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Get to Know Andy’s Mask Artist
Sep 18th
Earlier this week, The Goalie Guild was fortunate enough to catch the first glimpse of Craig Anderson’s new Dillon mask for the 2010-11 season. We were so impressed with the mask’s combination of class and Corvette racing culture that we just had to learn more about the design and the artist.
So allow us to introduce you to Mr. John Pepe, the founder of Pepe’s Custom Paint. John has been painting masks for many years now, but like most hard-working mask artists, life is prone to taking sudden twists and turns, and tough decisions have to be made. So John took a “sabbatical” of sorts from painting, but has slowly worked his way back into the trade.
But one part of his mask painting endeavors that has always stayed the same is his friendship with Anderson.
We actually “met” Pepe way back in March, when we featured his terrific Egyptian-themed mask for Guild member Bruno Roti. We were very impressed with the quality of work back then, so now, six months later, we are proud to offer our Guild readers and Avalanche fans a closer look at Pepe’s background and his experience painting Anderson’s new mask!
TGG: How did you get involved in the airbrushing business and who are some of the goalie mask artists that have inspired you over the years?
JP: I got my start while working for an equipment manufacturer back in Montreal. They were looking for someone to paint masks and although my airbrush experience was extremely limited, I jumped at the opportunity. I was lucky enough to meet Frank Cipra who was a huge help to me when I was starting out. He shared his painting technique, saving me a lot of trial and error by showing me the correct way to do paint a mask. His work still amazes me.
TGG: How did you connect with Craig Anderson, and how long have you been painting his goalie masks?
JP: I was introduced to Craig through Bob Dillon, who has been custom making Craig’s masks for quite some time. I have been painting Andy’s masks for about 10 years give or take. The first one was while he was playing in Norfolk I believe.
TGG: What was the inspiration behind his new mask design? What were some of your thoughts while actually airbrushing the design?
JP: I had not been happy with the paint jobs I had done for him in the past few years. It was always a tight deadline, a creative block or a combination of the two. Whatever it was, things never turned out the way I wanted them to. This time around, I didn’t really have a deadline and I had a lot of ideas flowing for what I wanted to do. I thought it would be fun to have the snowman and car look a lot more like the work of Big Daddy Roth, since that had been the influence of the design in the first place. So, I took some time and designed a snowman in the Rat Fink style but had it shaped to fit around the vents in the mask. I really wanted there to be a complete face on the mask without a big hole in the eye or nose. Then came the ‘Vette. I wanted to make it as large as possible since the space is limited and it needed to be recognizable as a Corvette at a glance – even with the skis and the monster truck tires. Instead of the usual little logo on the chin, I decided to have the opposite side be all Avalanche. I put as large of a logo as I could without cutting it off. The lower half is loosely based on the third jersey, along with some elements pulled out of the logo itself. Overall it took about a week and a half working on it on and off. It was the most fun I had painting a mask in quite some time. No pressure at all.
TGG: Some goalies are very open about their design, but others are very particular. What kind of “client” is Anderson?
JP: Craig is very easy to work with. He lets me run with it for the most part. All he wanted was for the Corvette to be on it somewhere and to have “Jake” (the Corvette Racing logo) on the backplate. We’ve been going with the race car theme for a while, and at one time it was a Mustang. I am not sure when or why we started with it, but it has stuck.
TGG: Who are some of your other pro goaltender clients?
JP: My past clients have included Sean Burke, Scott Clemmensen, J.S. Aubin, Curtis Sanford, Reinhard Divis, Rastislav Stana, Sebastien Caron, Ryan Bach, Chris Mason, Peter Skudra, Thomas Greiss, Kevin Weekes and many others in pro leagues around the world.
A special thanks to John Pepe for taking time out of his busy schedule to answer our questions. We are excited to watch Anderson stop thousands of pucks wearing his beautiful new Dillon mask! The Goalie Guild is a proud supporter of Pepe Custom Paint and you can find his contact info in our Mask Artist Directory.
Avs Training Camp: Day 1 Review
Sep 18th
What makes a two-day training camp so unique and entertaining?
The urgency, both on and off the ice.
With only six hours to impress the entire Colorado Avalanche coaching and scouting staff and stake a claim to one of the team’s 23 roster spots, players can boost their value and reputation in a single line rush, body check or glove save. That’s all it takes to turn heads, raise eyebrows and have the reporters and fans talking amongst themselves. One good play begets the next, and that is how impressions are made, quotes are dropped and hype starts to build.
It happened with Ryan O’Reilly and Matt Duchene last year. And it could happen again this season with guys like Ryan Stoa, Kevin Shattenkirk and Colby Cohen. And even though the Avs did not acquire many players over the summer, a few jobs are still up for grabs and certain roles need to be filled.
Today’s session went a long way in reflecting the frenzied atmosphere that is to be expected of a quick two-day training camp. It was fast, furious, physical and quite competitive. No love was lost, no friendly jokes were tossed back and forth, no time was wasted, no players held up on the body contact and no drills were run. Just pure, hard-nosed hockey.
The Avalanche coaching staff, once again, was not on the ice at all. They all watched from the stands, as did I. Three games, each 45 minutes in length, took place between the black, grey and blue teams. Below are just some of my thoughts and notes from today’s camp.
PETER BUDAJ - Did not look any more refined or improved from a skills perspective, but his confidence level compared to last year’s first day of training camp was much higher. He played at the top of his crease throughout the first half of the scrimmage, controlled his rebounds, moved effectively and communicated well with his defensemen. Although he did not see much action in the first scrimmage, I point to a nice breakaway save on Wacey Hamilton as proof of his confidence. He handled the puck well and did not seem rattled, tense, nervous or shaky.
MIKE CARMAN - I was impressed with his situational awareness and vision, especially away from the puck. Solid skating stride and skills. His highlight play of the day came in the first scrimmage when he carried the puck behind the next, executed a solid wraparound with balance and then roofed the puck over Craig Anderson’s left shoulder. Anderson was down early, but Carman’s quick release was impressive. I like his ability to keep possession of the puck and his overall skills are above average.
CAMERON GAUNCE – Today was not an impressive showing for the defenseman. He did not read plays with much precision and he failed to keep the puck in his offensive zone on more than a few occasions. He did not have the energy or alertness you expect to see from a major-junior standout. He did not provide any offense, nor did he bring much of a physical element to his game. His timing was simply off and he didn’t do much to try and snap out of his funk.
GREG MAULDIN – The bread winner of today’s session. Energetic, explosive stride, quick release, situationally aware. He has many NHL-level assets. I loved his ability to anticipate and read plays. He has wheels that can’t be overlooked. He had one of the best work ethics all day long. As the scrimmages continued, he did more to turn heads and create a buzz in the stands. You will hear many writers, bloggers and analysts mention him as one of the guys that stood out. Why? He never took a shift off, and every time he was on the ice, he made something happen or played to one of his strengths. I point to a brilliant cross-ice pass that landed right on the stick of Philippe Dupuis and resulted in a goal. He’s not a typical “rookie” mold at 28 years of age, so his experience lends a hand to his ability to execute at such a high level on the first day of camp. He’ll be a brilliant addition to the Lake Erie roster and because of his age, could be one of the first forwards called up to the big club. It is somewhat of a shame that he’s at the center position, but guys like him often find a way to make things happen. Oh, he also added a goal and hit two posts to boot. His release is definitely NHL-quality.
MATT FORD – One of three players on an AHL contract alongside Travis Gawryletz and Patrick Bordeleau, so he’s simply fighting for a role in Lake Erie. After today, he is certainly in the running and on the minds of the coaching staff. It was late in the second scrimmage that he made a real impact in today’s camp, as he re-directed a harmless shot from Gaunce up and over Calvin Pickard and then came right back and ripped a shot over Pickard’s glove just a few minutes later. He was one of the many players that gained confidence and speed as the scrimmages went along. Isn’t a hidden gem as far as talent is concerned, but I liked his ability to bang and crash and take the puck to the prime scoring areas. Needs to improve his skating ability if he wants to have a future in the NHL.
TREVOR CANN – I probably gave Cann more negative press than anyone else in the Avalanche community, but for good reason. He was a hard worker and had good net presence, but his technique was always really awkward. Today, however, his mechanics, stance and technique was totally refined and it really showed. His butterfly style is much more effective, mainly because he’s a much better skater. That is the foundation of any successful goalie, and since his footwork is so much better than at this point last season, he is now a viable prospect worth retaining. He was beat on a nice re-direction by Chris Stewart late in the second game, but that was the only time he looked out of place. He is still a long way from being an NHL goaltender, but a totally refined game has laid a foundation in which he can develop NHL-caliber skills. To me, he was the most improved Avalanche prospect in relation to last year’s camp.
JOEY HISHON - We all know about his skill set, skating ability, heightened sense of awareness and knack for scoring nice goals. What I learned about Hishon is his “bigger-than-he-looks” presence on the ice. He was another one of the young guys with an extremely high work ethic and that went a long way in putting him at a level above most of the other prospects out there. I was impressed with his balance on his skates and his puck possession. For his appearance, he is rather gritty. One benefit of being shorter is the low center of gravity. Combined with his strong edge work on his skates, Hishon can separate players from the puck and force turnovers on one side of the ice. On the other side, he can carry the puck into the zone, dump and chase and win some battles that most guys his size would dare not even try to win. One more season in Erie Owen Sound with the Otters Attack will be great for his development and if he can put on a little more weight, he will be that much stronger on his skates. Definitely a high-caliber prospect with tremendous upside.
Overall, today’s camp was quite gratifying. It’s great to be back in the swing of things and I am so excited for the start of the pre-season schedule. I don’t expect many surprises, but again, a two-day camp means just about anything can happen. I can’t wait for tomorrow’s camp and will see you all in the morning!
The Avalangelist: Avs Camp Preview
Sep 17th
Aaron Musick, the Avalangelist, kicks off our second season of Blogger Network coverage with his 2010 Avalanche Training Camp preview. Follow him on Twitter at @Avalangelist and check out his blog on Hockey Buzz all year long!
WHAT TO WATCH FOR AT CAMP
Well hockey fans, it is finally here – the start of NHL training camps. The Avs will kick off their full training camp tomorrow after their brief rookie camp that happened this week. As usual, all of their practices at held at South Suburban Family Sports center in Centennial. However, before you go check out what the “A” is all about, there a few things to look for at training camp this year:
Goaltender Calvin Pickard: The Avs’ second round draft pick in this past year’s draft has impressed a lot of people who went to the rookie camp. Can he do the same versus all the regulars and impress the coaching staff?
Rookie Defensemen: There are currently 16 players listed on the Avs’ training camp roster under defense and eight of them are recent Avs’ draft picks. From Kevin Shattenkirk, the Avs’ first round selection in 2007 to Troy Rutkowski, the Avs’ fifth round pick in this year’s draft, that Avs have a bunch of players vying for the coach’s attention during training camp. Especially memorize the numbers for Shattenkirk (8), Colby Cohen (36), Cameron Gaunce (3) and Jonas Holos (6) as they should be the ones to stand out the most among this group.
It would also be prudent to watch how the older defensemen are around the young guys. Can the young guys keep up? Are they pushing anyone for a spot?
Matt Duchene: There’s a good chance that the Avs’ practice facility will be packed, especially on Saturday, and most of them will come to see the Avs’ budding star live. Don’t overthink anything, just enjoy watching the talent the kid can put on display.
Daniel Winnik: Yet another piece the Avs have picked off of the Phoenix roster and this will be the first chance to see him practice with his new teammates (with the coaches watching at least). How good can he be to this team? Can he replace Matt Hendricks?
Ryan Stoa: Stoa got his feet wet in the NHL last year and shortly thereafter learned how much he had to improve, especially when it came to the speed of the game. Has he adjusted by now?
Peter Mueller: Which Mueller appears at camp? The scoring star after the Avs acquired him? Or the frustrating forward that he was in Phoenix?
Ryan O’Reilly/Joey Hishon/ T.J. Galiardi: These three guys are put together because they all have one thing in common: they all were/are/will always be underrated forwards. Does Hishon look more like Ryan “Radar” O’Reilly or Duchene? What does O’Reilly look like? Is he faster, bigger, better? Is Galiardi a first line left winger or a third liner? These are all questions of which to be aware.
Craig Anderson: The Avs’ savior, among other titles given to him, is back for year two and is looking for a new contract. Watch and see him work, even if he won’t be going 100% at the beginning. How does he look? Is he focused, ready for more?
That should be enough to watch, but also keep an eye on Ryan O’Reilly, one player whom the fans do not know, but impresses the fan base with what he can do.
Enjoy it Avs fans, and rejoice: hockey is back!
Scouting Journal: Avs “Rookie” Camp
Sep 15th
The second day of Colorado’s 2010 Rookie Orientation Camp was like my own personal “welcome back” party to celebrate the new season. Hardly anyone shows up during the week, so the Family Sports Center rink has that empty, lonesome feeling. And I totally love it.
This year looks to be no different. Although I missed Tuesday’s opening session, Wednesday was an even better opportunity to scout and photograph - you got it – the goalies. Seattle Thunderbirds standout Calvin Pickard, wily veteran John Grahame, the head honcho Craig Anderson, and a little bit of former Hershey Bears goalie Jason Bacashihua, Kitchener Rangers stud Brandon Maxwell and Peter Budaj. I also got to catch up with Avalanche radio play-by-play Marc Moser and Avalanche studio host Peter Ruttgaizer as well.
Click here to read my insight on the goaltenders from today’s action. I also posted a mini-photo gallery of Craig Anderson and his slick new mask right here. The mask was painted by Pepe’s Custom Paint. They are good friends of The Goalie Guild and they do some awesome work! You can also visit our 2010 Avalanche Training Camp Photo Gallery on a daily basis through the weekend for our photos. All rights reserved and all that good stuff.
2010 TRAINING CAMP PHOTO GALLERY
I’ll also quickly enhance the goaltending coverage with a short video of Anderson working with Daniel Winnik at the end of today’s session. Not the kind of rebound control you want to see, but if you read our goaltending coverage on The Goalie Guild you’ll see it’s nothing more than rust and new, stiff pads.
Now on to the rookies, prospects and veterans, all of which were having an enjoyable time running their own drills and hosting their own scrimmages. The atmosphere was so laid back that I didn’t really focus on who stood out or who seemed a step behind. Why? Without any coaches, the intensity takes a major nose dive. Other than what I already know about the players on the ice, it’s just not effective to take much from what I see until the coaches are there and the atmosphere is more structured.
But that didn’t stop me from noticing a number of positives and a couple of negatives from different players. But again, I don’t take much from what I saw yesterday. Everyone was either shaking off rust, playing in a relaxed, laid-back manner or simply trying to adjust to the speed of the action. As the week turns into the weekend, the notes will get more in-depth and precise. But today was more about fun and first impressions.
DANIEL WINNIK - He’s going to make a lot of fans very quickly. I love his addition to the team because of what he does and how he does it, not because he’s overly skilled. He’s an average skater, passer and shooter. But his ability to grind away in the corners, win small puck battles and bring a physical element is going to make him a valuable commodity in the lineup.
Winnik is what I call a Silent Assassin. He’s not flashy, doesn’t warrant a lot of attention, but gets the job done. He works hard. He’s experienced and he’s committed to doing the little things that create puck possession for his linemates. That’s the only way he’s able to maintain a role on an NHL team and he should be rewarded for it, especially on this team. The Avalanche, as you know, have plenty of scoring potency. But they have very few bodies that can grind along the boards and win battles.
Overall, Winnik fills a major void in the lineup and I am excited for him to bring an element of grit and sandpaper to the lineup. It’s no stretch to expect 10-12 goals from him, momentum-shifting penalty minutes and a physical presence to the lineup on a consistent basis. And his work ethic was quite noticeable today. He was one of the more serious players out on the ice, partially due to the fact that his job has to be earned.
MILAN HEJDUK- Healthy, but displayed stiffness and rust. He was one of the veterans just slowly easing his way into camp. There’s nothing wrong with this and nothing negative about his performance in today’s camp. He’s the most reliable veteran forward on the team, and even though there’s a stigma around the league that he has little value, every player on the team knows what kind of silent leadership he brings to the locker room. The hands, the footwork and the precision is still there and has not faded in the least bit. But I could tell by his stride and his upper body positioning that he was a little tight.
To me, Hejduk is at a point in his career where he takes nothing for granted. The perma-smile was proof of his situational awareness. I think he fully understands the fact that his role on the team is changing, but that he is still counted on to score goals. He’s more of a mentor than ever before and that’s a great asset for the Avalanche to have.
With Adam Foote mentoring the defensemen, it’s only natural to have Hejduk do the same thing with the skilled forwards. Foote is more of a verbal leader in the locker room, but Hejduk is a quiet guy that leads by example. It is that perfect balance that makes this “young team” so composed and potent on a nightly basis.
I’ll keep an eye on Hejduk for the rest of the camp and see how he settles in as regular camp approaches on Saturday. I’m sure he’ll be fine and you’ll hear from a lot of fans how he looks totally healthy and ready to go. But that’s what makes Hejduk so special – he’s as steady as she goes.
KYLE QUINCEY- There was nothing about his shot, his stride or his passing that looked to have improved over the summer. But one thing you can’t see that I could tell has improved was his confidence. At this time last summer, Quincey was the new kid on the blueline block and just looking to decipher his role and establish a presence as a top-4 defenseman. And as we all know, he did just that.
But this September is different. His role is understood, his presence is established and his responsibility is greater than any other point in his NHL career. He’s evolving and developing a leadership role, which is exactly what you want.
So what exactly am I looking for when I watch Quincey through the weekend? Confidence with the puck. I want him to shoot more. I want him to be more assertive. I want him to be a true quarterback.
As I type this, I actually remember Quincey taking control of setting up and running the drills prior to the scrimmage. He was loud, verbal and to-the-point. He really did seem like a player-coach out there, making sure things were getting done and moving along. And that’s what I want to see from Quincey throughout the season. Take control of the wheel and drive the defenseman to be more offensive, especially on the power play.
Avalanche Roster Finalized
Sep 27th
The Colorado Avalanche announced their last cuts today, ensuring that the future will arrive Oct. 1.
In their final cuts, the Avs announced the reassignment of center Chris Durno, defenseman Derek Peltier and goaltender Tyler Weiman to the Lake Erie Monsters of the AHL.
These cuts confirmed what Avalanche fans have all been hoping for: to see Matt Duchene in an Avs sweater during the season opener on Thursday. Also joining Duchene will be second round draft pick (#33 overall), center Ryan O’Reilly.
While Duchene was met with much anticipation, O’Reilly was met with curiosity. Thought to go in the top-20 in the NHL Entry Draft, O’Reilly fell all the way to the second round where the Avs management practically did an Irish jig while going up to the podium to select him.
O’Reilly has been described by NHL Central Scouting’s Chris Edwards as, “…very responsible defensively. He backchecks hard and he’s very good at identifying his check in his own end. He’s very good at the defensive end of the game.”
O’Reilly has also been noted by Denver Post writer Adrian Dater for his great stick work.
Duchene, on the other hand, is seen as the new face of the franchise alongside, and even above, Paul Stastny. Duchene has great speed, quick wrists, a hard shot and prowess in the defensive zone. Up to the draft, there was talk that the Islanders might in fact take Duchene first of all. However, after a tense couple of hours, two selections and a fist pump, Duchene was selected by the Avs.
At the time of his selection Duchene thought that he was “really close” to being NHL ready and couldn’t wait until camp to try and make the team.
While the Avs wasted little time in signing Duchene on July 16, O’Reilly had to wait a little longer to get his entry-level contract. Coming into camp, O’Reilly flew under the radar but separated himself from the rest of the pack through his play and earned his three-year entry level contract on Sept. 21.
With the cuts, it is apparent that the Avs are at least going to test Duchene and O’Reilly, both 18 years old, in the first portion of the season. Now, the Avs get ten games to look at the future of their franchise and see exactly where it is heading.
This is a great step forward for the Avs, as they are giving their two brightest center prospects a chance to make the club for the entire season and try to make a difference that will allow this team to escape the cellar of the NHL.
Aaron Musick covers the Colorado Avalanche for HockeyBuzz and will be providing insight on The Avalanche Guild all season long!
Tyler Weiman and Peter Budaj
Sep 16th
The 2009-10 Colorado Avalanche Training Camp closed yesterday (Tuesday) and I was fortunate enough to soak in a few more drills with Peter Budaj and Tyler Weiman.
Personally, today was a very cool experience. I noticed that on Sunday, none of the nets were equipped with Edge ProTech skate blade protectors. I’m pretty sure a ton of NHL equipment managers are using them on a consistent basis, so I made sure to bring a pair with me.
When Weiman was heading on the ice, I caught him before he hit the ice and asked if he wanted to borrow them. He gladly accepted of course, so I’m proud to say that The Goalie Guild helped Weiman and Budaj save the edges on their blades throughout this mini-practice session with Jocelyn Thibault.
This first video is pretty straightforward. Anytime a goalie works on their lateral movement while in the butterfly, it’s actually more beneficial for me to watch upper body positioning. Pretty much every NHL/AHL goalie is solid at pushing off in a strong and efficient manner, so the main thing I key in on is their upper body, including the shoulders, chest and arms.
(video removed per 72-hour NHL Media policy)
Budaj was definitely more relaxed than he was on Sunday, but his rebound control still left something to be desired. But the one thing that really stuck out through this second set of drills was his slight leaning to the left (glove side).
It’s not a major defect or anything like that, but to me it’s a noticeable difference compared to Weiman’s upper body positioning. Budaj’s shoulders are broader, but his left arm and glove is so tight to his side that he looks too tense. Weiman’s shoulders to me are much more relaxed and parallel to the crossbar.
(video removed per 72-hour NHL Media policy)
The first thing I’d point out right away from this third video is Budaj’s body language. The first four seconds he’s caught hunched over with his head down. Now I can’t tell if this is from fatigue or if he’s trying to focus, but regardless, I think the key for a goalie is to always stand up straight. Not only is it easier to breathe, it’s just overall much better body language.
The first shot he faces results in a juicy rebound and the puck being roofed over his glove (by Adam Deadmarsh). I was not very impressed with Budaj’s body language after he allowed that goal. Once again his head was buried and he was all hunched over. On the rest of the shots, his shoulders are noticeably slanted and he barely leans to his left. This isn’t a major thing, but it’s noticeable.
(video removed per 72-hour NHL Media policy)
Overall, I’m still very impressed with Weiman’s composure, confidence and body language. He’s a little bigger in the net than Budaj thanks to a slightly wider stance and butterfly and he has a tremendous attitude. Budaj was not nearly as rusty as he was on Sunday, but I still wasn’t that impressed with his body language and rebound control.
And yes, Tyler was very nice in returning my Edge ProTech’s back. Thanks Weims!!
Judge the Blood
Sep 14th
A prospect can improve at an incredibly fast rate when someone that mastered the position at the NHL level is constantly providing that prospect with feedback. Especially with a position like goaltending, one that relies on non-stop progression and refinement, having a goalie consultant that understands the nature of the game (especially in 2009) and can relate to today’s elite puck stoppers is the most important factor in developing the goalie depth chart.
Jocelyn Thibault, just one full season removed from his 14-year NHL career, was quietly named the new goalie consultant for the Colorado Avalanche last week. Sure enough, Thibault was on the ice Sunday morning for the first day of Avs Training Camp and did some remarkable work that I’m proud to share with you today. It was a beneficial morning for me in a number of ways, none more important than learning what kind of an instant impact Thibault had on some of the Avalanche goalie prospects.
But before we dig into the nitty-gritty, let’s go through a few other notes I had from the first day of Avs training camp:
PETER BUDAJ – Budaj was extremely rusty throughout the first hour of camp. He simply never got into much of a rhythm. He was playing a half-step deeper than usual and struggled with his rebound control. He never seemed comfortable and his upper body seemed tight. His body language reflected a lot of tense frustration as he reacted late to some shots and dropped early on others.
It was fairly obvious to me that Budaj was feeling the heat in a number of ways. In fact, one could argue that he’s facing more pressure than any other Avalanche player. Not only is he set to be dethroned by Craig Anderson, but he’s also constantly being pushed by a confident Tyler Weiman.
From a fantasy perspective, I wouldn’t put much value in Budaj’s stock heading into the season. Between Weiman and Anderson, Budaj has the least amount of confidence and is also under the most scrutiny from the media and fans. Unfortunately, the biggest enemy Budaj will face all season will be himself. And until he comes to an internal realization that he has to show more composure, Budaj will struggle to play consistently and run hot and cold.
TYLER WEIMAN – With even better footwork than before, Weiman is still consistently progressing. Even on a horrible Lake Erie team last year, Weiman was one of the steadiest performers in the AHL. He looks sharper than usual and skated with a lot of confidence, like he was totally bulletproof. He’s no longer fazed by anything or anyone, nor should he, for this is his seventh consecutive Avs training camp. His mindset and body language was terrific.
To be blunt, Weiman is so solid that Budaj seems to be hanging on by a thread. I don’t mean to take away from Budaj’s game, but it’s getting to the point where even the casual Avs fan is wondering why Weiman has only played half a period in the NHL. This is a question that has to be asked over and over again because there’s simply no excuse for not giving him at least one opportunity this season.
So it’s my conviction that Weiman will be called up at least once and play extremely well in his limited chances. In the meantime, at least we know he’ll get plenty of work and minutes in the AHL.
BILLY SAUER & PETER DELMAS - It’s amazing what a young goalie can do when they actually take a little time to think about what they’re doing. It also helps when the team’s goalie consultant is on the ice to make adjustments. Most skaters are there to battle against one another for a spot on a roster, but for some goalies, it’s more about impressing the coaching staff and absorbing every little piece of information that comes from the goalie coach.
Sauer, a big goalie with great coverage down low in his own right, does not have the best mobility or quickness. In fact I worked up a scouting chart on him back on Wednesday, which was the first day of Rookie Training Camp. It’s not hard to see that Sauer is a good step slower than Weiman, Budaj and Peter Delmas.
But all Thibault had to do was run two drills, make one minor adjustment to Sauer’s footwork and everything totally clicked. This not only turned a pressure-filled training camp experience into a mini semi-private lesson, but it also improved the organization’s depth while at the same time allowing the scouts to do their job. Overall, it was a great display of pure development straight from Thibault’s mind, something every GM wants to see on a daily basis.
(video removed per 72-hour NHL Media policy)
In the first video, Thibault uses four pucks to explain a basic system for tracking the puck around the crease. It splits the ice up into six zones – four behind the net split up from end board to end board and two out front, one on either side of the ice. David Marcoux, the former goalie coach in Calgary, actually taught Kiprusoff and many other pro goalies this exact system (It’s also the one I was taught five years ago). The drill Thibault runs with Sauer is just about setting your feet quick enough so that you can control your body’s movement and therefore the rebound.
What I noticed in this drill (starting at 1:30) is that Sauer covers the lower portion of the net in impressive fashion due to his great size. But his feet aren’t the quickest and because of that, he doesn’t have very good body control. He hunches over and leans forward when he drops into the butterfly, which causes some bad rebounds and takes away from an efficient recovery. His body is not in great alignment and that causes him to lose speed and not generate as much power getting back to his feet. He also doesn’t take up as much space up high because his shoulders are hunched and his back isn’t completely straight. Overall his inefficient footwork leads to some juicy rebounds and you can see Thibault most likely explaining some of these aspects to him at the end of the video.
(video removed per 72-hour NHL Media policy)
This second video totally hits home the importance of a quality goalie coach to the prospects in this system. On Sauer’s first three shots, he’s still leaning forward like before. He flies out towards the shooter because his body’s momentum carries him forward. He was a little sharper going to his right, but his shoulders were still hunched over.
But at 1:05, Thibault does a remarkable job of giving Sauer some great feedback about the path his skates travel. Instead of sliding out towards the shooter to cut down the angle, Sauer is better off setting his feet sooner and cutting off the angle deeper in his crease. This is a luxury a big goalie can afford, as this adjustment will allow him to drop into the butterfly in a faster manner and control the rebound with more ease.
At 1:10, you see Thibault show Sauer exactly how to adjust his movement. To paraphrase, stopping on a dime instead of sliding out past the top of his crease will come from setting his feet sooner. The result will be better body control, better balance and then an ability to recover just a little bit quicker than before.
At 1:50, Delmas steps in and shows Sauer how it’s done. Delmas is flat out a terrific skater. He moves in a more efficient manner when it comes to shots in tight and his feet are very quick and get set sooner than Sauer’s. Even though Delmas doesn’t have the big body (listed 11 pounds lighter than Sauer), he’s much quicker going post to post.
Delmas doesn’t exert nearly as much energy even though he might need to travel a further distance because he’s a smaller goalie, which allows him to get the knees down quickly and have better rebound control. Another positive to Delmas’ game is that he has a very straight back and takes away a large portion of the top of the net. That straight back means a lot, because it allows for better alignment and quicker recovery time.
Then everything clicks when Sauer goes back in the net at 2:40. The first shot to his right, he’s in a little more control of his body. The second one was excellent and the third one was even better. As my comments point out, he was set sooner and was in much better control of his body. The fourth and fifth shot to his left were a little off-balanced but he finishes with a strong one. And did you notice his rebounds were placed in much better areas?
Now this is all pretty straightforward stuff for a goalie to absorb in a few hours, but what happens when Thibault isn’t around to keep providing Sauer with that feedback? This is where goalies must show a lot of mental strength. Sauer has to train his mind to be consistent with what he just learned. He’s a bigger goalie – he doesn’t need to come out as far as a smaller goalie does. So there’s more advantageous things he could be doing with his feet that end up saving time, energy and most importantly, bad rebounds.
In conclusion, this was just a few minutes of basic goalie drills, but as you can see, a good goalie coach can turn it into something beyond valuable. Every moment a prospect gets that type of feedback, the stock of that goalie rises by leaps and bounds. But without the constant feedback, goalies have to work even harder at being mentally tough enough to retain the information and execute correctly on a consistent basis.
Thirty goalie coaches in the league work on hundreds of prospects in an effort to improve the organization’s depth. But as I’m often found saying, goaltending is 90% mental. So no matter how much a goalie learns in a single day, if they don’t apply themselves and stay focused, it’s all for naught. This barely scratches the surface of the goalie consultant’s impact, but as you can see, it’s a vital and invaluable aspect of developing players at that position.
What impact does a goalie coach have on your fantasy team’s goalies? What kind of adjustments to a goalie’s game did you see or hear about over the summer? And most importantly – how consistent is the goalie playing? These are questions you should be asking in order to not only understand the position better, but to give you an edge from a fantasy perspective. Having the answers will make drafting goalies less of a headache and more of an opportunity.
Peter Budaj’s X:60 Setup
Sep 13th
Although Peter Budaj was pretty rusty through the first day of Avalanche Training Camp this morning, he still looked quite sleek in his new Bauer X:60 setup. Good job by BudajFan31 from www.GoaliePost.com for noticing that Budaj’s blocker is actually an XR skinned with X:60 graphics.
It was also the first time we noticed Jocelyn Thibault on the ice working with the Avs goalies. Peter Delmas, Tyler Weiman and Billy Sauer spent the majority of the day with Thibault, which included some informal introductions, plenty of smiles and the discussion of a few simple drills. This is just one of them:
I was beyond impressed with Thibault’s work with the goalies on the ice. He handled introductions promptly, and as you can see, got right down to business by warming up the goalies for the scrimmage. Budaj’s rust was pretty visible from the get-go. I noticed that he played at least a half-step deeper in his crease than usual and he seemed tense and tight in the shoulders. Numerous times in the first hour of drills he was beaten under the elbows or top-shelf. I also caught him doing a lot of this throughout the drills:
There was some visible negative feedback, as he would turn his head and shoulders in frustration while getting back into his butterfly stance after allowing a goal. I’m not sure how he performed during the scrimmage, but many fans I spoke to afterwards agreed that his timing was off. At least with all the time I spent watching Budaj today, I did snag a photo of his mask:
I have no idea who that is on the edge of his mask (the right side), but we can tell you that Ned Flanders is proudly displayed on the backplate once again, but this time in a larger size than ever before. There’s also a motorcycle being blanketed by the checkered flag right above the unknown character.
Stay tuned for tomorrow morning’s SCHOOL OF BLOCK, which will bring you an inside look at some other dynamics Thibault brought to the Avs goaltending regime and how it should really benefit the organization’s depth at that position.
Billy Sauer Scouting Chart
Sep 10th
Here is the completed scouting chart of Billy Sauer from yesterday’s Avalanche Rookie Training Camp. Click to download the PDF and enjoy!
Rookie Training Camp Recap
Sep 9th
Avalanche Rookie Training Camp kicked off this morning with plenty of enthusiasm, energy and excitement between the 26 players and four goalies. Even though Rookie Camp was scheduled to run from 9:00a – 9:50a, about halfway through the 50-minute session, a number of Avalanche veterans started showing up – and we honestly had no idea why. The team’s regular Training Camp doesn’t open until Sunday morning, yet there was Brett Clark, Marek Svatos, Cody McLeod and many others heading into the locker rooms at Family Sports Center.
Sure enough, once Rookie Camp ended for the day, the handful of fans in the stands were treated to one heck of a surprise. It turns out that most of the veterans tossed on their skates and hit the ice for some friendly one-hour scrimmage with the rookies on both sheets! It was an unexpected turn of events, but one that The Avalanche Guild absorbed and embraced with a grin from ear to ear.
Although we were impressed by a number of the young guns on this Avalanche squad, including Derek Peltier, Matt Duchene, Ryan Stoa, Ryan O’Reilly, T.J. Galiardi and more, probably the most impressive aspect of the first day of camp was the overall positive atmosphere created by the players and coaching staff.
Every single player not only seemed focused, but fired up and ready for the season to get underway. All seven goalies were sharp from the get-go and the work ethic seemed to seep onto all four benches on both sheets of ice.
Personally we were most impressed with Chris Stewart, who noticeably looks to be in the best physical shape of his career. Not only did his stride look stronger and more powerful than it did in April, but he was lighter on his skates and more agile on the back-check. Newcomer David Koci was also quite impressive, as his skating ability combined with his size and stature made him seem like a monster amongst men.
Stastny’s shot seemed a little sharper than usual, as we noticed he picked the corner on Craig Anderson and Tyler Weiman a few times. John-Michael Liles looked in great shape as well, as he was jumping up into the offensive plays with ease and in an almost casual manner. Once the scrimmages were over, fans were treated to a practice fight between Stewart and Matt Hendricks, and as you can see by the photo below, it was a great way to get pumped up for the rest of camp.
Simply put, it was an impressive and exciting day to be at Family Sports Center. The attitude, atmosphere and anticipation was nowhere near the level of this time last year. The more time that goes by, the more we feel like this team will be surprising many pundits that ranked this team 13th or 14th in the Western Conference.
*Stay tuned for more updates and photos as Rookie Training Camp continues. Remember that regular training camp starts Sunday morning and is open to the public!
Season Preview: Ten Players to Watch
Sep 1st
*We are proud to introduce Zach Nichols to our writing staff. His insight of the Avalanche organization will be a tremendous resource for our readers and followers. Zach is a recent graduate of Mesa State College, a former player on their ACHA hockey team and The Hockey Guild’s official tournament scorekeeper.
September is finally here and that means hockey season is just around the corner. In fact, rookie camp begins on the morning of Sept. 9 at Family Sports Center. That will mark the official start of a new chapter in the Colorado Avalanche history books, as this will be the first season without long-time captain Joe Sakic leading the way.
This year is a pivotal season for the Avalanche organization. They finished 15th in the Western Conference last year and 22 points out of a playoff spot, making it the second time in three seasons they failed to make the playoffs. Before missing the post-season with 95 points in 2006-07, the Avs were playoff bound every single season since moving to Denver. That was until last season’s distastrous campaign of course, one that was plagued by costly long-term injuries to Sakic and Paul Stastny, the Avs’ top two centers.
The Avs’ off-season started with a frenzied fire-sale and a complete overhaul of the entire coaching staff. The moves were highlighted by the firing of former general manager Francois Giguere and the hiring of former assistant GM Greg Sherman. It was a move that initially raised some controversy, mainly due to the fact that Patrick Roy was also rumored to be considered for the job as GM, and possibly the head coaching job as well.
Towards the All-Star break, there were some changes that needed to be made if the Avs were going to make the playoffs. But only one deal was made before the deadline when Jordan Leopold was traded back to Calgary for a draft pick. It came as a surprise that Ian Laperriere was not moved at the deadline - not because the Avs were desperate to get rid of him - but because of the interest other teams had in acquiring his services.
Surely the Avs could have received one or more solid acquistions in exchange for Laperriere. Instead, they ended up losing him to the Flyers during free agency back in July. Amongst many other trade rumors back in July, one involved Ryan Smyth going to San Jose in exchange for Jonathan Cheechoo. For rebuilding purposes, the deal would’ve certainly made sense, but it never actually transpired.
Unfortunately, it turned out that the Avalanche didn’t have much wiggle room to sign free agents. But they did make a trade that could prove to be a good one in future seasons when they dealt Smyth, the high-priced veteran left winger, to Los Angeles in exchange for Tom Preissing, Kyle Quincey and a draft choice. Smyth was the Avalanche’s most consistent player last season and was a fan favorite due to his hard work ethic and grit around the net. Ultimately, however, it came down to salary cap issues, so off he went to LA and in return the Avs received a former Colorado College defenseman (Preissing) and a puck-moving blueliner that developed in the Red Wings’ system (Quincey).
With training camp less than ten days away, the Avs are now ready to enter new territory. Regarded as one of the league’s elite teams for nearly a decade, let’s not forget that they won nine consecutive Division Titles, two Stanley Cups, made four trips to the Conference Finals, accumulated 487 consecutive sellouts and 11 playoff berths in 13 seasons of play here in Colorado.
Now the team’s goal is to just make the playoffs.
Stastny and Wojtek Wolski are set to be the team’s top two centers, but having lost both Laperriere and Cody McCormick to free agency means the Avalanche will need a few more right wingers to step up. They have many young up and coming players at the center, so some of the natural centers in their system may be asked to play on either wing this season. second-year forward T.J. Hensick could possibly be one of those players asked to move.
Recent college graduates Justin Mercier and Brandon Yip are coming off of solid collegiate careers and both will enter their first professional seasons. Yip won an NCAA Championship last season with Boston University (along with recently drafted goalie Kieran Millan) and Mercier led the University of Miami-Ohio team to the championship game against Yip’s Terriers.
Simply put, this team has a lot of work to do before the roster is completed in late-September, so let’s take a look at ten players to watch for the upcoming season!
:: TEN PLAYERS TO WATCH ::
MATT DUCHENE - Duchene, the 3rd overall pick in this year’s NHL Entry Draft, is the highest pick the Avalanche have had since moving to Denver. He’s primed to make the team out of training camp, but the big question remains: Will he stay on the roster for the entire season or be sent back to his junior team in the OHL? One can only hope that the Avs keep him on the roster the entire season, as it’s exactly what the fans in Denver want to see. Called “the best all-around player” in the draft by many analysts, Duchene should have no problem sticking in the lineup thanks to his playmaking ability, youthful enthusiasm and tremendous vision and ice awareness. Oddly enough, the Avs have never had an 18-year-old on their regular season roster.
CHRIS STEWART - Most fans will say that Stewart was the most impressive call-up last season, showing early promise of being a star power forward. It’s not a stretch to say that in the next five or six seasons he could be compared to the likes of Joe Thornton and Ryan Getzlaf. Look for Stewie to not only make the team out of training camp, but play his first full season in the NHL. Stewart’s size is noticeable, but watch out for his great speed, which stems from a very powerful first stride. He’s also not afraid to knock knuckles with the league’s toughest, making him an extremely valuable player for a small Avalanche squad.
DAVID JONES - Jones is coming off a season that was plagued with injuries, so look for him to have a breakout year. His play while he has possession of the puck reminds me very much of Peter Forsberg. He’s very hard to defend against and extremely strong on the puck, especially in the corners. He has fairly deceptive speed and plays the body well. The former Ivy League Player of the Year will be looking to rebound from last season’s setback and find a spot on the top two lines.
TJ GALIARDI – After Stewart, Galiardi was the second-most impressive call-up last year, showing incredible raw talent and offensive ability. Galiardi seemed to struggle a little bit making the adjustment to the NHL, making some “rookie mistakes” early in his call-up, but still has no problem making the team out of training camp. His ability to score goals in the prime slot area will be a major benefit considering Marek Svatos failed to find his scoring touch last season.
CRAIG ANDERSON - Don’t be surprised when Anderson starts on October 1st. The Avalanche signed him right away on July 1st from the Florida Panthers, a team that probably didn’t want to lose him. Anderson is one of the most elite US-born goalies in the league and has tremendous positioning and quickness to go alongside his solid size. He only played 27 games last season, but was sensational all season by making 40+ saves in a number of games. He will not only beat out Budaj for the starting role, but carry it throughout the season. His only sticking point would be that he’s never been a starting goaltender before, nor has he played more than 30 games in a single season. But it looks like the Avalanche are quite comfortable giving him the reins and letting him run with them.
TYLER WEIMAN - Weiman has improved every single season since turning pro in 2004 with the CHL’s Colorado Eagles. The Saskatoon native led the Eagles to a championship as a rookie, shattering every single goalie record along the way. Weiman was actually on the Avs’ roster to start the 2007-08 season after Jose Theodore had very minor knee surgery, allowing him to make his NHL debut by stopping all 10 shots he faced in 16 minutes of play against the Predators. Although Weiman fans have been frustrated by the lack of opportunity with the Avs, everyone is excited that he agreed to a qualifying offer. He quietly led the AHL in shutouts last season with Lake Erie, proving he not only belongs in the NHL, but can win games when given the chance.
RYAN STOA - Stoa, a recent graduate of the University of Minnesota will also look to make an impact this year, projected by many scouts to not only play for the Avs this upcoming season, but score 20 goals as well. Stoa was drafted four years ago in 2005 andhas spent the past four seasons with the University of Minnesota’s Golden Gophers.
KELSEY TESSIER - Tessier was the player that impressed me the most at this year’s development camp. He will in all likelihood be sent back to his junior team during camp, but the 4th round pick in 2008 easily could have gone in the 2ndor 3rd round if he had more size. Tessieris generously listed as 5’9″ but makes up for size with quickness and shoots the puck very hard for a guy his size.
MATT HENDRICKS - Hendricks appeared in several games with the big club towards the endof last season. Hendricks will play a bigger role with Joe Sacco’s team because Hendricks understands Sacco’s system. Although Sacco hasn’t publicly discussed this yet, he will no doubt need hard-working 3rd and 4th line players like Hendricks to finish their checks, generate scoring chances and consequently make the Avs a more difficult team to play against.
CHRIS DURNO - Durno is a player that fell under the radar last season. The 6-foot-4 forward has put up solid numbers in the AHL and made his NHL debut last season in two games for the Avs. Not familiar with Durno? Picture Rob Blake, but a forward. He played four years at Michigan Tech and has been playing in the minor leagues since the 2003-04 season.
Brandon Maxwell Scouting Chart
Jul 25th
Here is the second scouting chart we completed during the Avalanche Prospects Camp back in mid-July!
Brandon Maxwell was drafted by the Avalanche less than a month before the camp, so this was his first taste of a pro camp atmosphere. Ask any fan in attendance and you will see that this kid has TONS of promise, so check out our thoughts below.
Peter Worrell Resurfaces!
Jul 22nd
Former Avalanche tough guy Peter Worrell is helping out a Florida Panthers youth hockey clinic at IncredibleICE!
Peter Delmas Scouting Chart
Jul 22nd
The summer weeks are dragging along and we are starting to go mad from a lack of hockey. We are still a week away from the “official” revised website launch, but that won’t stop us from getting our feet wet with the new layout and providing you a glimpse of what The Avalanche Guild is all about.
A few weeks ago, the Avalanche held their annual Rookie Development Camp at Family Sports Center in Centennial. It was the first step to the 2009-10 season, as 16 rookies with no NHL experience came together to get their first taste of a pro hockey training camp. As an aspiring pro goalie scout, I headed out to camp with one thing in mind – breaking down the Avs’ goalie prospects.
So check out the scouting chart for PETER DELMAS and enjoy your free copy to download.
