The goaltending in the NHL today is the strongest it has ever been, it is also the most boring.  With the majority of goalies standing 6’2 or taller, they are blocking the majority of the net without even having to move.  Gone are the days of the flying leg save, or the skate save, or even the extended blocker or glove save.  Nope, the goalies now are taught to take away the bottom of the net with the butterfly save, and forcing the shooters to make the perfect shot upstairs. 

It is hard to argue this new direction the position has taken, for the goals against are as low as they’ve been in the history of the NHL.  I would just like to see a two pad slide, or even a poke check.

When I am at the local rinks watching minor hockey practices, the coaches are persistent that their goaltenders use the butterfly style.  I believe this is a mistake, and is taking away the fun out of the position.  Firstly, for the butterfly to be effective, you must be a big goaltender.  A goalie who can fit under the net will not enjoy success from this style.  Secondly, the butterfly relies completely on positioning and going to the shooting lane.  This skill comes from experience, and being able to read the play, something a young goaltender is just developing.  Thirdly, goaltending continues to be neglected at the minor level.  Professional and junior hockey teams have come around and now almost all have a coach specifically for their goalies, but minor hockey with a few exceptions still lacks qualified coaching for the position, and thus urges the 5’1 goaltender to adopt the butterfly.  At that level, they should be teaching the basics and different techniques of goaltending, but are just following the professionals lead.

Who are the most exciting goalies to watch in the NHL today?  Brodeur, Thomas, Fleury to a degree, Hasek up until last year.  Why? Because they do not just rely on their positioning to make the save, but rather stop the puck with whatever means possible.  That is the way the position used to be played by the likes of Grant Fuhr, Allan Bester, Mike Richter, all great goaltenders that made the position exciting, and provided some highlight reel stops. These guys were not just satisfied with being in good position but would challenge the shooters and do whatever they felt necessary to stop the puck.  They used a whole repertoire of tricks to make the stop, making the players guess as to how they were to defend against them.

Sometimes being out of position which comes from challenging the shooter, would result in the great stops that are still etched in our memory even today. Mine being Kirk Mclean of the Vancouver Canucks in Game 7 against the Calgary Flames making a two pad save on the goal line to save the game, and allowing the Canucks to later win.

The next time you watch a hockey game, watch the goalies closely, their first move is to the butterfly on the majority of scoring chances in front of them.  Again, this method of goaltending proves very successful but does not produce the kind of excitement that will get people out of their seats.  Enjoy the likes of a Brodeur and a Thomas, because these type of goalies are a dying breed, and will soon not have a place in the new NHL.

You would think their three Stanley Cups and a few vezinas combined would say something for their style, I’m afriad not.