Carsen Chubak – McKeen's Hockey

Free Agent Frenzy: The Goalie-Go-Round

McKeen's Hockey — Sat, 06 Jul 2013 01:03:08 +0000

The Goaltending Market, just as it was with the other positions, was very active during Friday's Free Agent Frenzy. It kicked off with a few bigger names in Evgeni Nabokov and Ray Emery, then closed out with a number of teams solidifying the backup roles.

You can view the latest version of the NHL Depth Charts to stay updated with every team's movement in goal.

Below are some of my thoughts on all of the goalie movement that transpired on Friday. If you would like more insight or opinions on anything, please feel free to contact me at justin@thegoalieguild.com at any time.

NABOKOV STICKS WITH ISLES

The goalie-go-round started turning when the Islanders signed Evgeni Nabokov to a one-year deal reportedly worth $3.25 million. "Nabby" got hot at the right time for the Isles this past season, going 7-0-4 in April with a 1.76 goals-against average and .928 save percentage. He was a stickler against some decent teams, going 3-0 against Tampa Bay and Florida, 2-0 against Montreal, 2-0-1 against Washington, and 2-0-1 against Toronto.

Photo Copyright: Tom Turk - Piratical Photography

Just a few days after buying out Rick DiPietro, I was not surprised to see Nabokov re-sign. On one hand, I think it's a good fit because it breeds an even higher level of familiarity between the two sides. Paying him over $3 million is a hefty investment, but there is no long-term risk due to this being a one-year deal.

On the other hand, Nabokov turns 38 on July 25, so the risk regarding this deal begins and ends with his durability. If the Islanders feel he shouldn't or can't play more than 62-65 games, they will have to either instill their faith in Kevin Poulin as the team's backup, or spend more money to sign a veteran.

If the Isles don't sign anyone else, there is a chance that Anders Nilsson could win the job, but the odds are in Poulin's favor since he spent a chunk of this past season behind Nabokov. Nilsson also missed a fair amount of time with what was possibly a vitamin B-12 deficiency, but it still remains somewhat of a mystery.

Honestly, I think questions surrounding Nabokov's durability are overblown. You can't go into a season expecting an injury just because he's a year older, and beyond playing in 41 games this season, he arguably saved his best stretch for last. No, he wasn't very good against the Penguins in the playoffs (posted a 4.44 GAA in six games), but he still gave the Islanders a chance to win a few of those games.

Since 2000, for all active and non-active goalies between the ages of 30 and 45, Nabokov is currently third overall in wins with 214 (Brodeur has 345, Kiprusoff has 239). So despite the fact he's in his late-30's, I still think he's reliable. As the driving force behind the team making it back to the playoffs, even though things like rebound control and "timely saves" were questionable at times, he still earned this new deal.

EMERY RETURNS TO FLYERS

The theme of "familiarity" continued when it was announced that Ray Emery signed a one-year, $1.65 million deal with the Flyers. There's never a dull moment in Philly's crease, and you can be rest assured there will be plenty of media commentary and maybe a bit of drama surrounding the tandem with Emery and Steve Mason.

In terms of efficient production, Emery is coming off the best season of his NHL career. He was well-insulated behind a strong Blackhawks team, which certainly played a role in his ability to go 17-1-0 with a 1.96 GAA and .922 SV%. Take nothing away from Emery's accomplishments (Stanley Cup, Jennings Trophy) and his admirable return from Avascular Necrosis, but the major change in atmosphere and scenery will play a major role in his performance next season.

With that in mind, I consider this to be another risky tandem for the Flyers. But at least it's way more cost-efficient, and for way less term.

You will see plenty of feel-good stories coming out of the Philly media as the summer goes along. They'll talk about Emery's improved maturity, his work ethic, and his determination. But when the going gets tough and the Flyers are relying on him every night, I still have to question his durability in a system that hasn't been the kindest to their goaltenders.

Of course this is all contingent on how Mason performs in his early-season opportunities. Both will have chances to run with things, but I'm not seeing a clear-cut "winner" in this battle right now.

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The Flyers also announced the signing of Yann Danis. Danis is an undersized goalie that can fill in as an NHL backup in an injury situation, but I don't believe he has the skill to stick in the league for a full season.

He does make a perfect starter for Adirondack though. He was the AHL Goaltender of the Year in 2012 and was fifth overall in AHL wins this year with 26. He posted a 2.59 GAA and .911 SV% in the regular season, and then went 10-7 in the AHL playoffs with a 2.41 GAA and .923 SV%.

That signing sets up a really nice battle in training camp for his backup spot between Carsen Chubak and Cal Heeter. Chubak is signed to an AHL with Adirondack after a stellar year with Niagara. He was a Hobey Baker Finalist and led his team to the NCAA Tournament.

GREISS LANDS IN THE DESERT

The Coyotes went against the grain of their prototypical bigger, positionally-based goalie by signing Thomas Greiss. In my most recent viewings of Greiss, I continued to like what I saw. I think he has a very nice athletic blend to his butterfly style, but I always came away feeling like he could be a more stable, consistent performer.

While he clearly has the active hands and feet needed to thrive at the NHL level, I think he over-pursues shots and plays too often. In that regard, I think he will benefit from working with Coyotes goalie coach Sean Burke, who can instill more structure in his positional game. He'll learn how to trust his angles and depth more by possibly having him play on a tighter leash and spending a bit more time in the blue paint.

I love the fact Greiss is not afraid to square up to shots in the white paint and be aggressive, but he has decent size (listed at 6-foot-1, 215 pounds), so I think there is an opportunity for him to use it a bit more effectively.

Smooth laterally and very quick to drop, recover, and rotate, I also think Greiss has the mechanics and quickness to improve on his 1-4-0 record and .915 SV% from last season. It will certainly be bolstered playing within Phoenix's defensive system, but even that's not a guarantee since he won't have the luxury of playing often behind Mike Smith.

That being said, San Jose scored just 2.42 goals-per-game (24th overall) in the regular season, so I just don't anything came easy for Greiss. He also suffered a head/neck injury (may have been a concussion) and missed a fair amount of time, not playing at all from Feb. 11 to March 6.

With only 25 appearances behind Antti Niemi over the past two seasons, I feel like Greiss' game needs to be cleaned up. He's messy at times; over-animated and exhibiting unnecessary excessive movement. I think he tries too hard to make some routine saves, so he seems to expel a lot of energy, and then struggles to play at a composed and controlled manner as the game drags on. Although this sample size is extremely small, he has allowed 15 goals in the first period, 16 in the second period, and then 22 in the third period.

I have no way of knowing whether there's a correlation between that goal-per-period stat and my observations, but it was something I've noticed over the past few seasons.

At the end of the day, Greiss' role essentially stays the same -- he goes from backing up one workhorse to backing up another. The Coyotes' defensive-minded system is a benefit, but whether it translates to a more successful season remains to be seen because he simply may not play more than 10-12 games. I am excited to see what kind of tweaks and adjustments Burke makes to Greiss' game, however.

SHARKS SECURE ALEX STALOCK

The Sharks made a key move by signing St. Paul, MN native Alex Stalock. It appears like he has earned the backup role to Niemi, which is a role I had projected for him a few years ago.

Stalock has a high level of quickness and agility, he's very proficient at moving the puck, and he is very competitive in the crease. He plays with an aggressive edge, challenges shooters very well, and makes excellent compact, tight butterfly saves. He has active hands and a good stick and is not afraid to surprise shooters with a poke check or a full-split save attempt.

The biggest obstacle for him will be the size and consistency factor. He is listed at 6-foot-0 but that is being gracious, and with only three games of NHL experience, he won't shake the questions concerning his readiness. But his NHL debut was memorable. He was thrown into the fire after replacing Niemi on Feb. 1 of 2011. He entered the game down 3-0 to the Coyotes halfway through the second period and stopped all nine shots he faced for the 5-3 win.

But just two days later, Stalock suffered a nasty laceration injury behind his left knee due to an errant skate blade. That ended his season, and in that same game, he was replaced by none other than newly-signed Predators backup Hutton.

It took almost an entire year for Stalock to recover from that injury, so the playing time he missed was significant. Now that he turns 26 on July 28, the injury and rehab experience has made him no worse for wear, and maybe even a bit more prepared to handle what lies ahead.

Stalock established himself as a legit NHL prospect after he spent three years at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. He turned pro in 2009 as the school's all-time leader in SV% (.910) and GAA (2.48). In 2009, he was the driving force behind the Bulldogs winning the WCHA Final Five.

LABARBERA JOINS THE OILERS

The 33-year-old Jason Labarbera had his ups and downs with the Coyotes last season, going 4-6-2 record with a 2.64 GAA and .923 SV%. He's one of those "perfect backup" guys that earns kudos from guys like myself because he does all the little things in practice and on the bench in order to be labeled a great teammate. His size is a clear-cut asset, and despite the fact the numbers and performances may not be sparkling, his work with Burke during his tenure in Phoenix has enhanced his overall skill-set.

It also helps to play behind a guy like Smith and learn from him since the two are decently comparable in terms of style.

LaBarbera has bounced around a lot in his career, playing with the Kings, Rangers, and Canucks. He has 175 games of NHL experience and has a great friendship with Devan Dubnyk, as they have trained together for many years.

The risk involved in this situation is the fact that LaBarbera will have to win some hockey games in a very different type of system compared to Phoenix. If Dubnyk struggles, can Jason perform at a high level on a consistent basis. Is a .923 SV% possible outside of the insulated Coyotes defensive system?

Over the past four seasons, LaBarbera has tallied just 17, 17, 19, and then 15 appearances. That's only 68 games over the course of four seasons -- a lot of drills and practice work, and not a lot of playing. He has obviously learned how to handle that aspect of being a backup, but it doesn't make things any easier once the workload increases.

So that's the question in my mind -- will his role actually elevate behind Dubnyk, or will the Giraffe reach the next level in his slowly-developing career? Except for Bryzgalov, we don't have any legit NHL goalies coming out of Phoenix's system to use as a comparable for moving out of their warm and cozy defensive shell, so consider me apprehensive right now.

HUTTON GRADUATES TO THE NHL

Carter Hutton was one of the most unlikely candidates to earn a full-time NHL backup gig today. But even though Hutton didn't have the strongest season compared to 2011-12 (named as Rockford's team MVP), he did impress Nashville's scouts enough to earn this opportunity.

Another person he impressed was Predators goalie coach Mitch Korn. I had a brief chat with him shortly after the deal was announced to get his thoughts:

"He has battled for everything he's ever gotten," Korn told me. "He's played in an AHL team that has produced goalies. He handles the puck extremely well and he's the right age [27]. He reminds me so much of when we took Dan Ellis with one NHL game of experience. For all those reasons, we felt we'd go in that direction rather than recycle."

In my lone live viewing of Hutton, which came in November at the Xcel Energy Center against the Houston Aeros, I noted that his puck-handling was very good. At the same time, I also noted that I thought he could play bigger, as he was dropping early on a few shots and not showing great patience on his skates. It was a very average showing in my opinion, as he stopped just 18 of 21 shots total in the 3-2 loss. But hey, that's just one game, and one where he didn't see much action, while Matt Hackett stood on his head that night.

Ultimately, Hutton is being asked to fill a role where he might play 12 games total. As Korn told me, the door is open for Hutton to establish himself as an NHL backup, and they have some goalies to continue developing in Milwaukee.

That means you can expect Sweden's Magnus Hellberg and Czech Republic native Marek Mazanec to be the organization's AHL tandem.

DAN ELLIS RETURNS TO DALLAS

Speaking of Dan Ellis, I was surprised to see the Stars sign him to back up Kari Lehtonen for two years. I knew they would be adding some type of veteran presence to act as a buffer between Lehtonen and Cris Nilstorp, who signed a new one-year, two-way deal back in mid-June.

Ellis was originally drafted by the Stars 60th overall in 2000. He most recently resurrected his career by having a stellar run in the AHL with Charlotte during the NHL Lockout, going 8-7-2 with a 2.46 GAA and .922 SV%. After that, he signed with Carolina for a pro-rated one-year deal, and went 6-8-2 with a 3.13 GAA and .906 SV% while playing with Justin Peters (Cam Ward was injured).

Ellis earned the opportunity to return to the NHL after resurrecting his career following a bad groin injury to end the 2011-12 season. Over the summer, he trained hard with Corey Wogtech from W Goaltending. In February, I had a chance to chat with Wogtech and posted this piece on the adjustments they made to make Ellis a more positionally sound goaltender.

I spoke with Stars goalie coach Mike Valley shortly after Ellis signed, and I know the two have a good relationship and get along very well. So Ellis will step into a familiar role by backing up a workhorse starter and should mesh with his teammates comfortably. Because the Stars will continue to manage Lehtonen's minutes by trying to keep him in the 62-game range, Dan will get a chance to win some games for a team that has a whole new look, a new general manager, and a totally new direction.

KHUDOBIN NOW A HURRICANE

The Bruins lost their solid backup when Anton Khudobin agreed to sign a new one-year deal with the Carolina Hurricanes.

Personally speaking, this was my favorite deal of the day. Khudobin rarely had an off night with the Bruins this season, going 9-4-1 with a 2.32 GAA and .920 SV%. He brings a ton of energy to the crease, and just like his dynamic and unique style on the ice, he has a similar personality off the ice.

I believe he'll be well-received by the team and successful in a role that has been quite unstable for the Hurricanes. From Michael Leighton to Justin Peters to Brian Boucher (UFA) and Ellis, they finally have someone that has worked hard to get to this point in his career.

Khudobin is 27 and was drafted 206th overall way back in 2004 by the Minnesota Wild.

That age bracket --- between 25 and 27 --- seems to be the sweet spot for a number of these fringe AHL/NHL guys to earn that elusive opportunity to be full-time backups.

Chad Johnson just signed a new one-year, one-way contract with the Bruins to replace Khudobin, and he just turned 27 on June 10. Hutton and Greiss are also 27 years old.

NCAA: Hellebuyck, Chubak Impress on Opening Day

McKeen's Hockey — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 20:24:21 +0000

Day 1 of the 2013 NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Tournament did not disappoint on Friday, as we witnessed one bracket-busting shocker and a couple of very impressive goaltending performances. Below are some of my thoughts and notes on three of the first four games of opening-round action.

Saturday's action is underway, and another bracket-buster is complete. St. Cloud State defeated Notre Dame 5-1 to advance to the second round, so they'll play the winner of Miami (Ohio) and Minnesota State.

YALE 3, MINNESOTA 2 (OT)

Yale's thrilling 3-2 OT victory over Minnesota was a gut-spilling end to Adam Wilcox's impressive rookie season. He had no chance on the game-winner by Jesse Root, which stemmed from a great forecheck by Kenny Agostino, who forced a turnover behind the net. Wilcox tried to push off his left post and throw his right arm and stick out, but failed to deflect a puck that beat him over the shoulder just nine seconds into overtime.

Wilcox showed some visible nerves in the game's opening minutes, but despite some shaky footwork and dangerous passing plays, he stood tall with 11 saves in a scoreless first period. Jeff Malcolm was a bit more comfortable and poised in the first period, but he was well-insulated, only having to make seven saves.

Wilcox's game smoothed out during the second period, even when he was sniped over the right shoulder by Agostino at the 7:08 mark. Adam was able to square up to the shot on the developing 4-on-2 play, but Agostino had plenty of time and space to find the sweet spot just over the blocker. Wilcox stayed up on his feet and didn't drop early, but he simply couldn't get a piece of the well-placed wrist shot, which was fired from just above the hash marks.

Gus Young extended Yale's lead with a power play goal eight minutes later, a shot that once again beat Wilcox on the blocker side. On this goal, Adam appeared to be distracted by a strong net-front presence from Yale's 6-foot-4 forward Antoine Laganiere.

Laganiere's big body was stationed right on top of the crease after the initial 3-on-2 rush turned into a broken play due to a blocked shot. Wilcox instinctively dropped on that blocked shot, then had to slide to his left to square up to the loose puck, which was whiffed on by another Yale forward. That forced Adam to drop again, then shift his body to his right while recovering back to his skates for a second time. Laganiere was taking away Wilcox's eyes and space throughout the entire recovery sequence, so when Young's seeing-eye wrist shot was finally released, Wilcox, who was back up on his skates, couldn't get a piece of it through traffic.

Knowing Wilcox had no chance on the game-winner, this was a game where I felt like he deserved a better fate. He finished with 23 saves on 26 shots.

Overall, I thought Wilcox was tense early, but became more relaxed and comfortable as the game went along. He was his usual adventurous self when he was moving and playing the puck, but he's so good at reading plays and then retreating back to his net behind his strong skating skills.

Despite the rough loss, it was a treat to watch Wilcox this season. A few areas of his game can be cleaned up a bit this summer, but ultimately, I'm still wildly impressed with his skill-set.

One point I'll make as a way of encapsulating everything I've learned about him this season:

He's really good at gauging the different speeds of the game, whether it's the speed of a forechecker applying pressure when he's moving the puck, the speed of a wrist shot, or the speed at which shot speed, speed of odd-man rushes, etc. Combine that with his athleticism and raw instincts, even if he doesn't have the same statistical success as a sophomore, his pro upside will continue to improve as he gains more experience.

Take nothing away from some of the timely saves made by Malcolm, but I did not see much pro upside in his game. He did seal the ice well and make some good paddle-down saves, but his skating needs to improve, as does his overall mobility. His footwork is not very polished, and while he competes hard to seal holes and cover loose pucks, he's not the type of NCAA goalie I consider to be a "technically sound" prospect.

Nevertheless, as I mentioned in my preview piece, sometimes the underdogs or "unknown" goalies are the ones that come up with the biggest wins. Experience plays a huge role in the NCAA tournament, and if there's one area where Malcolm was strong, it was his composure and even-keeled presence in the crease.

He finished with 26 saves on 28 shots and is currently facing North Dakota on Saturday night.

UMASS-LOWELL 6, WISCONSIN 1

This game was not on ESPNU live, so I caught most of the replay later at night. This game was seemingly dominated by the RiverHawks for the entire 60 minutes, and the unquestionable defensive star was Winnipeg Jets prospect Connor Hellebuyck.

I've all but erased the term "blocking goalie" from my scouting vernacular, but only because today's goaltending styles are not static. All NCAA-level goalies know that styles are predicated on situations, and that means the blocking save is a save selection, not a style. It's more about decision-making and knowing when to use the blocking save, and in what kind of situations.

But the more I watched Hellebuyck against Wisconsin, the more I came to realize that he really is a "blocking-style" goalie. In so many instances, he was dropping, making himself big, letting pucks hit him, and then relying on his defense to clear loose pucks or tie up opponents so he could recover and square up again.

There was very little excess movement in his game, but I felt that a big part of this was due to the fact he's not the strongest skater. Because of this, I think he's forced to simplify his game by playing inside the blue paint and utilizing his big frame as much as possible.

What makes Connor such an interesting prospect is the fact that he has a "steely resolve" in the crease. He looks completely unfazed by anything happening around him, which is pretty remarkable for a freshman coming straight out of the NAHL. He has a quiet look about him, and it was really noticeable when he was being interviewed by ESPNU during a TV timeout.

What really resonated in my mind was a statement he made on ESPNU when he described his style. He called it "big and boring" and that really revealed to me a lot of what I've explained above -- he does nothing fancy or flashy, he simply makes the first save and gets his body behind pucks in whatever manner necessary.

It's not pretty, but it's effective.

I was also interested to hear the broadcasters on ESPNU comment on how he had been working with former UML goaltender Dwayne Roloson. That opened the door for some more insights into his style, as Roloson was one of the true "old school" goalies that thrived by competing hard and reading plays extremely well.

Even though it wasn't always pretty, there was no denying that Hellebuyck was making big saves throughout the game. The only shot that beat him came on a Wisconsin power play in the third period, and hit deflected off two bodies, so it wasn't a result of a bad read or a mental lapse. He even stopped a penalty shot by Wisconsin's Jeff Dahl late in the first period when the score was 1-0 UML.

Wisconsin may have been dominated in this game, but they out-shot the RiverHawks 11-4 in the first 20 minutes. Even when Wisconsin scored to pull within 3-1 in the third period, Hellebuyck's steadying presence during the ensuing few minutes squashed whatever momentum Wisconsin had.

Hellebuyck finished with 31 saves and a chance to make the Frozen Four with a win over UNH on Saturday night.

To be honest, this guy fascinates me because I have so many questions about his style, and how it affects his long-term upside. Can he really thrive at the higher levels playing this way? Does the "drop-and-block" mentality allow him to develop the athleticism he'll need at the next level? Can he improve to the point where he's a solid pro-level goalie?

Regardless of these questions, and regardless of how much of his success stems from the team in front of him, the saves he made against Wisconsin were pretty impressive.

No, the footwork wasn't polished, and no, he's not the quickest goalie out there, but he was clearly the difference-maker, and at the end of the day, that's all any head coach cares about.

NORTH DAKOTA 2, NIAGARA 1

Maybe the most impressive performance I watched on Friday night came from Hobey Baker finalist Carsen Chubak.

Super-athletic and with a propensity for the flashy, acrobatic save, Chubak is a high-energy goalie with an extremely high level of compete in the crease. His movements are explosive, he's very aggressive with his angles and positioning, and he's never out of a play.

Because of his gifted mobility and footwork, he really excelled at covering loose pucks in the crease. He pounced on them with visible speed, and due to his small frame and condensed stance, he sealed the ice extremely well. Even when North Dakota tried to snipe him under the bar, Chubak fended off shots with his shoulder, arms, and gloves.

Chubak single-handedly put Niagara in place for the upset. Time and time again, no matter who had the scoring chance for North Dakota, Carsen had an answer. Technically sound on initial shots, when he did give up a rebound, his mobility gave him the edge needed to get pieces of second chances. Whether he had to dive on his side or lunge out to take away time and space from an elevated shot, he simply found a way to make the save.

"When we first started to work with Chubs he worried we would take away his athleticism, instead we worked together to use it," Mind The Net goalie coach Travis Harrington said to me on Twitter. "Chubak's game management is incredible. He reads and understands the game well. Always asking questions."

Chubak's story for Niagara began with an injury-riddled past. He had reconstructive knee surgery during his freshman year, and then had hip surgery before his sophomore year.

His perseverance over the past three years not only led him to a remarkable run this season, but it helped him out-perform the entire North Dakota team for all but 57 seconds in the 2-1 loss. That's all it took for UND to take the lead in the third period and seal the deal, which killed any chance of a fairy-tale finish for the Purple Eagles.

Despite the loss, Chubak finished with 41 saves, many of which were of the acrobatic and aggressive variety, and he was one of the game's biggest stars.

Zane Gothberg flew under the radar in this game due to Chubak's inspiring performance, but he was very solid in his own right. Similar to what I saw in Wilcox, the freshman was visibly shaky early, but settled into a good rhythm by the second period.

Niagara's lone goal may be considered of the "weak" variety by many analysts, but it was a tricky read. Jason Beattie's wrist shot barely snuck under a sliding block from a defenseman, which coincidentally took away Zane's ability to track the release. It slipped under both players and gave Niagara the 1-0 lead at the 6:27 mark of the second period.

Gothberg stopped 15-of-16 shots in the middle frame, and many of their chances were high-quality. One of his biggest saves came on a partial breakaway by Niagara's Ryan Murphy with five minutes left in the second. That save gave him a visible boost of confidence, and despite the added pressure of a come-from-behind 2-1 lead, he was technically sound in the third period and stopped all seven shots he faced.

But what impressed me the most was Gothberg's overall net coverage. In tight or through traffic, he was able to make some dynamic saves, and even in one instance, dropping his stick and covering a loose puck with his blocker hand. He has good structure to his technical game for a freshman, and his big upper body takes away some of the space in the top corners.

Enjoy the games on Saturday and be sure to check back tomorrow for another blog post on the goalies!

NCAA Tourney Goalie Preview

McKeen's Hockey — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 15:45:16 +0000

The 2013 NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Tournament begins today, and that means 16 goaltenders will begin to battle their way to Pittsburgh, where the Frozen Four will be held on the weekend of April 11.

To prep you for what will certainly be another explosive and exciting tournament, I've dropped some notes on every starting goalie from all 16 teams. I'll be evaluating a bunch of the games on-the-fly thanks to ESPNU, so feel free to follow me on Twitter @TheGoalieGuild and check back here over the course of the next few weeks for more NCAA goaltending insight and analysis.

Before I get started, I wanted to mention a few NCAA goalies that have signed pro contracts, something I've written about earlier in the season right here.

Aside from Andrew Hammond (Bowling Green) signing with the Senators, Northeastern's Chris Rawlings has signed an ATO with the Idaho Steelheads. Although it's not an entry-level contract with an NHL team, the Dallas Stars will certainly have their eyes on Rawlings' performance(s).

The Stars took a similar route last summer with Michigan Tech's Josh Robinson. He signed a two-way AHL/ECHL deal last season, and while he's not Dallas' official property, they are certainly grooming him for the future. Robinson worked with Stars goalie coach Mike Valley over the summer at his Elite Goalies mentorship camp, and Rawlings has worked with Valley before as well.

Beyond Hammond and Rawlings, it appears as if Jared Coreau (Northern Michigan) is spending some time in Detroit, which may mean he is discussing a possible contract with the Red Wings. If something official drops during the NCAA tournament, I'll post it here.

But with that on the back-burner for now, here's a look at each goalie in the tournament, sorted by region.

WEST REGIONAL

YALE - Jeff Malcolm: Entering the tournament with a 16-6-2 record, a 2.42 GAA, and a .914 SV%, the senior from Lethbridge, Alabama played a major role in Yale earning an "at large" bid. He put together two separate five-game winning streaks during the second half of the season, including one shutout in each streak.

Malcolm missed most of February due to injury, but his return sparked a five-game winning streak, and Yale has been playing much better with him back in goal.

He has given up eight goals on 62 shots in his last two games (both losses by way of shutout), so for a team that isn't as offensively gifted or as deep as in years past, he'll have to surprise everyone to get past the powerhouse known as the Golden Gophers. Furthermore, I have never seen Malcolm play before, so he's a virtual unknown for me heading into the tournament.

But as I have learned over the years, sometimes the guys that fly far under the radar end up having the biggest impact. If you're a fan of the underdog, you're a fan of Malcolm and the Yale Bulldogs.

MINNESOTA - Adam Wilcox: Because of my location here in the Twin Cities, I've had the pleasure of closely evaluating Wilcox's game this season. Not only is he statistically one of the top freshman goalies in the NCAA, but he's one of the most exciting raw-skilled prospects I've scouted in the past five years. He enters today's game against Yale with a 25-7-5 record, a 1.85 GAA, a .922 SV%, and three shutouts.

Despite playing behind one of the most talented lineups in the NCAA, Wilcox didn't coast at any point this season. Sure, there were nights where he was able to rely on Minnesota's NCAA-leading 3.51 goals-per-game to get him through some inconsistent efforts, but for the most part, he came up with the timely saves to preserve leads, sustain momentum, or kill off penalties.

No matter which way you slice it (Minnesota was 3rd in team defense with a 1.91 goals-per-game average), his reliability instilled the confidence needed to play him in 38 games, which landed him third in overall minutes played (2270:51). For a freshman, especially in a talented conference like the WCHA, that is almost unheard of.

Drafted by the Lightning 178th overall in 2011, Wilcox brings electric foot speed and a visible energy to the crease. He's aggressive, dynamic, and very flexible. His glove hand is one of the best in the NCAA, he's highly athletic, and he's one of the better puck-movers you'll find at his age. He's sheer eye-candy in the crease, fun to watch, and capable of stealing a game if his teammates fail to show up.

It certainly helps that I've seen close to 80-percent of his games this season, but if you're watching him for the first time, you'll quickly realize why he was drafted by the Lightning. The kid has skills, and he thrives under pressure.

NORTH DAKOTA - Zane Gothberg: I had originally profiled Clarke Saunders here, so apologies for a late update on Gothberg.

UND enters the tournament scoring 3.30 goals-per-game, but the combination of Saunders and freshman Zane Gothberg only posted a 2.45 GAA collectively, which was only 17th-best in the NCAA. So in terms of facing different types of pressure, knowing that Zane will have to stare down a Hobey Baker Finalist (Carsen Chubak) in today's game against Niagara is not going to be easy.

Zane played more as the season went along, entering the tournament with an 8-4-3 record, a 2.55 GAA, and a .918 SV%. He earned three straight wins in impressive fashion over Wisconsin and Nebraska-Omaha back in early-February, and has become more comfortable in his rising role with UND.

I had a chance to evaluate Zane last summer while he trained with goalie coach Dave Rogalski. During that session, I really liked how Gothberg moved. He has a lot of structure to his low game, and he reminded me a little bit of Nikolai Khabibulin in terms of utilizing his broad and large upper body, but still having quick feet and good levels of overall athleticism.

NIAGARA - Carsen Chubak: Like Hartzell in Quinnipiac, Chubak was one of the NCAA's best goaltenders this season. A Hobey Baker Finalist in his own right, the AHA Player of the Year enters the tournament with a 23-6-5 record, a 1.91 GAA and a .939 SV%. Combine that with six shutouts, and you have one of the most impressive goalies in all four regionals.

Chubak does benefit from the defensive support of blueliners Kevin Ryan and Dan Weiss, and his team does average 3.11 goals-per-game, but there's no denying the Prince Albert native's value to the Purple Eagles. But even more impressive than the NCAA-best six shutouts or the solid team in front is the fact that Chubak didn't have a single losing streak this season.

That "bounce-back" ability will be put to the test against North Dakota today; Niagara dropped a disappointing game to rival Canisius in the Atlantic Hockey semifinals, one where Chubak stopped just 24 of 29 shots.

It was the only time this season he allowed more than four goals.

NORTHEAST REGIONAL

UMASS-LOWELL - Connor Hellebuyck: It's rare to see an NAHL goaltender get inserted directly into the lineup of an NCAA D1 program, but both Anthony Stolarz (now in the OHL) and Hellebuyck completed that feat this season. A draft pick of the Winnipeg Jets, Hellebuyck was named the Tournament MVP after leading the River Hawks to a Hockey East title.

Hellebuyck enters the tournament with an 18-2-0 record, plus an NCAA-leading .949 SV%. He was second in GAA (1.38) only to Ryan McKay. At 6-foot-4 and 200 pounds, Connor brings an intimidating frame to the crease, and his confidence level reinforces that intimidation factor.

Like Wilcox in Minnesota, Connor settled into the starter's role after just a few games and never looked back. Connor lost his NCAA debut to DU by allowing five goals on 28 shots, and after more than a month between starts, went on a rampage and pitched shutouts in two of his next three starts.

If there's one area of Connor's game that has vastly improved since his final games with the Odessa Jackalopes, it would be his skating. Less than a year ago, he relied too much on his size to take away time and space from a shooter, but rebound control and staying upright to make secondary saves was an area of concern. It was mentioned on ESPNU that he had been working with former Lightning goaltender Dwayne Roloson on a lot of technical aspects, which has also played a role in his improved play.

But over the course of this season, scouts have pointed to his improved footwork as a big reason why he's now looking at a chance to lead the River Hawks to an NCAA title.

WISCONSIN - Joel Rumpel: Although the Badgers struggled early in the season, the team is firing on all cylinders after earning huge wins over Minnesota State, St. Cloud, and Colorado College to clinch the WCHA Championship. Rumpel, who earned a spot in the All-WCHA Tournament team, enters the tournament with a 1.84 GAA and .923 SV% this season.

Rumpel has just one loss in his last 11 games, but is not considered to be one of the most talented goalies in the tournament. Nevertheless, he's known for having a relaxed, even-keeled demeanor in the crease and positionally sound game. He instills a lot of confidence in his teammates for a sophomore, and he utilizes his 6-foot-3 frame very well. He plays a simple and technically sound game, and even when he's forced to scramble, he stays calm and displays good body control.

In my opinion, Rumpel is one of the more under-appreciated goalies in the tournament. But after coming up huge in the grueling WCHA Final Five tournament, he's in prime pouncing mode to potentially steal a game from #1 seed UMASS-Lowell.

DENVER - Juho Olkinuora: When I was living in Denver from 2004 to 2012, I had the fortunate opportunity to track, evaluate, and even work alongside some of DU's legendary goaltenders. From Adam Berkhoel to Peter Mannino and Marc Cheverie, the Pioneers could almost always rely on solid goaltending in the post-season.

The recurring theme with all of their past netminders was the high goalie IQ to go along with solid fundamentals and a strong work ethic. That theme holds true with Helsinki native and former "walk-on" goalie Olkinuora.

Juho didn't begin the season as the expected starter, but he certainly finished it as one. He stole the job from Florida Panthers prospect Sam Brittain in November and entered the tournament with a 13-5-5 record, a 2.28 GAA, and a .929 SV%. Of the handful of games I watched him play this season, I was most impressed with his 33-save shutout performance over Minnesota on March 1, which may go down as one of his best outings in a Pioneers uniform.

What I like about Olkinuora is that he's not your typical Finnish prospect. Because he developed in the USHL, he is much more of a positionally-oriented goalie, as opposed to the more outlandish, acrobatic, and ultra-athletic Finnish prospects at his age. By focusing more on staying centered in the crease and relying on square shoulders and quiet footwork to stop the puck, he conserves energy and controls his rebounds better than most sophomore goalies.

Olkinuora's latest game ended on a low note in the first-round WCHA series the CC Tigers, but the Pioneers were able to earn an at-large bid to join the field of 16.

NEW HAMPSHIRE - Casey DeSmith: The Wildcats entered the tournament in the Top-10 in terms of goals-against average (2.32), and DeSmith was a major factor in their defensive success. He not only set a school scoreless record (203:32) with three straight shutouts and four in five games, but he was named a Hockey East Honorable Mention All-Star, and was the Hockey East Goaltender of the Month in both October and November.

In November, DeSmith went 5-1-1 with a 1.65 GAA and a .951 SV% en route to the three straight shutouts. He won the Hockey East Defensive Player of the Week twice in November and stopped 30-plus shots on four occasions, including a pair of 40-plus save performances to boot.

A goalie that faced some serious adversity due to a lack of playing time in high school, Casey was tossed into the NCAA fire last season when a struggling Matt DiGirolamo lost the starting job. This year, he went 18-9-7 with a 2.24 GAA and .924 SV% and carried the starting role for the entire season.

What makes tonight's game against DU so exciting for DeSmith is the opportunity for revenge. In his only game against DU this season, he was pulled just 9:05 into the first period after allowing three goals on eight shots.

EAST REGIONAL

QUINNIPIAC - Eric Hartzell: The Bobcats won the ECAC this season behind stellar, steadying play from their senior goaltender. A Hobey Baker Award finalist, Hartzell has a great buffer zone in front of him on the blueline, a d-core that includes the ECAC's top defenseman, Zach Davies. Hartzell helped lead the Bobcats to an 18-0-3 streak this season, which included three shutouts and eight other games where he allowed just one goal against.

Hartzell enters today's regional matchup against Canisius with a 27-6-5 record, a 1.52 GAA, and a .934 SV%. Hartzell (White Bear Lake, MN) is known for his great net coverage due to his 6-foot-4 frame and solid athleticism. He reads plays well and brings a poised, confident demeanor to the crease regardless of the situation.

That being said, I'll be watching to see how he handles the additional pressure in uncharted territory for Quinnipiac, especially since he's targeted to sign a pro contract at the end of his NCAA career. Let's just hope that career doesn't end tonight.

CANISIUS - Tony Capobianco: The little engine that could, Canisius enters the tournament on a franchise-best eight-game winning streak, which happens to currently be the longest in the nation. The Golden Griffins are backed by junior goaltender Capobianco, who I had the luxury to see live at Mariucci Arena back on October 28. He allowed a goal on the first shot faced, then went on to stop the next 40 shots in a 1-0 loss. It was one of the best individual performances I scouted all season long.

Capobianco is comfortable playing behind a team that may not score often, but plays to their strengths as a "defense-first" system. They allow a lot of shots, but push players to the perimeter. Tony had four shutouts this season, with shot totals of 23, 35, 35, and 36. He faced 1,312 total shots in 40 games, an average of 32.8 per game. He was first in the NCAA in minutes played (2344:13), which was a few games ahead of his opponent today, Hartzell (2282:59).

When I evaluated Capobianco in his game against the Golden Gophers, his style reminded me a lot of Jaroslav Halak's. He moves in a small triangle and makes the most of his 6-foot-2 frame by playing inside the blue paint. His movements are quiet and he is very positionally sound. He'll out-wait shooters and make tough saves look easy. Everything seemed to hit him in the chest and get swallowed up, but obviously that performance was one of his better games all season long.

If he expects to get past Quinnipiac, today's performance will have to be even better.

UNION - Troy Grosenick: Despite missing some games due to injury this season, the former Cedar Rapids Rough Riders goalie has allowed just five goals in his last five games, stopping 142 of his last 147 shots. That includes a 34-save shutout over Yale en route to the ECAC Championship. Grosenick and his teammates had their fair share of mid-season struggles, as he went just 1-5-3 in a nine-game stretch from late-November to mid-January.

But Grosenick has proved in the past he can get hot at the right time, so he'll need to rely on the late-season momentum if his Dutchmen have any chance of pushing past Boston College.

Grosenick enters the tournament with a 16-9-5 record, a 2.06 GAA, and .925 SV%. That's a far cry from his 1.65 GAA and .936 SV% in 32 games as a sophomore, but there's no denying he has the skill and experience to win a big game under the bright lights of the NCAA tournament.

BOSTON COLLEGE - Parker Milner: The Eagles will have a chance to win their fourth NCAA title in six years, but this tournament presents some different obstacles for Milner.

First of all, as a senior, he'll face a different type of pressure heading into today's game against Union; Milner struggled in last Friday’s 6-3 loss to Boston University in the Hockey East semifinals, allowing five goals on 26 shots. If he isn't sharp when the puck drops, or gives up a few early juicy rebounds, Union knows they'll have a decent chance of getting under his skin.

Prior to that unsettling loss, Parker went 3-0-1 in four straight games against a much weaker opponent in Vermont. Yet he was fairly leaky in March, allowing 21 goals in seven games (4-2-1). He enters the tournament with a 22-10-4 record, a 2.59 GAA, and .912 SV%.

Small in stature, Milner is known for his quickness, athleticism, and high level of compete around the crease. He does an excellent job of challenging shooters and sealing the ice with his leg pads, he thrives when forced to make strong second-effort saves, and as a senior, he is rarely fazed by a tight game, or while playing with a one-goal lead.

But it's never easy to shake off a sloppy performance when you know your college career is on the cusp of ending, so the biggest obstacle Milner may face today is his own mind.

MIDWEST REGIONAL

MIAMI (OHIO) - Ryan McKay: The RedHawks split their playing time this season between McKay and Jay Williams (also a freshman), and it's unclear which goalie will start on Saturday against the Minnesota State Mavericks. As this game preview shows, head coach Enrico Blasi hadn't named a starter, which called for a great week of competitive practices for both goalies.

Ryan has started the last seven games, and his NCAA-leading 1.37 GAA was the result of a 12-6-2 record, and the second-best team defense with a 1.73 goals-per-game allowed.

McKay struggled against Michigan in the CCHA tournament, as he was pulled after allowing four goals on 16 shots in just 31 minutes of play. The 6-2 loss was the first time all season that McKay and the RedHawks allowed more than four goals.

MINNESOTA STATE - Stephon Williams: The WCHA Rookie of the Year suffered a head/neck injury after taking a skate to the back of the mask while giving up a goal during the second period of a tough loss to Wisconsin in the WCHA Final Five. Fortunately for the Mavericks, he was cleared to play and will start against the Red Hawks on Saturday.

Williams went 21-11-2 with a 1.96 GAA, a .925 SV%, and four shutouts this season. Especially for a 1993-born freshman, he put together an impressive seven-game winning streak early in the season, beating Wisconsin, Bemidji State, and Alaska-Anchorage twice each.

Not only did Williams impress the entire WCHA with his play as a freshman, but he also helped turn the Mavericks into one of the best stories in the WCHA. Behind a more sound defense and a much better power play system, they were able to learn an at-large bid after going 16-11-1 in the WCHA and 24-13-3 overall.

NOTRE DAME: Steve Summerhays: Known for his quickness and pure puck-stopping instincts, Steve experienced a fair share of highs and lows this season, but since late-February, has sparked the Fighting Irish to a nine-game unbeaten streak (7-0-2). The Anchorage, Alaska native enters the tournament with a 21-11-2 record, a 1.94 GAA, a .922 SV%, and four shutouts.

Like Wilcox, Summerhays is aggressive and plays the position with a visible intensity. I have in my notes from previous games that he really thrives in low-scoring games, he's very fluid when executing knee shuffles and slides, and his glove hand is very strong. Summerhays is listed at just 6-foot-0 and 188 pounds, but he makes the most of his smaller frame due to quick feet and an ability to challenge shooters with poise and confidence.

If you're a fan of smaller, more athletic goalies like Wilcox in Minnesota or even guys like Jonathan Quick, you'll love Summerhays.

ST. CLOUD - Ryan Faragher: Still a raw-skilled prospect, the sophomore from Fort Frances, Ontario is known for his flexibility, compete level, and strong hand positioning and reflexes. Those elements led him to a 22-13-1 record with a 2.29 GAA and .914 SV% with three shutouts, while finishing ninth in minutes played (2120:05) and 24th in the nation in GAA.

A member of the WCHA All-Academic team, Faragher spent two years in the NAHL with the Bismark Bobcats before committing to St. Cloud State. He posted a 2.17 GAA and .921 SV% in 38 games en route to an NAHL Robertson Cup championship in 2010, then posted a 2.44 GAA and .918 SV% in 52 games in the 2010-11 season. Both years in the NAHL, Faragher was part of the All-Central Division Team.

Compared to the other three starting goalies in this region, Faragher doesn't enter the tournament with a flashy resume or a ton of regular-season success. That makes him the perfect underdog against the Fighting Irish, which gives him an edge in terms of fighting off the pressure that comes in a do-or-die game.