Will Rodgers once said something like ” You have to go out on a limb sometimes, that’s where the fruit is.”
This saying would be a good theme for all general managers. But let’s give it to The Blue Jackets General Manager and let him use it. He may choose to use it forever, but I think is is very appropriate in the case of getting the Blue Jackets a starting Goal Tender for next season. In yesterday’s post, I presented the overview of the goalies currently under contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets. In the Fire That Cannon section called the Hub, I have linked an extensive series of posts from Ten Minute Misconduct on Goalies and their performance vs the performance of their teams. If you didn’t follow the series please do it. I have also previously quoted Lori Schmidt of “The Fan” in that she is convinced that money cannot buy a top level goal tender. They just do not exist on a continual basis, they are up and down in their performances.
Recapping, the Jackets have 5 goalies under contract with 2 that have contracts expiring this summer . It’s strange, but Allen York has actually played more NHL games than Mark
Dekanich, although Dekanich has far more professional games and experience. So if you were Scott Howson, would you go out on a limb for some Allen York fruit? I’d say not. But Mr Howson did go out on a limb last summer for some Mark Dekanich fruit. Will he go there again???
As pointed out in Ten Minute Misconduct’s series, a goal tender’s stats do not necessary add up to being successful. Examples Roberto Luongo in 11 seasons has a save percentage of .920 and 5 playoffs. But Jose Theodore in 9 seasons with a save percentage of .909 has 7 playoffs. Again and again, I need to say the old adage of figures don’t lie, but lairs figure still holds true. What the % save record has no way of showing is the quality of shots that the figures reflect. A great defensive team may allow 30+ shots, but they aren’t really good scoring chances. and vice versa, another team may allow only 25shots on goal, but most of them are great scoring chances. The same problem occurs if you count shutouts.
There is no stat that shows the heart of a goalie, that counts how a certain man stands tall in close games and sorta wills his team to the win. The character to win under pressure and to encourage and stimulates his teammates to a win is an intangible that is coveted if found and elusive if being searched for. It is probable these factors that account for the rise and fall of a goalies success and not so much the rise and fall of his physical skills. If that is so, maybeDr Joseph Parent, who’s book Zen Golf was a best seller should be writing a new book – Zen Goaltending or Zen Hockey.
Having said all that, we as fans were told by the game announcers that Curtis Sanford had a calming effect on the Blue Jackets skaters. If so, perhaps he would be a good re-signing. But I remember a number of games where he was hung out to dry by the skaters in front of him. But will those players most culpable be Blue Jackets next year. Will the system which faltered? perhaps, -be in place next year.
We are also being told that no great 1st line goalies are available this year as free agents. Although, Cory Schneider the back up goal tender for Vancouver is probably going to be the most sought after. Schneider is 26 years old. And again we come back to Steve mason and the fact that he is only 23 years old. And again and again: He may have gotten too much too fast, he just needs to mature. We’ve all heard that song before, but could it be true????
Scott Howson is under pressure to get a top shelf goalie. Last summer he was under pressure to get a top shelf center and he responded with what is on paper a great center in Jeff Carter. This summer it’s a goalie. He will respond. But with who, what and what plan is still unknown.
More in the following posts Butttttttttt…………………. WE WANT THE CUP