Is Drafting a Goalie in Round One Less of a Risk Now Than It Was in Years Past? 

One thing to note about Campbell, Dallas was bankrupt at the time so didnt even have a AHL goalie coach to help Campbell learn and develop him. I feel like they were hoping he would just be good enough to make it

You forgot about Chet Pickard 18th overall in 2008 by Nashville. They kind of rectify that by drafting Anders Lindback in the late 7th round, though. But they moved down three spots to pick him, getting a third round pick from Ottawa so they could pick Erik Karlsson. Never forget.

When I think of first overall goalies I think about Fleury

I feel like if there is any draft to "reach" for a goalie, it's this one. Next year will have some can't miss talent and not many goalies with top end potential that could go in the 1st round. I'm just hoping the Wings can get one of Wallstedt or Cossa this draft. I actually am leaning toward Wallstedt and wouldn't mind it at all if they took him at 6th.

I hope Sebastian Cossa falls to the Oilers and Kenny is smart enough to know he needs to develop an elite goaltender.

2012 was the Year the Oilers drafted Yakupov first overall and the Bolts used their actual 1st round pick to get Slater Koekeke. The only reason they drafted Vassy at all is because the Wings traded them a pick. Risky business trading first round picks!!

As a fairly new hockey fan, it's very strange to me that goaltenders aren't valued highly in the draft. It feels counterintuitive that such a vital position doesn't get drafted highly very often. Obviously hockey is very much a team sport, but goalies can absolutely carry teams to wins they might otherwise not get, more so than hoping you simply outscore whatever your net minder gives up. Maybe my view is skewed because Fleury and the Penguins were who I started rooting for in college and so I've seen a very highly drafted goalie put together a HoF resume instead of the failures.

I'm so curious y Shannon stopped at 2005 instead of going the extra 2 years to see Fleury like huh

San Jose SHOULD take him but knowing Doug he'll take a forward or reach a little.

It’s definitely worth the risk of taking a goaltender in the first round after pick 10 or in a year where there isn’t any players that your team wants in a weak draft

What you said about GMs possibly losing their jobs may be why Yzerman will be the guy to pick Wallstedt. He's done so well so far and is so beloved that it won't cost him his job.

As a Hawks fan we drafted this kid from the USNTD, Drew Commesso. I like the fact we went after goaltending, but I really wanted that Spencer Knight kid Florida picked at 13. Wallstedt I feel the same way about. If you got a chance at the next franchise goaltender, you do it. I am in no way comparing Wallstedt or Knight to Carey Price but it is a fact that he is keeping this a series. Yeah Caufield, Suzuki, and Perry and the Bunch all are contributing forces. But you cant tell me Price is what is winning them games in these playoffs. And with that said, I would like for the Hawks to luck out and have Wallstedt drop in the draft. Unlikely as it would be, it would be a great addition to a young Hawks core. Dach, Debrincat, Boqvist, Wallstedt. Whenever I do GM modes I make sure I have, #1 center, #1 D man, Above avg to elite goaltender, an elite winger. That is the makings of a core.

Edmonton could have picked Vasilesky instead of Nail Yakupov...oh to go back in time.

Just for the record the panthers drafted Knight before they signed Bobrovsky, it was within a week so it’s an easy mix up

imagine arizona trades into the 1st round and drafts a goaltender

Crazy that all 4 goalies left in the final 4 are all 1st rounders

Don't forget Chet Pickard. Nashville traded their original pick to Ottawa for that pick (3 picks down). Ottawa's pick...Erik Karlsson. The trick with goalie's is that it's tough to judge how they will perfom at the NHL-level at ages 17 and 18. Not to mention how long it takes to develop a goalie. A team wants their 1st RD pick to be a full-time player in 1-2 years. Most goalies take 3-5 years before they even make their NHL debut, so, why potentially pass up players that can produce relatively sooner when you can just draft a goalie in the later rounds as a long-term investment.

I really thought Visentin would become a quality starter.

This was a solid video! Anytime I think of Leland Irving I always think of NHL 14 and getting him in GM connected on the flames

Goalies taken in the first round have about the same odds of playing in the NHL as any other positions on the ice.

From 2007 and 2014, only one #1 goalie was drafted. The “don’t pick a goalie in first round” comes from there. No disrespect to Campbell, but this the first year he show something. We will need to see a bigger simple size. A lot of goalies were good during one year

Stevie Y is the wild card of the draft concerning goalie.

The only issue I have with Oettinger is how consistently he got lit up in shootout and on breakaways. If he can fix that he'll be very good for years to come

Just had an idea, do a video on ageing forwards and defenseman who are slowing down and the young players

You see fewer goalies taken in the early part of the first round because those GMs need immediate return on their picks. The playoff teams’ GMs , who feel more secure in their jobs, can pick a player who needs time to Develope

I really like Kent Johnson I think he is gonna be a stud out of Michigan

In my hockey pool I have drafted Hellebyuck, Shesterkin, and Oettinger over the years. That usually means a wait of 2 or 3 years before they see action. You can generally get them easy as people focus on points production. Of course i am a goalie myself so I think I have an eye for the ones with talent. And everyone still believes that old myth that it takes years to develop them. Not so anymore. With the butterfly style it is about size, speed and lateral agility. So goalies are going to best when they are young and have cat like reflexes. Also I look for the ones who make difficult saves look easy. The goalies that flail around a lot are not the ones you are looking for. Solid positional goalies like Price and Hellebyuck are what you want to look for. Experience doesn't factor in much anymore because goalies are trained simply to react. There's no time to think. Some goalies might develop later, but generally their careers will be short at that point. What is the point of waiting until a goalie is 25+ years old to give him a shot? You have wasted half of his best years at that point. Any high draft goalie should be in the league within a year or 2 of being drafted IMO. You don't "ruin" goalies by playing them too soon. You can by overplaying them though, and putting too much team responsibility on the goalie, ala Carter Hart. What separates the great goalies ( or great players of any sport) is how they overcome slumps. This is particularly true for goalies and pitchers for examples, because generally your slumps end up straight on the scoreboard. Price has had his ups and downs but finds ways to get past it. That makes him one of the best IMO. Same with Fleury. It kind of surprises me that NHL teams aren't more aggressive in drafting them, especially considering their importance in today's game. Tuuka Rask is a prime example. That blunder cost the Leafs big time. Probably a cup or two. Thought they were trading for "Experience" in Raycroft and got a flash in the pan goalie instead.

Rask was traded from Toronto for Raycroft as Justin Pogge was suppose to be their future but only played five NHL games- 1 win and 4 losses...Justin Pogge was Canada's Gold Metal goalie at World's Juniors but Rask was voted best Goalie of the tournament.

I think teams sometimes develop goalies too long and as a result, some miss the boat all together because they get lost in a goalie log jam. There's not as many goalie jobs either which is another goalie killer.

On a sidenote I think he would make a great color commentator, honestly with what you can add to it with you or even had a demeanor and knowledge of the game would be awesome to listen to you. Although not for my team to savers because Rick Generette is literally the best I swear that guy is on pills when he gets excited

See, when I think of drafting Goalies in the first round.. I remember Buffalo taking a HS kid 5th overall in 1983... some kid by the name of Tom Barrasso... That appears to have worked out pretty good.. He only won the Calder and vezina in his rookie season of 83/84 and later 2 cups with Pittsburgh.,.. not bad for a kid fresh out of HS when he got the starting role... and the Sabres were a decent franchise at that time.. (not like now)

Oettenger in Dallas is aging well.

Chet Pickard also was drafted by the Nashville Predators - round 1 #18 overall in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

As an Isles fan that hurt, because the Truth does hurt! :(

Would be interesting to also look at goalies taken in the 2nd and 3rd rounds the past 15 years or so, and see how often they pan out in comparison to the 1st rounders.

I'm not a Fleury fan, but he is good. Likes to be flashy with his saves, but is something else. I would love to see him play live.

Rask for Raycroft, ouchhhhhhh.....

Remember Pierre McGuire's reaction to Montreal drafting Carey Price? 😂

We had 2 goalies drafted in 2012

A lot of chatter in Edmonton about the Oilers potentially drafting Cossa. It makes lots of sense to me, but the question is going to be "will he be there at 19?" Craig Button has him at 25 in his mock draft.

No Chet Pickard. 18th overall 2008

I think that since 2012 it's definitely changed. We're seeing a lot better prospects for goalies.

Recent pattern seems to be "You only draft a goalie in the 1st, when you are absolutely sure he's a star goalie". Not too many picks, all hits. In the 2000s looked like there were more trial-and-error moves with about 50/50 success rate.

You missed Chet Pickard. First round goalies are usually not a miss but the terrible situation the team has to deal with their netminders. Campbell was in a terrible situation when Stars signed Ben Bishop to a long term contract meanwhile still have Kari Lehtonen so Campbell was wasted in minor. Visentin was the same when Mike Smith was playing for 60+ games per season and also with unstable managements at the time. Bernier was unlucky because the surprise rise of Jon Quick which took away the chance for Bernier to play meaningful games in LA.

I want the Avs to pull the trigger on one

GM’s should focus on what the team needs, not just skill and development to getting players “NHL-ready”. That said, picking a goalie early isn’t a big deal. If it’s what the team needs. Owners however see players as “assets” and are probably more likely to look at the roster as they would any balance-sheet. Making it a little more difficult in arguing for an early goalie pick.

I feel like a lot hinges on Carter Hart. He was basically the best goalie in CHL history. If even he doesn't pan out, how can you be sure of ANY goalie prospect?

In 2008, the pick right after 30 was Jacob markstrom

Impressive analysis. Nice one.

The Penguins traded for that pick too.

Chet Pickard 2008 18th played no games

I want Sabres to take Wallstedt with potential top 10 pick obtained from potential Eichel or Reinhardt trades.....they could walk away with Power, Wallstadt, plus another high end forward prospect on first day of draft....

Great video....kills me about attitude towards goalies in round one...most important position on team....if there was a center rated as top forward in last 5 years everyone would be talking about generational player.....think Yzerman will take Wallsdatd at #6....If Sabres got #3 (Ana) or #5 (Col) I hope they take him

If Buffalo drafts him at 1st and he becomes the next Hasek I’d be perfectly fine with that

I still can't believe Vasy went 19th

Detroit is primed to take Jesper at #6. No better GM and/or team to go to if you're a goalie than Detroit. He will have all the time he needs to develop. Just makes a ton of sense. Vezina's and Norris' btw him and Seider.

problem with the stigma changing is the past few years especially goalie UFA markets have been absolutely rich with talent. Are GMs really gonna want to wait so long to develop a goalie in the minors rather than just hoping the right fit finds itself on your team? especially in a position where they probably get paid well below their actual material value. Some GMs sure would draft a goalie, but only if you feel like you're 3 years out of competition. Who would that be? Sharks, Sabers, those are really the only 2 i see being bad and staying bad for a long time

If you're taking a goalie in the first round, he would have to be a can't miss prospect, like a Price or Fleury...

Congrats on 199k!

My team drafted two goalies at number 1 dp and lungo

Watch Arizona is gonna trade for a pick now and draft Cossa just because he said Arizona won’t draft a goalie in the first

Well in my opinion you should draft the best player available… goalie /d man / Center / winger doesn’t matter, after you could trade that guy for what you need but take the best player

Sharks SHOULD take Wallstedt but judging how Sharks draft in the first round they would probably pick someone off the radar

I almost always draft a goalkeeper in round 1 on ZenGM. It's so important to have reliability in net in that game.

Looking at these goalies it’s just so hard to tell. Like if u get a vasy and have a goalie for the next 10 years u will look like a genius but do u fall short and the goalie don’t work in your town or reaches the ceiling u will lose your job

If you made this video and I already had known you were in my hockey pool, then I would suspect you were trying to leave for yourself Vitek Vanacek.

Vasy paid off I would say

Pierre McGuire was 100% correct on Montreal taking Price. 😂

Should start kidnapping the right players...lol 😆

Knowing Yzerman he’ll pick Wallstedt

**Rick Dipietro has entered the chat

I would love to see Wallstedt in Detroit, but I don’t think it’ll happen. Their goalie prospects are going backwards, for the most part, Larsson got blown the fuck up in Denmark. Petruzzelli is the most ready and he’s not close, hasn’t played any pro at all at this point. Maybe Steve will surprise me, I think we need it bad, but it’s probably not happening.

Wait.... If Mark Visentin only played 1 game in the NHL... why does he have a 3.06 goals against average? Shouldn't it just be a whole number? I'm confused... lol And for Helenius... imagine having a shutout on your first NHL game and never getting a second chance? That's cold... he must have pissed somebody off. He should have mentioned that Tampa Bay had a solid goaltender when they drafted Vasilevskiy. Ben Bishop was pretty damn good back in 2012, Tampa bay had some pretty good scouting to grab up Vasilevski when they already had a solid goalie that had given them plenty of success. It was a surprising move at the time.

Comon wings. Wallstedt for the 6th overal.

Edmonton should have drafted a goalie in the first round years ago. Maybe this year?

Drafting a goalie is the biggest risk of all time. Look at the Islanders with DiPietro and Luongo. Goalies typically have a much slower development curve, plus you can make the playoffs without a great goalie. If you need a better goalie then you just have to replace 1 player.

Leave it to THG to stop just short of putting marc andre fleury on the board XD

The Los Angeles kings will proudly select with the 8th selection jesper wallstedt 🤞🙏 please Rob! 😂

More Defenseman then fowards Hockey still the best in the 90 after that its sucks missed old school Hockey King Richard

I still wouldn't take one.

I don’t believe a team should take a goalie in the first round. There are to many good goalies out there to take one in the first round.

I wouldn't hate it if the hawks drafted Wallstedt with their 1st pick (if they don't trade it).

You forgot that Raycroft now does Bruins coverage….. thanks for the salt lol

I wonder if stevie y will draft a goalie in the first round this year with one of his two first round picks

If the player is right, take them.

Maybe just don’t sign the tendy to a 15 yr contract

I feel like Bernier is going to Boston. Even if they bring Rask back I can’t help but feel like they will grab a veteran to play with him, and Bernier deserves a good team in front of him.

fleury was #1 overall

Answer: Yes.

Arizona will pull a sneaky one and trade for 2 firsts then draft 2 goalies just to spite you

You missed Chet Pickard #18 in 08

I think the Canucks should take Wallstedt

Cossa should have been Team Canada Jr starting goalie.Big Is Better

Visentin was pronounced as "Visen-teen"

I gotta ask to Le Hab fans: *Do you still believe that picking Carey Price @ 5th in the 2005 NHL Draft was a mistake?*

How does a goalie play 1 game and have a odd GAA? Mark Visentin i don't understand

Can someone explain how visentin had a 3.06 GAA if he only played 1 game? Like I get if he came in relief once or twice but for the decimal to be as low as .06 he would have had to have come in a lot to only still have 1 game

"Rosters change from year to year." To controversial this time, THG, too controversial

Ye

The Oilers might draft a goalie in the 1st round this year.