Agreed.

So why do you like Raanta so much?


All the criticisms you level at him, and from what I've seen, he reminds me a fair amount of a guy who IMO is also underrated, Jaroslav Halak. Who can be dominant and carry a team.

Raanta might not ever be as good, but there is something there to work with. Agreed he has flaws, also gives up a lot of rebounds, but he makes some pretty amazing point blank saves.
- John Jaeckel

Never said I like Raanta.

Never said I like Raanta.
- Elbows15

I know. See what I did there?

To start with, I don't like Raanta's size. He is short for a goalie in today's NHL. His technique is terrible. His angles are off and with his size he pretty much needs to be perfect.. His glove hand is that of someone who never caught anything in his life. And he over commits to everything. Add in the fact he can not track the puck through traffic and its not a pretty picture.
- Elbows15

What drives me crazy about Raanta - and Crawford has the same bad habit: when they go to one side to make a play, most good goalies immediately strongly push off on their far skate to get back to the net, THEN look back.

Raanta (and Crawford) look back first, then weakly push off, and are slow to get back into the net.

Maybe Waite can fix this.

All the criticisms you level at him, and from what I've seen, he reminds me a fair amount of a guy who IMO is also underrated, Jaroslav Halak. Who can be dominant and carry a team.
- John Jaeckel

You must not have watched enough of Halak. Halak creates statistical saves by blocking shots rather than making saves. Sorry that was goalie speak for not controlling the rebound.

Also, he can't catch a cold much less a puck. Some days we figured he might be better off going Dan Blackburn and running two blockers.

Guy has crazy quick leg movement though it can get frantic at times but his size, lack of catching ability and head case aspect make him a big question mark. How many goalies do you know would back out of playing against the team that traded them when his new team is fighting for a playoff spot?

You must not have watched enough of Halak. Halak creates statistical saves by blocking shots rather than making saves. Sorry that was goalie speak for not controlling the rebound.

Also, he can't catch a cold much less a puck. Some days we figured he might be better off going Dan Blackburn and running two blockers.

Guy has crazy quick leg movement though it can get frantic at times but his size, lack of catching ability and head case aspect make him a big question mark. How many goalies do you know would back out of playing against the team that traded them?
- stljam

I don't know this story, but I do know the guy has carried teams in the playoffs and international play before. You might be right. but I also know I'm right about that.

Aside from that, the goalie you describe is pretty much Raanta, same size too.

I don't know this story, but I do know the guy has carried teams in the playoffs and international play before. You might be right. but I also know I'm right about that.

Aside from that, the goalie you describe is pretty much Raanta, same size too.
- John Jaeckel

The Washington Post's Katie Carrera reports the veteran, who was traded from the St. Louis Blues to the Buffalo Sabres and then to the Washington Capitals over a month ago, has declined to play, because he just can't bear it.

Braden Holtby will start as the Capitals attempt to keep their slim postseason hopes alive because Halak wouldn’t be “comfortable” facing his former team, according to coach Adam Oates, who discussed the decision with goaltending coach Olie Kolzig.

“We know the feelings when you go into your old stomping ground and it’s not always easy and you’re not always comfortable, at least the first time,” Oates said. “We talked to [Halak] and he just wasn’t 100 percent comfortable. Unfortunately this time of year and where we’re at, we can’t afford that and Holts has played great lately. We feel really good about that and Holts is playing.”

http://www.washingtonpost...table-facing-former-team/

ETA - Didn't he get benched in the Olympics this year?

What drives me crazy about Raanta - and Crawford has the same bad habit: when they go to one side to make a play, most good goalies immediately strongly push off on their far skate to get back to the net, THEN look back.

Raanta (and Crawford) look back first, then weakly push off, and are slow to get back into the net.

Maybe Waite can fix this.
- StLBravesFan

When Crawford either gets too deep or does what you describe (among other things) and loses the crease, is when he gets into trouble.

Raanta is raw. And unrefined. And maybe that means he's uncoachable. That I don't know.

The Washington Post's Katie Carrera reports the veteran, who was traded from the St. Louis Blues to the Buffalo Sabres and then to the Washington Capitals over a month ago, has declined to play, because he just can't bear it.

Braden Holtby will start as the Capitals attempt to keep their slim postseason hopes alive because Halak wouldn’t be “comfortable” facing his former team, according to coach Adam Oates, who discussed the decision with goaltending coach Olie Kolzig.

“We know the feelings when you go into your old stomping ground and it’s not always easy and you’re not always comfortable, at least the first time,” Oates said. “We talked to
- stljam[Halak] and he just wasn’t 100 percent comfortable. Unfortunately this time of year and where we’re at, we can’t afford that and Holts has played great lately. We feel really good about that and Holts is playing.”

http://www.washingtonpost...table-facing-former-team/

ETA - Didn't he get benched in the Olympics this year?

Yeah, that's not good. Not sure about the Olympics this year, but I know he was great in 2010. Also, Slovakia as a whole pretty much sucked this year. Maybe Halak had something to do with that, but it appeared to me the entire team just blew.

I'm going to bed. Interesting discussion.

Yeah, that's not good. Not sure about the Olympics this year, but I know he was great in 2010. Also, Slovakia as a whole pretty much sucked this year. Maybe Halak had something to do with that, but it appeared to me the entire team just blew.
- John Jaeckel

He did....

"Blues goaltender Jaroslav Halak really looked forward to representing Slovakia at the Winter Olympics.

That excitement quickly turned into a major disappointment. After struggling in two appearances during pool play, Halak watched Jan Laco take over as Slovakia's starter. Laco, who shares duties with NHL veteran Michael Leighton for Donbass in the Kontinental Hockey League, played brilliantly in a 1-0 shootout loss to Russia. So he got the call against the arch-rival Czech Republic squad in the elimination game."

He lost the starting job to a guy who shares KHL duties with MICHAEL LEIGHTON lol.

Plus there are reasons Montreal kept Price over him...just saying.

Halak was a very big disappointment in St. Louis and continued the goalie curse. Maybe the plan this year is why bother dumping a few extra million in the goalie position as that hasn't worked yet. Still wish Dom wouldn't have turned us down before he went to Detroit, lol.

I know. See what I did there?

- John Jaeckel

I guess. They are two entirely different type of goaltenders though. And Raanta is hopeless in a shootout whereas Crawford is pretty good.

I guess. They are two entirely different type of goaltenders though. And Raanta is hopeless in a shootout whereas Crawford is pretty good.
- Elbows15

So is Nemo. Brutal.

So is Nemo. Brutal.
- Ogilthorpe2

His rebound control has always bothered me.

His rebound control has always bothered me.
- Elbows15

Huet, as bad as he was for the Hawks, was actually really good in the gimmick. Back in 2010, I used to hope Q would replace Niemi with Huet once OT ended. I think an ice cold Huet would have been better than Niemi in the shootout most nights.

I think an ice cold Huet would have been better than Niemi in the shootout most nights.
- Ogilthorpe2

You think like the Netherlands world cup soccer coach. Oh the irony.


edit to fix champion typo

Huet, as bad as he was for the Hawks, was actually really good in the gimmick. Back in 2010, I used to hope Q would replace Niemi with Huet once OT ended. I think an ice cold Huet would have been better than Niemi in the shootout most nights.
- Ogilthorpe2

Huet played goal like a kid taking his first swimming lesson. He was flopping all over the place.

Some of what make Niemi look so good was Huet was so bad. And Niemi was good against the Sharks that year. Other than that he was pretty meh. That team was so good though.

You think like the Netherlands world cup champion soccer coach. Oh the irony.

- stljam

I don't get it...but then if it involves soccer, I never will.

You think like the Netherlands world cup champion soccer coach. Oh the irony.

- stljam

It did work..once. Wasn't the goalie faults that none of his team mates couldn't kick a ball into an ocean that day.

Huet played goal like a kid taking his first swimming lesson. He was flopping all over the place.

Some of what make Niemi look so good was Huet was so bad. And Niemi was good against the Sharks that year. Other than that he was pretty meh. That team was so good though.
- Elbows15

I just remember a shootout with Niemi was a guaranteed one point night.

I don't get it...but then if it involves soccer, I never will.
- Ogilthorpe2

I'd explain it but you don't care and wouldn't read it anyway. The rain messing with your schedule lately?

I don't get it...but then if it involves soccer, I never will.
- Ogilthorpe2

The coach did exactly what you described. Change goalies for the shootout.

I'd explain it but you don't care and wouldn't read it anyway. The rain messing with your schedule lately?
- stljam

We haven't had significant rain in/around ORD in weeks...everywhere else I've been lucky lately. Circumnavigated a couple of t-storm cells this evening, but nothing really troublesome in a while.

Of course I've just jinxed myself for tomorrow.

The coach did exactly what you described. Change goalies for the shootout.
- Elbows15

How did it work out?

How did it work out?
- Ogilthorpe2

Look up a few post.

It did work..once. Wasn't the goalie faults that none of his team mates couldn't kick a ball into an ocean that day.
- Elbows15

bump for Ogie