Wbs Goaltending

[pcm]

Hey Easton, thanks for the reports.

Can you give a season summary on the goaltending going on in Wbs? Besides Fleury, the organization seems to be empty of any goaltending prospects. But with the way the baby pens are playing, their goalies have to be contributing? Are they making big saves or are they just a product of the team in front of them?

If Thibault was traded, could the Pens rely on one of the wbs goalies as a servicable backup?

[netwolf]

I'm not easton, but as I recall, the only goalie in WB that's Penguin property is Andrew Penner, who was in the Columbus organization last year. I am guessing that pretty much guarantees that Thibault isn't getting dealt, unless of course, they get a veteran backup in return.

I have no idea if there are any Penguin goalie prospects in Wheeling, but to be honest, an ECHL goalie isn't jumping directly to the NHL.

They do have 3 college kids in the pipeline, but goaltender is the position with the least depth from Pittsburgh through and including Wheeling.

[eastonpensfan]

Netwolf is right. Only Andrew Penner is the Penguins property. Andy Franck plays in Wheeling, but I don't believe he has an NHL contract with any team, meaning that the Pens would have to sign him for him to move up.

That being said, goaltending is a strong point of the WBS team because both goalies are great at this level. Jeff Deslauriers is a tall (6'4"), skinny guy who is very athletic. He plays very much like a young Marc-Andre Fleury although he seems to respond better to pressure than MAF did while in WBS, but he can make those same spectacular saves. He is Edmonton property, but playing a lot in WBS because Roloson is of course the workhorse for the Oilers.

Penner is a big goalie (6'3", 210+ lbs.) who plays his positioning very well. He is a little older than Deslauriers, and looks like he is headed along the same path as Dany Sabourin, meaning he could project as a career AHL goaltender who gets the occasional chance in the NHL.

Both have had very good years so far. Penner had a tough November but hasn't lost since Thanksgiving. Deslauriers started out on fire in October and November but has been taking some losses in December and January.

So, coach Richards is riding the hot hand with them. Both have 13 wins, although Deslauriers has 6 losses to Penner's 3. Deslauriers has the better GAA, but Penner seems to get better support when in net.

Goaltending is very strong here in Wilkes-Barre, but is definitely a weak spot in Pittsburgh's organizational depth.

[Ben Klingston]

He plays very much like a young Marc-Andre Fleury

Funny thing is, Deslaurier 's older than MAF.

Deslauriers DOB: 5/15/84
MAF DOB: 11/28/84

This isn't meant to be a rip on you, easton - I also thank you for your in-depth thoughts and posts to keep us in the WBS loop.

It's just meant to point out that a 'possible prospect' on our minor-league team is actually YOUNGER than the starting goalie on our major-league team. That's pretty crazy. Especially considering we also have the best player in the league on our major-league roster, and he is four years younger than MAF!.

[eastonpensfan]

I know what you mean, and no offense taken. What I was trying to say is that he plays like MAF did when he was younger, not that he is a younger version of MAF. What I meant by that is that he is sometimes caught out of position, but then recovers with a spectacular glove save. MAF did this a lot when he was younger but, since he has improved his positioning this year, he doesn't need to make those saves as often. Also, like MAF, he has had a problem with high glove saves, kind of ironic considering how tall he is, but this is usually a problem with butterfly goalies who go down too early. They have trouble getting the glove up.

I think that's part of the reason that Deslauriers has been in the ECHL for the start to his career and this is his first full season in the AHL. Once he gets his positioning worked out, which I expect him to improve on this year, watch for him to turn some heads in the NHL. He has the natural talent like MAF did when he first came to WBS, but he doesn't have the technique yet.

[Idoit40fans]

i was curious about this as well, i know nearly nothing about our depth in goal.

[Dickie Dunn]

i was curious about this as well, i know nearly nothing about our depth in goal.

There's only three words you need to know about the Penguins depth in goal: The White Tiger



http://www.ehelechner.com/

[eastonpensfan]

Ehelechner stinks, but his site is really sweet. They have stats up for 4 games and he was pulled in 2 of them!

[canaan]

so, he used to be called the rhino and then changed his nickname to the white tiger?...what a fruitcake

[eastonpensfan]

so, he used to be called the rhino and then changed his nickname to the white tiger?...what a fruitcake

He found out rhinos don't move so well. Not a great name for a goalie.