Podcast #007: Digging into the CHL Euro Goalie Ban
The Goalie Guild’s seventh podcast is now available for download! Justin and Todd quickly previewed the Stanley Cup Finals between Boston and Chicago, and then dove right into the great CHL Euro goalie ban debate. Missed an episode? Click here!
Hosted by Todd Lewis from Hockey Unfiltered on NHL Network Radio, episode #007 focuses on the decision by the Canadian Hockey League to ban European goalies from being important starting next season. CHL teams will be able to draft European goalies in the first round this summer, but starting in 2014, no Euro goalies will be eligible in the draft. Click the podcast icon below to download the MP3, or click above for the direct stream.
We kicked off the podcast by first discussing the goaltending matchup between Corey Crawford and Tuukka Rask heading into Game 1 the Stanley Cup Finals. There’s not only a great contrasting in styles, but it fuels the fire of the CHL Euro Goalie ban since we’ll be seeing a QMJHL product and Canadian-born goalie (Crawford) battle a true, raw-skilled Finnish goalie (Rask). Which style do you think is more effective? Which goalie has an edge? Their numbers to this point are neck-and-neck, so it could go either way in what will be a classic “Original Six” matchup.
From there, we jump right into the CHL Euro goalie ban debate. Like you would expect, this decision did not sit well with Todd or Justin. What could be considered a “knee-jerk” reaction, this decision has a number of potential negatives that could open up a Pandora’s Box for Canadian goalies. As Goldman also points out, if Euro goalies are banned, how many of the opened spots for next season will end up being filled by American goalies?
There’s also the aspect of development beyond the goaltenders. What does this decision mean for the forwards and defensemen in the league? What will it mean for their long-term development if they are no longer facing the best of the best in goal? And what about the positive impact European goalies could have on Canadian goalies? Is there something to be learned by having a counterpart or teammate that’s European?
Ultimately, Goldman and Lewis come to the conclusion that the issue is not necessarily with the amount of spots taken by European goalies or the number of games they are playing, but how goalies in Canada are being developed at a younger age. Maybe, just maybe, we should be asking the question of why European goalies are having so much success when they head overseas.
Be sure to follow us on Twitter (@ToddLewisSports and @TheGoalieGuild) and feel free to send us any of your goalie questions for future podcasts. Thanks to everyone who is downloading the show, and feel free to leave feedback or comments below. Enjoy this episode and have a good rest of the week!