Bumping from last blog because I had to actually take calls and do work between writing my novel and Mike posted the new blob before I finished!
Good to see everything is normal in here, Leafs win and most of the commentary is how Freddy sucks, Willy needs to be traded etc.
IMO some of the analysis I've read here of what is wrong with Freddy's game is very god, some of it is m'eh and some of it is absolute garbage from folks who figure because they have watched hockey they are goal tending gurus. lol
I will say on goal 1 last night - Freddy being down to seal up the lower portion of the ice is what I have been told by numerous actual goalie coaches is the right play in an in tight, scramble when you can only see some or none of the puck and everyone is playing whack a mole.
Any goalie who would stand up and hug the post on that (so play it 80's style) is getting burned 99% of the time. The fact the Canucks smacked it and it popped up and got in was the lower percentage outcome and really as my non-goalie friend texted me right after the goal "how the hell is nobody in a Canucks jersey on their ass in front of the net on that and allowed to just stand there and swing away?".
I see a lot of talk & frustration about Freddy being on his chest (or tits as someone called it) too much and I think he's trying to do something that is actually taught as good technique, he is just doing it poorly. Sliding across with your chest up and making yourself big etc. sounds great, but does have some draw backs in comparison to what I think he is trying to do with the forwardness (for lack of a better term) of his body when he comes across.
He is trying to shorten the path the puck travels before it (hopefully) hits him by leaning forward towards the puck. It's often referred to as a goalie 'attacking' the puck but it's a delicate balance as it can end up with a goalie way too far forward and out of position (aka on his tits/chest/chin or whatever you choose to call it) and giving up a goal.
That being said when this is done correctly it can allow a goalie to catch, block or get a piece of a puck as the puck is rising that they are less likely to have if they came across straight up and down and trying to make themselves look as big as they can. It's essentially cutting down an angle as much as you can, stopping the puck from getting up to the point where it can get to the top portion of the net.
Freddy tries to do this almost every time he comes across the net in a bfly slide and I think he is leaning too far forward, too early and too quickly and getting burned on it. Sometimes it just doesn't matter, on a cross crease pass a good shooter will get the better of you regardless but I totally get that it's hard to look at a goalie on his chest on the ice and not question why he didn't stay up and get big. I look at those goals and would say the mistake was not what he did (attempted to do) but but rather the poor execution by over committing to attacking the puck. a
My 2 cents.
Oh and my other thought on Freddy - he's a 5M dollar goalie as per his contract, how does he compare to other 5M dollar goalies in the league? I think that's a better comparison vs comparing him to a guy like Price @ 10M/ year.
Would it be nice to have a lights out goalie, top 5 in the league? Of course....should we expect the 5M goalie we have to be that? I'm not so sure that's a realistic or fair expectation.
And before anyone says it - yes I like Fred, I like and cheer for whomever is between the pipes for the Leafs but.....I'd be very happy to have a guy like Gibson as a Leaf, I'm just not sure how much you have to give up to get him? - Cush29
yup I was thinking the same thing. Cross checks in front of the net is allowed apparently but the Leafs did not take advantage of it.
Location: I'm excited to see that Joined: 08.28.2010
Feb 5 @ 1:53 PM ET
And people are surprised when I tell them that I don't trust cops. - TheMussel
During the first lock down My wife and I had 3 friends in my restaurant, they stormed the place like swat.
WTF, I thought we were allowed gatherings of 5?
Illegal entry, illegal search and seizure and they gave me an $800 fine.
Sure, but playing well doesn't mean that Andersen stole that game.. It just means that he played well enough to win. - PatC80
not really about to argue this all day. I remember watching that game and Freddy shut the door and made big timely saves. If that's not stealing the game idk what is.
Location: Who Owzzzzz da' Chiefs?, ON Joined: 12.22.2014
Feb 5 @ 1:58 PM ET
yup I was thinking the same thing. Cross checks in front of the net is allowed apparently but the Leafs did not take advantage of it. - dmnted
Doesn't seem to matter here, it feels a bit like fight club.
You are not allowed to talk about anything goal given up not being 100% the goaltenders fault.
You are not allowed have any rationale discussion about any goals being influenced or the result of anything other than the fact Freddy sucks, is overpaid at 5M for what he is and we need to get rid of him asap to bring in a new savior.
You are not allowed to question if the Leafs D is indeed vastly improved this year to the point where they are blameless on any goal scored against the Leafs.
Chant it with me - it's 100% the goalies fault 100% of the time.
I can't wait for the next Leafs goalie to come in just to see how long it takes before the torches are lit, & the pitchforks handed out.
Location: Who Owzzzzz da' Chiefs?, ON Joined: 12.22.2014
Feb 5 @ 1:59 PM ET
not really about to argue this all day. I remember watching that game and Freddy shut the door and made big timely saves. If that's not stealing the game idk what is. - Arctic_AARDVARK
Freddy has never stolen a game. This is Facts because reasons and opinions say it is so.
During the first lock down My wife and I had 3 friends in my restaurant, they stormed the place like swat.
WTF, I thought we were allowed gatherings of 5?
Illegal entry, illegal search and seizure and they gave me an $800 fine. - bobbyisno1
That sucks for you Bobby and I feel for your situation, honestly.
However, when we start to generalize things is when we tend to get into trouble. There is good and bad in everything in life, whether it’s cops, hockey buzz posters, religions, politics or anything else.
Not a comment directed at you or AA, just a general comment about people making generalizations when things need to be dealt with on a case by case basis. I see it daily at my job as well. Yes, it is more difficult and takes more time but....
Location: I would never let my children play hockey. The risk of getting drafted by Edmonton is too high", ON Joined: 08.11.2011
Feb 5 @ 2:02 PM ET
Doesn't seem to matter here, it feels a bit like fight club.
You are not allowed to talk about anything goal given up not being 100% the goaltenders fault.
You are not allowed have any rationale discussion about any goals being influenced or the result of anything other than the fact Freddy sucks, is overpaid at 5M for what he is and we need to get rid of him asap to bring in a new savior.
You are not allowed to question if the Leafs D is indeed vastly improved this year to the point where they are blameless on any goal scored against the Leafs.
Chat it with me - it's 100% the goalies fault 100% of the time.
I can't wait for the next Leafs goalie to come in just to see how long it takes before the torches are lit, & the pitchforks handed out.
- Cush29
I'll be honest, I don't blame him for any of the goals against last night...During a game, you won't always be in the right position, but with that said, he does need to be more consistent in goal for us to advance in the playoffs.
I think he is a good goalie that has consistency issues.. If he can find his form again, that would be great.. We need that
Doesn't seem to matter here, it feels a bit like fight club.
You are not allowed to talk about anything goal given up not being 100% the goaltenders fault.
You are not allowed have any rationale discussion about any goals being influenced or the result of anything other than the fact Freddy sucks, is overpaid at 5M for what he is and we need to get rid of him asap to bring in a new savior.
You are not allowed to question if the Leafs D is indeed vastly improved this year to the point where they are blameless on any goal scored against the Leafs.
Chat it with me - it's 100% the goalies fault 100% of the time.
I can't wait for the next Leafs goalie to come in just to see how long it takes before the torches are lit, & the pitchforks handed out.
- Cush29
Ironic.
Someone points out Freddie let in one soft goal and a bunch of people on here lose their poop and label them Freddie haters.
