Red Wings Goalie curse stretches to 18 years

[Guest mindfly]

One could just hope Larsson/McCollum end this curse... Howard won't be an NHL starter, at best a back up... those three however were all picked earlier than most of the goalies below so it kinda make sense in a way that these below didn't make it

By Matthew Wuest - March 23, 2009

For all the shrewd drafting the Detroit Red Wings have done in the past two decades, a homegrown goaltender continues to elude them.

Although the current prospect group of Thomas McCollum, Jimmy Howard and Daniel Larsson certainly looks capable of producing at least one NHL-caliber stopper, it’s been a tough 18 years since Chris Osgood was picked 54th overall in 1991 and went on to an impressive 300-win career.

Call it a curse or just bad luck, but the Red Wings haven’t drafted a goaltender capable of sticking in the NHL since Osgood. Norm Maracle, selected 126th overall in 1993, came the closest, appearing in 66 games.

Of the current crop, Howard and his waiver-exempt tag is a good bet for NHL backup duty next season; Larsson is showing great promise with a solid American Hockey League rookie campaign; and McCollum is one of the finest goaltenders in all of junior hockey and has the most upside of the group.

But what’s gone wrong for the past 18 years? Red Wings Central takes a trip down memory lane and looks at all of the goaltenders drafted since Osgood, starting with the most recent selections and excluding current prospects.

Logan Koopmans (166th overall, 2002): Koopmans had a decent junior career and earned two contracts with the Red Wings, but injuries limited to 64 games in three seasons of pro hockey and forced his retirement.

Drew MacIntyre (121st overall, 2001): The Red Wings literally gave MacIntyre to the Vancouver Canucks in 2006. He’s a top goalie in the American Hockey League, but despite two NHL appearances, hasn’t taken the next step.

Stefan Liv (102nd overall, 2000): He is one of Sweden’s elite goaltenders, but the Red Wings waited too long to bring him to North America and his style didn’t translate when he finally came over at age 25.

Jake McCracken (84th overall, 1998): The flexible McCracken saw his Ontario Hockey League career end in 1999 with a severely pulled groin. He went on to play two seasons of Canadian university hockey.

Michal Podolka (135th overall, 1996): The right-catching Podolka didn’t earn a contract with the Red Wings after two seasons in the OHL, and went on to play most of the next decade in the Czech Republic.

Aren Miller (52nd overall, 1996): The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Saskatchewanian had a promising Western Hockey League career and signed with the Red Wings. But he never progressed beyond the East Coast Hockey League.

Dave Arsenault (126th overall, 1995): Drafted out of the goalie-rich Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, Arsenault surprisingly earned an entry-level contract with the Red Wings. His career quickly stalled in the ECHL.

Jason Elliott (205th overall, 1994): The Cornell grad showed promise and was one of college hockey’s best. He posted a 2.92 goals-against average in three seasons in the Red Wings’ system but left to play in Europe in 2002.

Norm Maracle (126th overall, 1993): He was the Canadian Hockey League’s top goalie in 1993-94 and an AHL all-star. Despite 66 NHL games, he is a minor-league journeyman who is still active in Germany.

C.J. Denomme (189th overall, 1992): Denomme had a nondescript OHL career with the Kitchener Rangers and Ottawa 67s and wasn’t signed by the Red Wings. His career ended with two seasons in the Canadian university ranks.

Ryan Bach (262nd overall, 1992): Drafted out of Colorado College, Bach had a cup of coffee — four games — with the Los Angeles Kings after being dealt for a sixth-round pick. He never progressed beyond the AHL.

Edited March 23, 2009 by mindfly

[arnoldbuck 0]

To be honest, I have thought about this before. It is so strange how Detroit has been hands down, the best scouting team in the league for so long. As a consistantly high ranked team, we never get top picks, therefor are forced into searching reallyhard for gems. But for all the amazing talent we have found, goalies some how elude us.

I think that it was some of us love Ozzie so much. Because as much as he pisses us off at times, he is our own. And around Detroit for netminders, thats rare.

[Wombat 26]

I think it can hardly be called a curse... a curse needs to have some sort of rationale, no matter how contrived (Curse of the Bambino, Curse of the Billy Goat, Curse of Bobby Lane, etc).

However to the point of the article... it is probably right now a smattering of bad luck. The highest pick in that list is #52 overall, or lower 2nd round. 9 of the 11 guys are in the 100's or 200's (3rd round +), and while Detroit has grabbed some great skaters from those rounds in recent memory, there are FAR more guys that they picked that did not pan out. The Wings are probably due for a goalie to make it big.

I think a few other factors also contribute. During this whole time, the Wings have been a championship contender and have been hesitant to hand over the reigns to an inexperienced goalie. Also, the Wings already had Ozzie who's been here most of that time and it makes developing a goalie a little less important. Ozzie might not be a HOF guy, but he's a winner.

The goalie position is really wonky anyways, as guys flash as the next greatest thing and then disappear just as fast. There are few that are good for long (5+ season) stretches it seems.

[OsGOD 3]

we didn't have to draft goalies... we would just throw mucho $$'s at one in the off season, for better or worse. We drafted skaters and bought goalies.

[puckbags 863]

we didn't have to draft goalies... we would just throw mucho $$'s at one in the off season, for better or worse. We drafted skaters and bought goalies.

Exactly what I was thinking...it has always been the one position where management would just spend money to get what they needed instead of developing someone in the system. There is some serious potential in the system now...lets just hope it can pan out !!

[Guest mindfly]

Jonas Gustavsson of Färjestad in the SEL just beat Henrik Lundqvist's shutout streak and the all time shutout streak in a playoff, he's over 201minutes now and game hasn't finished yet, it's the semi finals and he only let 1goal pass him in the first series... he's undrafted and can sign with whatever team... KENNY MAKE IT HAPPEN

[Guest Shoreline]

With 4 cups, it ain't hurting the Wings any.

[Echolalia 2,961]

I have high hopes for McCollum

[Dano33 41]

How can it be a curse if the goalie we drafted 18 years ago is still winning for us, including a cup last year?

[bellarina 1]

I still think that Howard is going to be the Wings next goalie.

[Reds4Life 51]

Jonas Gustavsson of Färjestad in the SEL just beat Henrik Lundqvist's shutout streak and the all time shutout streak in a playoff, he's over 201minutes now and game hasn't finished yet, it's the semi finals and he only let 1goal pass him in the first series... he's undrafted and can sign with whatever team... KENNY MAKE IT HAPPEN

Yeah, I heard some swedish players saying he is already better than Lundqvist.

[elriqo28 2]

I still think that Howard is going to be the Wings next goalie.

nope

[VM1138 1,921]

To be honest, I have thought about this before. It is so strange how Detroit has been hands down, the best scouting team in the league for so long. As a consistantly high ranked team, we never get top picks, therefor are forced into searching reallyhard for gems. But for all the amazing talent we have found, goalies some how elude us.

I think that it was some of us love Ozzie so much. Because as much as he pisses us off at times, he is our own. And around Detroit for netminders, thats rare.

Maybe it's because there are so few good goalies in the world? Which means there aren't as many "diamonds in the rough" that are capable of handling NHL duties.

How many truly decent goalies are drafted by the entire league each year? Maybe 1? I'm not sure.

[dat's sick 1,002]

Jonas Gustavsson of Färjestad in the SEL just beat Henrik Lundqvist's shutout streak and the all time shutout streak in a playoff, he's over 201minutes now and game hasn't finished yet, it's the semi finals and he only let 1goal pass him in the first series... he's undrafted and can sign with whatever team... KENNY MAKE IT HAPPEN

I would have absolutely nothing against him becoming a Wing. I don't know what the chances are though.

Maybe the Wings can just pick him up when they play the exhibition game against Färjestad in september?

Great goaltender, even if the SEL is much worse now than it was a couple of years ago.

[eva unit zero 271]

I think it can hardly be called a curse... a curse needs to have some sort of rationale, no matter how contrived (Curse of the Bambino, Curse of the Billy Goat, Curse of Bobby Lane, etc).

However to the point of the article... it is probably right now a smattering of bad luck. The highest pick in that list is #52 overall, or lower 2nd round. 9 of the 11 guys are in the 100's or 200's (3rd round +), and while Detroit has grabbed some great skaters from those rounds in recent memory, there are FAR more guys that they picked that did not pan out. The Wings are probably due for a goalie to make it big.

I think a few other factors also contribute. During this whole time, the Wings have been a championship contender and have been hesitant to hand over the reigns to an inexperienced goalie. Also, the Wings already had Ozzie who's been here most of that time and it makes developing a goalie a little less important. Ozzie might not be a HOF guy, but he's a winner.

The goalie position is really wonky anyways, as guys flash as the next greatest thing and then disappear just as fast. There are few that are good for long (5+ season) stretches it seems.

Starting goaltenders the Wings have drafted:

Jim Rutherford, Greg Stefan, Tim Cheveldae, Chris Osgood

Osgood is the only one who has managed to be among the league's better goaltenders for most of his career.

[Vladifan 680]

Interesting reading. Thanks for inputing it, Mindfly. I'm still rooting for Ozzie and with any luck at all he can put a curse on the curse.

[SDavis35 140]

Yeah, I heard some swedish players saying he is already better than Lundqvist.

That'd be cool, but I feel a (perhaps naive) confidence in the way our goalies could pan out now.

Also:

Stefan Liv (102nd overall, 2000): He is one of Sweden’s elite goaltenders, but the Red Wings waited too long to bring him to North America and his style didn’t translate when he finally came over at age 25.

Is it reasonable to think that this could happen again?(not really informed on the SEL) Would suck to find out its a waste of money and cap space.

Edited March 23, 2009 by SDavis35

[Guest mindfly]

Liv has nothing on gustavsson and has been outplayed all season and in the playoffs by gustavsson

[Phazon 24]

Here are gustavsson's stats. It appears that Flyers and Avs are interested to sign him in the off-season. Avs fans in particular wants him.

50GP 93,14 SV% 1,96GAA (regular season)

7GP 98,80 SV% 0,33GAA (playoffs)

[YoungGuns1340 1]

Can the author of the article really ignore the correlation between drafting order and how these guys panned out? Clearly Detroit wasnt that concerned about their goaltending if they're selecting guys in the 3rd and 4th rounds, or later, for the most part.

Detroit didnt care about drafting a goaltender until there was the prospect of a cap.

[FinRedWing 172]

Here are gustavsson's stats. It appears that Flyers and Avs are interested to sign him in the off-season. Avs fans in particular wants him.

50GP 93,14 SV% 1,96GAA (regular season)

7GP 98,80 SV% 0,33GAA (playoffs)

Wow,those are great stats.

Haven't really watched the Elitserien playoffs,maybe I should start now.

The other interesting undrafted goalie is Finnish Mikko Koskinen.

He's 20 yrs old,has developed nicely over the past year or so and he's 6' 7".

[Anomalously 0]

18 years since the Wings have drafted an NHL-caliber goaltender? Coincidentally 18 years in a row they've made the playoffs.

Some curse that must be.

[Reilly 24]

So this Gustavsson fellow is the new Brunnstrom this offseason? Can't wait.

[Guest mindfly]

To be honest, Brunnström had not the best stats, he was still hyped as hell for whatever reason

2007-2008 Färjestad Elitserien 54 9 28 37

It's just that he emerged from Division1 (3rd highest division) to SEL like all of a sudden, boom, and overhype was there... gustavsson has become better and better and will probably play yet another year in SEL

Edited March 24, 2009 by mindfly

[eva unit zero 271]

Liv has nothing on gustavsson and has been outplayed all season and in the playoffs by gustavsson

Speaking of Liv, I was saying the other day that I wouldn't mind seeing him get a training camp invite after seeing Howard's performance.