick to watch, too. The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun reported that Utah is listening to offers on the fourth pick, but what could a return look like? There isn't a real baseline, because it's that rare of an occurrence. A handful of top-10 picks have been moved over the years. The Ottawa Senators flipped the No. 7 pick for Alex DeBrincat back in 2022, after a 41-goal season. In 2017, the Rangers acquired Arizona's No. 7 pick (and Tony DeAngelo) in exchange for Derek Stephan and Antti Raanta. In 2013, the New Jersey Devils moved the No. 9 pick to the Vancouver Canucks for Corey Schneider. A year before that, the Pittsburgh Penguins sent Jordan Staal to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for the No. 8 pick, Brian Dumoulin and Brandon Sutter. Jeff Carter was sent to the Philadelphia Flyers in 2011 in exchange for the No. 8 pick, Jakub Voracek and a third-rounder. But a top-five pick hasn't been moved after the draft order was determined since 2008, when the New York Islanders moved down from fifth to seventh (and then ninth in a second trade). So the Mammoth would be carving a new path on the value of that pick from a trade perspective if it gets moved. With Florida teams reaching the Stanley Cup Final in each of the last six years, the tax conversation is back at the forefront. Advertisement Both the Lightning and Panthers have benefited from players signing below their market value, from Sam Reinhart and Gustav Forsling in Florida to Brandon Hagel in Tampa Bay. If Sam Bennett signs a team-friendly deal to stay in Sunrise, that narrative will rage on some more. Taxes are a part of the conversation with player contracts, but it tends to get blown out of proportion — even some agents think so. Yes, it's a benefit that can help a player earn more of his paycheck in certain states, allowing a team in Florida to offer less than a team in California to maintain the same take-home amount. That's still true even after accounting for taxation on the road. But it's far from the only reason players want to sign with teams. The Lightning and Panthers, along with the Stars and Golden Knights, are desirable landing spots because of a true organizational commitment to winning. Not every team fully buys into a window of contention and invests as much as possible in a team's chances, like the Florida teams have in recent years. And that can be a deciding factor for players hungry to rack up championship rings. Add in the amenities some organizations offer, plus the overall lifestyle and vibe (compared to, say, Toronto), and it can be a no-brainer to sign a team-friendly deal. This wasn't an issue when these teams weren't Stanley Cup favorites. If anything, some Sun Belt teams were at a disadvantage for years relative to traditional markets. Imbalances will ebb and flow through the NHL, but there's a reason the CBA doesn't address each one. — Data via Evolving-Hockey, HockeyViz, HockeyStatCards, All Three Zones and Natural Stat Trick. This story relies on shot-based metrics; here is a primer on these numbers. (Top photo of Calvin Pickard: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)
New York Times
13-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Do you know your Stanley Cup-winning goalies? Take the ‘Who Didn't He Play For?' quiz
In the Stanley Cup playoffs, it's all about the goalies. The team that gets the better goaltending always wins, except for the times that they don't, but it's always better to have a big-name star, unless it's one of those years where the winning team can just throw anyone back there. Glad we cleared all that up. Let's do a quiz. Advertisement I'll give you 16 goaltenders who have their name on the Stanley Cup, plus four teams for each. You tell me which one of those teams that goalie never played a game for. Nice and simple. I'm sure you'll do great. Complete the quiz below, then scroll back up to see how you did using this handy scoring chart: 16 correct: You are Ken Dryden, and can basically win the Cup whenever you feel like it. 12-15 correct: You are Patrick Roy, owner of multiple Conn Smythe trophies. 8-11 correct: You're Jonathan Quick, saving your best for when it's needed. 4-7 correct: You're Henrik Lundqvist; you had your moments, but couldn't get a ring. 1-3 correct: You're Playoff Freddie Andersen. Hey, it could always be worse. 0 correct: You're Connor Hellebuyck on the road. (Important note: If the quiz below isn't loading properly or you're having trouble scrolling on your phone, use this direct link instead.) Loading… (Photo of Marc-Andre Fleury: Frederick Breedon / Getty Images)
