How many 18-year-old goalies, no matter their future potential, are ready for pro hockey let alone an elimination game... and on top of that , with all of one full practice since his junior season ended, and for it to be his debut pro game? Zero.

To start Hart would be idiotic. No coach in any pro league would do so. The question isn't whether OHart is expected to be a better pro goalie than Oullette a few years from now. The question is who gives LV a better chance tonight and for however long this series goes? That is Oullette.

Also, goaltending is such a mentally tough position to play. To send a kid out on a bad note because you set him up to fail is horrible player development strategy . Any hockey ops professional would agree.
- bmeltzer

Bill, I think you feel strongly on this point...just not sure it is coming through though

Keep up the great work

Just put Carter Hart at first base, problem solved.

Just put Carter Hart at first base, problem solved.
- hockeylover

I was thinking LW, but I can tell you've thought about this a lot longer than I have.

The way the Phantoms luck is going right now, Oulette will tear a quad in warm up, Hart will sprain his knee in the first period and the beer vendor who comes in for Hart will pitch a shutout during regulation only to let in a 125 foot dump in during the first minute of OT.
- BiggE

Hextall is a beer vendor?

Hextall is a beer vendor?
- jmatchett383

He wears many hats.

Waive Ghost, and convert him to a goalie.

He wears many hats.
- BiggE

Hats > 1

The way the Phantoms luck is going right now, Oulette will tear a quad in warm up, Hart will sprain his knee in the first period and the beer vendor who comes in for Hart will pitch a shutout during regulation only to let in a 125 foot dump in during the first minute of OT.
- BiggE

If Oulette gets shelled I want a written apology from Bill. Hart 4 Starter
- ClaudeFather

What happens if Ouelette comes out like he ended the last game and lets in 2 quick goals. Do you then switch to Hart?

There really is no good choice from who you start in goal, one blew a 2 goal lead in 10 minutes and the other has never played in a pro game.

he can just take the highway
- YuenglingJagr

*GROAN*

What happens if Ouelette comes out like he ended the last game and lets in 2 quick goals. Do you then switch to Hart?

There really is no good choice from who you start in goal, one blew a 2 goal lead in 10 minutes and the other has never played in a pro game.
- johm12

I would guess if Oulette gives up a 2 goals on his first 4 shots, unless they were both deflections or something that no goalie would have a chance on, you'd probably see a goalie change.

Bill, I think you feel strongly on this point...just not sure it is coming through though

Keep up the great work
- JW98FlyerFan

I agree will Bill too. I personally think Bill is saying that NOT practicing with the team is the deciding factor over being 18 years old.

Maybe people think a goalie just goes into a game and when he sees a puck he stops it. There is a lot more to it then that. Communication with the d-men are huge, knowing them and them knowing the goalie. Puck hand offs, how the goalie handles rebounds, knowing how a d-man will block a shot, etc.

No practice could easily turn out to be silly mistakes that will become natural habit over time and ends with the Phantoms getting routed. I would question the coach if he put a young player in that position.

What happens if Ouelette comes out like he ended the last game and lets in 2 quick goals. Do you then switch to Hart?

There really is no good choice from who you start in goal, one blew a 2 goal lead in 10 minutes and the other has never played in a pro game.
- johm12

Did you see the goals? He also only blew a 1 goal lead. The second goal won the game

Scott Burnside laid off by ESPN today. Wonder if he has a "say anything" moment with Sidney Crosby before he leaves?

What happens if Ouelette comes out like he ended the last game and lets in 2 quick goals. Do you then switch to Hart?

There really is no good choice from who you start in goal, one blew a 2 goal lead in 10 minutes and the other has never played in a pro game.
- johm12

Put in Greg Goldberg

Put in Greg Goldberg


- jmatchett383

(frank) it, put in Bill Goldberg.

So, both Pierre LeBrun and Scott Burnside laid off by ESPN, but Barry Melrose stays.

So, both Pierre LeBrun and Scott Burnside laid off by ESPN, but Barry Melrose stays.
- jmatchett383

Shows how much they care to talk about hockey. Will probably work out better for LeBrun and Burnside anyway.

For 17-18, pending trades & signings & drafts, the organization's top centers are:

Top 9 - Giroux, Couturier, Filppula
4th line - Bellemare, Vecchione, Cousins, Laughton
AHL - Vorobyov, Bardreau, Fazleev
Junior - Rubtsov, Laberge, Bunnaman
Unsigned - Dove-McFalls, Marody, Lacyznski, Salinitri

Cousins, Bardreau, Rubtsov and Laberge all played more wing than center this season, so that may be where they end up long term. I think the same is true for Bunnaman. Hopefully it won't take till they are 25 to decide for sure like it did with Schenn.
- Feanor

Is it possible that Rubtsov is in the AHL next season? He was originally drafted from Russia, so he can go straight to AHL, and could have this year, if I'm correct on that...

I guess my question is should he come up to the AHL next season, is the general consensus to keep him in Juniors for one more season?

So, both Pierre LeBrun and Scott Burnside laid off by ESPN, but Barry Melrose stays.
- jmatchett383

Melrose's mullet has a full NMC.

Shows how much they care to talk about hockey. Will probably work out better for LeBrun and Burnside anyway.
- YuenglingJagr

Now LeBrun and Burnside might show up on a network that I actually pay attention to.

Melrose's mullet has a full NMC.
- Doc_Sarcasm

So, both Pierre LeBrun and Scott Burnside laid off by ESPN, but Barry Melrose stays.
- jmatchett383

They barely cover hockey as it is. They can at least throw Melrose out there during the playoffs for a few minutes and pretend they care. Personally I haven't gone to ESPN for hockey news for years. Kind of shocked that those two guys were still there.

They barely cover hockey as it is. They can at least throw Melrose out there during the playoffs for a few minutes and pretend they care. Personally I haven't gone to ESPN for hockey news for years. Kind of shocked that those two guys were still there.
- hereticpride

I was kind of thinking the same thing. I haven't used anything ESPN in many years, but again I don't follow football or mens darts any more.

Is it possible that Rubtsov is in the AHL next season? He was originally drafted from Russia, so he can go straight to AHL, and could have this year, if I'm correct on that...

I guess my question is should he come up to the AHL next season, do is the general consensus to keep him in Juniors for one more season?
- VladDrag

From what I have seen it sounds like they want him to get a full year in the Q.