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Grading The Blues: Goaltending

It's taken a little while to get to this, mainly because we've all been trying to get back into somewhat of a normal awake/asleep pattern in our lives now that the season is over and there is no longer a need for hockey papers down at the DrinkScotch.

And while it'd be easier to simply fling out arbitrary letter grades to each player and then justify it it by saying, "He sucked," or "Remember when he made that one play? That was awesome," or even "I never liked him," we're going to do this a different way.

Instead of grades, which we all know are useless in grading hockey players (really, he deserved a B-minus?), here's our player-by-player wrap-up using the three-statement setup:

  • What we know
  • What we think we know
  • What we wish we knew

Today we'll start with the end, the netminders.

Star-divide


Chris Mason

#50 / Goalie / St. Louis Blues

6-0

195

Apr 20, 1976



GPMINWLTEGAGAGAASASVSV%SO
2008 - Chris Mason 57 3215 27 21 7 7 129 2.41 1544 1415 .916 6

What we know: In the end, it seems that Manny Legace was right; Chris Mason was brought in to steal his job. Unfortunately for Legace, Mason made the decision completely justified, as the bearded one was a major reason for the Blues' turnaround and Legace and his whining wound up in the AHL.

Mason has another year left on his contract and has to know that the Blues are hoping a youngster can come in and take the job in a couple years. He could easily end up in the same position as Legace was this year very soon and no veteran goalie wants to be a lame-duck. The Blues have to be smart in how they handle Mason and this position or they risk having a malcontent netminder submarining yet another season.

What we think we know: Mason looks to be the de facto starter next year and management has mentioned bringing in a veteran back-up. Mason seems to thrive in goalie competitions ands he'll be playing for a new contract, so 2009-10 could be a big year for him. His agent and the Blues fans all hope that's true.

What we wish we knew: Ever wonder if Mason tried to get in Legace's head? During the aftermath of Manny hitting the waiver wire and being sent to Peoria, it sure seemed like he had psyched himself right out of a job. Some goalies make good tandems and some definitely do not. We'd love to know how these two dealt with each other.


Ben Bishop

#30 / Goalie / St. Louis Blues

6-7

205

Nov 21, 1986



GPMINWLTEGAGAGAASASVSV%SO
2008 - Ben Bishop 6 245 1 1 1 1 12 2.94 112 100 .893 0

What we know: Surely the Blues would love for Big Ben Bishop to blossom and become the Steve Mason (third rounder-turned-top end goalie) of the team and take over the reigns in goal. Not only have the Blues lacked a good, young netminder that they could install and count on for years since the days of Curtis Joseph, but having that guy be someone who played high school hockey here would be a public relations boon.

Problem is that while Bishop looked great in his one start, he also was hurt in that game and held no more difficult duties than opening and closing the bench door down the stretch. What we really know about Bishop at this point is that we don't know enough about him to trust him with major NHL minutes.

What we think we know: Bishop will likely be the main guy in Peoria next season as the Blues install some free agent veteran as the NHL back-up. He's only 23, so there's no reason to rush him along. He and Chris (Steve Holt!) Holt should probably battle for 'netminder of the future' supremacy in the AHL.

What we wish we knew: We wish we could tell you there was some indicator as to which great young goalies become great NHL goalies. Obviously, so do most NHL scouts. More than any other position, great NHL goalies come from nowhere and great young goalies bust out and never make the NHL. Bishop could go either way and there's just no way to tell at this point.


Manny Legace

#34 / Goalie / St. Louis Blues

5-10

200

Feb 04, 1973



GPMINWLTEGAGAGAASASVSV%SO
2008 - Manny Legace 29 1452 13 9 2 1 77 3.18 669 592 .885 0

What we know: All goalies are crazy; that's been proven by science. Legace admitted in an interview that he was thrown off when the Blues didn't give him a contract extension last summer and instead brought in Mason as his back-up even though Mason made more money and had two years left on his contract.

Legace should have read the writing on the walls. This was clearly going to be his last year in the Bluenote. He should have determined to have his best year ever and earned himself a new contract from some other team. Instead, he let it get in his head, played inconsistently and reportedly had a negative attitude in the locker room. Not only did he play himself out of the starter role, he played himself out of the NHL and possibly ruined any chance of an extended contract with an NHL team next year.

What we think we'll know: Legace didn't do himself any favors with his behavior and play this year, but there's a chance he'll pick up somehwere in the NHL as a veteran back-up. Problem is that he'll have to convince some general manager that he's ready to take a back seat and that he'll be a good teammate about it. That might be tough to do.

What we wish we knew: The Blues locker room seemed to be pretty happy place during the run, but Legace was called out for his Eeyore attitude before he was sent down. Granted, many professional athletes are giant man-babies in terms of emotional maturity, but what the hell was Legace doing to be such a Debby Downer and why didn't someone sit down with him and have a man-to-man talk about it?


Jake Allen

#60 / Goalie / St. Louis Blues

6-2

175

Aug 07, 1990



What we know: The Blues have clearly realized that the weakness of their prospect pipeline is in net. Allen was drafted last summer to give the team yet another young goalie that increases the odds that they can home-grow the team's next (first?) true franchise netminder.

What we think we know: It's going to be a few years before we see Allen play in a regukar season game for the Blues.

What we wish we knew: If any of these young guys will pan out.


Chris Holt

#35 / Goalie / St. Louis Blues

6-3

229

Jun 05, 1985



GPMINWLTEGAGAGAASASVSV%SO
2008 - Chris Holt 1 19 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 3 3 1.000 0

What we know: Holt did an extensive interview with the Game Time Prospect Department this season and if nothing else, he seems very motivated to prove nay-sayers wrong. He's come from nowhere in the hockey world (University of Nebraska-Lincoln) and has had to battle better-known prospects (with the Rangers) before. He's going to have to do it again if he wants to make the Blues.

What we think we know: Bishop and Allen will probably be given a longer leash in their development tracks than Holt, so the margin of error for him is much thinner. He'll have to be great every time he gets an opportunity if he wants to make it.

What we wish we knew: If other people can't help but think, "Steve Holt!" every time they see his name.

Next up in our evaluations will be the team's forwards.

0 recs  |  Comment 17 comments |

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More from St. Louis Game Time

Grading The Blues: Forwards

May 2009 by gallagher - 7 comments

Grading The Blues: Defense

Apr 2009 by gallagher - 35 comments

Comments

Display:

Is Marek Schwarz officially out of the organization?

If so, that goes as a first round bust…it was probably that way going into this season…still, I believe he and BIshop are credited with a shared shutout this past year, so he’ll always have that!

by tbell61 on Apr 25, 2009 10:52 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

agreed.

the schwarz thing bugs me because when AM first came around marek was the goalie of the future. he actually played his first NHL game in murray’s first game coaching the blues, and he looked good most of the game, only to let up a few softies when it counted.

seems like he’s been deemed a headcase — i remember reading about him talking to a sports psychologist. i understand goalies have head problems, but does it seem like the blues always end up with a guy who buckles under pressure? (think roman “i only play hockey because my daddy wanted me to” turek … emo manny … and marek. anyone im missing?)

thanks to jeebus for mason being seemingly not rattle-able. guy takes his share of the blame without getting down on himself, and he stops more than his share of the pucks. that’s a goalie i like.

Next book in the children's series: "Nate the Great figures out how the fuck to score on Greasy Bob Luongo."

by NateTheGreat. on Apr 25, 2009 12:34 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

You forgot...

… Hannu “Oh my GOD it’s coming at me again!” Toivonen.

Reporter: There`s a "stamp out the Beatles movement" underway in Detroit. What are you going to do about it?

Paul McCartney: We`re going to start a campaign to stamp out Detroit.

by hildymac on Apr 25, 2009 2:42 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

sheesh

how did i manage to forget hannu?

Next book in the children's series: "Nate the Great figures out how the fuck to score on Greasy Bob Luongo."

by NateTheGreat. on Apr 25, 2009 4:49 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

so who do we look to sign in the off season then and how much do we spend? Scott Clemenson? Ty Conklin? Brian Boucher? Joey Macdonald? There are plenty of UFA choices out there who wouldnt cost us that much, possibly under a mil.

Or do we go after a bigger fish for a more platoon like situation ala Manny Fernandez who has been good with shared time in two other stops? Brent Johnson and Curtis Sanford are both looking for contracts…

by bzgea2 on Apr 25, 2009 1:26 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

i have

some weird gut feeling that we’ll end up with fredrik norrena.
just sayin

Next book in the children's series: "Nate the Great figures out how the fuck to score on Greasy Bob Luongo."

by NateTheGreat. on Apr 25, 2009 2:05 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Really

excellent analysis – I look forward to reading the rest.

And I think Holt will surprise a few people – he seems to have this inner determination. The Rangers might have given up on him a bit too soon.

As to backups, not sure NJ would part with Clemenson…but I have a soft spot for Joey MacDonald…

"We have two giant hamsters running on a massive wheel at our secret underground lair..." - Benjamin Linus.

by drfrankentweed on Apr 25, 2009 2:24 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Please

let it be Macdonald. St.Lou needs another Nova Scotian. Hasn’t been the same since AlMac had to retire.

by thistypeofthinking on Apr 26, 2009 9:26 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'm most interested in Holt...

All the guy has done at every level is stop the puck (although in limited duty). Norrena is ancient, BTW. I’d rather have my backup younger than my starter.

by The Goalie Guy on Apr 25, 2009 3:34 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I would personally like to see Clemenson come in, but I really doubt Jersey is going to want to part with him. I’ve not seen Holt play, but the one game I saw Bishop in, he looked pretty good. I agree that it seems we can’t seem to get a decent net minder for a long period here. Hopefully we can find a franchise guy, but who knows.

Barret Jackman is my hero.

Good, bad, I'm the guy with the gun.

by BluesTiger on Apr 25, 2009 3:54 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

unless Clemmensen wants out, he’s not going anywhere. when Brodeur’s contract is up, he’ll be the man in New Jersey. it’s been well evidenced during Brodeur’s injury this season when Clem stepped in and kept the Devils in the top 5 all season. the only question is whether Clem wants to wait that long for a #1 role.

Detoilet is pretty loyal with their goalies so I see them retaining their Osgood/Conklin tandem.

I would normally say ‘no’ to MacDonald, but if Mason thinks he’ll be a 75-game guy, he may serve as a reliable back-up, but I dread having to rely on him to carry the load in case Mase goes down with an injury.

"I'm sorry we hurt their feelings"
-Barret Jackman

by Dooks on Apr 26, 2009 8:56 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

If you shaved Holt's head

he’d look like Mason.
They both have heads 2 feet long

by luvhockey on Apr 25, 2009 7:57 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Wow!

I didn’t notice that until now. Good find.

But would HOLT!‘s facial hair turn red like Masonry’s? Hell, we MAY get to find out next season.

"The world is getting to be such a dangerous place, a man is lucky to get out of it alive." -- W.C. Fields

by Donut King on Apr 25, 2009 11:25 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

is mason really a ginger? now i know why he shaves his head.

Never forget Philo T. Farnsworth

"I want to fucking break it. I want to crush you from the inside."~ Static X
"Turned into a monster I'm a motherfucker!!!" ~ Static X

by Carnie on Apr 26, 2009 11:54 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Solid assessment on the crazy bastards in net.

Personally . . . I’d rather they not sign a “veteran backup”. If you have a future goaltender or a minor league veteran (which it appears they MIGHT have several of the former but none of the latter) . . . then why not have THAT as your backup?

If anything, Mason(ry) proved down the stretch that he doesn’t need a WHOLE lot of time off. So what’s wrong with having someone such as a Chris (STEVE HOLT!) Holt as the backup in ‘09-’10, play him in 20-or-so games and let him live the dream of being an NHLer for awhile? Can that be so hurtful to a rebuilding team? Surely it can’t be.

Besides, the money may be better spent on a sniper who not only can fire a lot of shots, but fire them on net (ARE YOU LISTENING, BRAD BOYES?!). To me, that is our biggest need . . . and that’ll probably get covered in the next Grading The Blues segment (I am the master of the segue . . . or something).

I say this while having the utmost faith in everything the front office has done up to this point during the Dave Checketts regime. Right now I’d support just about every move they made . . . even if it meant making Towel Boy the new mascot or some stupid shit like that.

"The world is getting to be such a dangerous place, a man is lucky to get out of it alive." -- W.C. Fields

by Donut King on Apr 25, 2009 11:35 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Right now I’d support just about every move they made . . . even if it meant making Towel Boy
the new mascot or some stupid shit like that.

Only if that meant the Blue rat is caught and exterminated…

and I would still encourage him to “jump”

by DanGNR on Apr 27, 2009 9:48 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Based on ONE look

at the pre-game skate last Tuesday, I want to see Ben Bishop get the bulk of the work in Peoria next year… Dear Lord, he’s huge! Goalies need playing time to develop, and they tend to develop more slowly than skaters… I wouldn’t mind seeing Holt win the backup job next year, to allow “Big Ben” and Jake Allen develop.

Otherwise, I wouldn’t mind signing Brian Boucher; he’s a solid backup.

"In this game, don't nobody know nuthin' about nuthin'." -- attributed to Lawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra

by The Ol Goaler on Apr 26, 2009 9:27 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

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