One of the off-season games fans play is house cleaning, during which we plot which players we would like get rid of, and who might be coming in to replace them. This year is off to a big start with the removal of McGill so in general I’m a happy camper. Hopefully I’ll get through everyone before the season starts, but today we are going to start with the goalies.
Who’s leaving:
Jason Labarbera (53GP, 31W-16L-2SOL-6SO, 90GA, 1.84GAA, .934SV%)
Taken in the third round of the '98 draft by the Rangers, Jason has been toiling in the system for 5 years now, starting with the 2000-2001 season during which he played for all three teams (Checkers, Pack and Rangers) as a doubtless shell-shocked 20 year old. During 2001-2002 he split time between Charlotte and Hartford, and landed in Hartford for good during the 2002-2003 season, sharing netminding duties with Johan Holmqvist. In 2003-2004 Jason had a breakout year as he set a new record for shutouts in a season (13), brought home a 1.59 GAA for the year and was named the top goaltender in the league and the league MVP. 2004-2005 showed continued strong play from him as he led the league in goals against for the second straight season even as the team started to come apart under McGill.
Although Blackburn has been cut loose by the big club, it is still obvious that we have kid goalies coming up who are going to need to be given lots of ice time and the chance to push for a spot in New York. It was equally clear that Jason needed a fresh start away from the goalie-killing rangers (their own goalies, let me make that clear) to try and shake the label of being a great AHL goalie and not much more. The only thing is that after having watched Jason play for 5 years, I am concerned because to date he has shown a need to be the clear number one goalie in order to succeed - and I don’t see him stepping into a spot as LA’s number one netminder.
Perhaps he will end up back in Manchester leading their farm team to rout the Pack as they have done so often. We play Manchester on opening night this year, and Jason between the pipes for the opposing team would certainly electrify the place. I am sure he would rather be in LA, even as a backup, than to come back down to the AHL, but with a one-way contract and the chance to be claimed on waivers, perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad. I am hoping for a chance to see him play again this year, as are many others.
I haven’t quite had the heart to tell Jason’s number one fan that he’s gone. My favorite four year old has been taking hockey lessons this summer, and has been clamoring for a chance to put on the pads even as he was still mastering staying on his skates. I’m sure he’ll like Al or Henrik this year, and I’ll be drawing pictures of a new goalie for him to color during intermissions, but a boy’s first sports hero is still a big deal, and a big loss when they leave. Jason, know you will be very much missed by a little boy who wants to grow up and play just like you - I’m sure we’ll still be talking about you for quite a while.
Steve Valiquette (35 GP, 19W-11L-1SOL-7SO, 56 GA, 1.77 GAA, .935 SV%)
Steve was never the Phil Osaer chipper cheerleader, nor the roommate/best buddy that Johan Holmqvist was, but he and Jason by all accounts got on well and supported each other on and off the ice.
During Steve’s 9 year pro career, he has played for 3 ECHL teams (Dayton, Hampton Roads and Trenton), 6 AHL teams (Lowell, Providence, Springfield, Bridgeport, Toronto, and Hartford) and 3 NHL teams (Islanders, Oilers, and Rangers). In both 1999-2000 and 2003-2004 he played for 4 different teams during the course of one season. Last season was one of only 2 time has spent the entire year with just one team.
Big Valley has headed off to Russia to play this year. He started with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl on a one-year contract, at the end of July, joining Karol Rachunek on the team. His main reason for heading overseas was apparently money, as he is eager to start a family with his new fiancee. What’s worrisome is that Lokomotiv players have the unfortunate habit of dying under suspicious circumstances. The Pack site still has a tribute to Roman Lyashenko on the front page. Hopefully things will go better for Steve.
Who’s Arriving:
Montoya, Lundqvist, Holt...is Bryce Wandler still around? A bunch of kids, that’s all I’m sure of. Hopefully with all the fresh blood roaming the crease, no one will panic and decide we need a vet to muck it all up. After a season of craning to see around Jason and Steve, I moved my seats up a row and slightly out from behind the net so I can actually see the game now that we have imported all these standup goalies. Then again, given the way Montoya plays, I will probably have a great view of the crease, just trouble seeing the blue line. That kid is going to give me a heart attack this year, I swear.
The puck bunny factor is sure to be high this year, though, with the smoldering Montoya and/or the equally hot Lundqvist (do they surf in Sweden?) in town. Possible signee Chris Holt looks like a demonic elf on the Rangers’ page, so perhaps that will fill our team quota for lunatics for the year. Wait, we already signed Rick Kozak.
Surely one of the big two names will end up in New York, with the other demanding the bulk of the time in Hartford, backed up by Holt. In any case, the net is secure in Hartford for the year.
Posted by heather at August 12, 2005 07:55 PMeMail this entry!
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