Martin Gerber: A Top Ten Goalie in 2008/2009
Posted 7:32 PM ET | Comments 1
A lot of people have already written off Martin Gerber for next year. ESPN even has him ranked somewhere in the late 300's for players to pick in a fantasy pool. He's even behind Alex Auld, which just goes to show how much ESPN knows, I guess. But even hockey fans are saying Gerber is Ottawa's weakest point and is the reason why they will miss the playoffs or get bounced in the first round. I have four reasons why I think Gerber will be among the league leaders in GAA and Save % next year.
1) Ray Emery is gone. Anybody who follows the Ottawa Senators know that Gerber is not at his best when being 'pushed' by his backup, as was the case last year and the year before. Gerber plays very well when he's "the man", like at the start of last year when the Senators went 15-2 and in the playoffs where he was Ottawa's best player. Alex Auld, while a capable backup, is just that: a backup. Sure, he and Bryan Murray pay lip-service and say he can challenge for the number one spot, but come on... there's a reason he's been passed around more than gravy at Thanksgiving. Gerber is going to feel confident and will be comfortable between the posts.
2) Ottawa's defense. I'll readily admit that Ottawa's defense, as it stands, is among the worst offensive bunch of defensemen in the league. With Mezsaros gone it's even worse. But for what they lack in puck-skills they make up for in toughness and strength. Chris Phillips and Anton Volchenkov are considered by many to be a top 5 shutdown pair in the league. Wade Redden is gone, replaced by a player who absolutely oozes defense in Jason Smith. Schubert has the size and edge to be a capable defender and hopefully gets the opportunity this year. In any case, this Ottawa defense is going to be able to battle tough in the corners, and most importantly, clear pucks from the front of the net, since another knock on Gerber is his rebound control. This year, the front of the net will be owned by the Senators, whether it's Phillips, Volchenkov, Smith, or whoever else. The only question mark is Brian Lee, but the book is still out on him.
3) Ottawa's defensive forwards. With the exception of Jason Spezza, every single one of Ottawa's forwards is at least an average defensive player. I would rank them thusly:
Excellent:
Alfredsson
Vermette
Fisher
Kelly
Very Good:
Bass
McAmmond
Schubert (if he's a forward)
Good:
Foligno
Donovan
Average:
Heatley
Neil
These defensive-minded forwards should be able to buy into any defensive system that Craig Hartsburg implements, which will certainly make Martin Gerber's life easier.
4) It's a contract year. Certainly won't hurt, right?
1) Ray Emery is gone. Anybody who follows the Ottawa Senators know that Gerber is not at his best when being 'pushed' by his backup, as was the case last year and the year before. Gerber plays very well when he's "the man", like at the start of last year when the Senators went 15-2 and in the playoffs where he was Ottawa's best player. Alex Auld, while a capable backup, is just that: a backup. Sure, he and Bryan Murray pay lip-service and say he can challenge for the number one spot, but come on... there's a reason he's been passed around more than gravy at Thanksgiving. Gerber is going to feel confident and will be comfortable between the posts.
2) Ottawa's defense. I'll readily admit that Ottawa's defense, as it stands, is among the worst offensive bunch of defensemen in the league. With Mezsaros gone it's even worse. But for what they lack in puck-skills they make up for in toughness and strength. Chris Phillips and Anton Volchenkov are considered by many to be a top 5 shutdown pair in the league. Wade Redden is gone, replaced by a player who absolutely oozes defense in Jason Smith. Schubert has the size and edge to be a capable defender and hopefully gets the opportunity this year. In any case, this Ottawa defense is going to be able to battle tough in the corners, and most importantly, clear pucks from the front of the net, since another knock on Gerber is his rebound control. This year, the front of the net will be owned by the Senators, whether it's Phillips, Volchenkov, Smith, or whoever else. The only question mark is Brian Lee, but the book is still out on him.
3) Ottawa's defensive forwards. With the exception of Jason Spezza, every single one of Ottawa's forwards is at least an average defensive player. I would rank them thusly:
Excellent:
Alfredsson
Vermette
Fisher
Kelly
Very Good:
Bass
McAmmond
Schubert (if he's a forward)
Good:
Foligno
Donovan
Average:
Heatley
Neil
These defensive-minded forwards should be able to buy into any defensive system that Craig Hartsburg implements, which will certainly make Martin Gerber's life easier.
4) It's a contract year. Certainly won't hurt, right?
a top ten AHL goalie. the senators are awful.