Should Gillis Always Draft One Goaltender?

“In the 5-year period from 1997-2001, 14 goalies were drafted in the first round. Apparently this number satisfied some type of equilibrium, because it stayed exactly the same from 2002 to 2006. Then suddenly things changed. In 2007, not a single goalie was taken in the first round – the first time this had occurred since 1992. Then it happened again in 2009, and again this past year. Collectively, only 4 goalies were drafted in the first round between 2007 and 2011. Why?”

In my opinion, I think the best "draft strategy" for goalies is to have no strategy at all. Instead, resources need to be spent on scouting and developing the prospects you already have. Goalies are such a crapshoot. There are no lineal or clear-cut trends. Whether you draft a goalie early, or draft a goalie late, or don’t draft one at all, it’s all situational.”

I think the draft a goalie every year isn’t a bad one, but it comes down to the specific goalie you are drafting. I’m sure you know that drafting goalies is like paper stock. There’s a ton of perceived value out there, but if you aren’t willing to put in the time to develop that asset, it’s just toilet paper and holds no value. This is what is happening with the top-ranked International goalie from 2010 Sami Aittokallio, as he is just rotting away in the Colorado system due to their lack of a full-time goalie coach.

So taking a goalie every year – well that’s good to cover your bases, but is there a system in place to take that goalie and put them in a position to succeed? Not every goalie is going to succeed, but once they turn 20 or 21, they need to be put in a place where they can play. Look at the Islanders. TWO three-headed monsters, both in NHL and AHL, and now Koskinen had to be loaned back to Finland because he’s not playing at all in Bridgeport. So while it’s great to have this awesome collection of prospects that are five or six deep, if they don’t get any playing time, they aren’t going to pan out.

Lack has long-term starter upside. His positioning is excellent, he has a very mature mindset, he has a calm "Price-like" demeanor in the net, he does everything well, he competes, he battles, and he still has a lot of developing to do in terms of reading plays on the smaller ice surface. This year will be an adjustment and obstacle for him since it’s the sophomore season, but his perceived value is really high, and the Canucks know they have a gem with him developing. He worked with Belfour during the NHL lockout in Sweden; I think that is going to play a huge role in terms of how Lack performs under pressure when he becomes more of a full-time NHL goalie. Lack is a Top-10 Prospect on my rankings and will stay there. Swedes are dominating, and he’s right up there with everyone else.