IGM
Registered User
I can only tell you what I have seen happen to a couple of "potential star" goalies over the past several years and then tell you why I think it is important that Fluery spend a couple of years down on the farm.
The Kings have had two stellar young goalies come into their system during this time period and the comparison with Fluery's situation is very close. The Kings at the time weren't very good, especially on D and the Pens don't look to be much better at this point in time.
Rob Stauber had just won the Hobie baker when he came to the Kings. He was the best young goalie in the world at the time as some hockey journalists would tell you including Don Cherry. (outside of the NHL) He had set many records during his time in Min and was technically exceptional. He came to the Kings and due to the fact that they didn't have anyone else near his level of talent they rushed him into the line up. I was in the forum club for the pre game team dinner/meeting (only the players who weren't playing that night actually ate) the night he first came to the team. I talked to the kid and he was a nice guy who looked confident and ready. I had a chance to do the same thing about two months later and he was a different guy. The guy had more rubber flying at this chin then a hollywood hooker on most nights and it didn't take long for him to lose his stellar positional play in favor of adopting more unorthodox habits in an attempt to try and keep the puck out of the net. There were many nights that he would face 35 or more shots without any real D plan in front of him. He left the Kings to Buff and is out of the NHL in less than 6 years.
Jamie Storr is another good example. At the time he was one of the highest drafted goalies in NHL history. (He was drafted 7th over all I think. Remember i said ONE of) He was thought of as THE goalie of the future. The Kings also worked him into the line up waaaay to early and he too went from stud to dud in no time. He would show you flashes of absolute brilliance on some nights and then be a pure goat on others. He was given every opportunity to become a great NHL goalie EXCEPT the time he needed to develope his game at the pro level. He is playing in Russia this year with the HOPE of making an NHL comeback. He isn't even 29.
I think that Fluery has better talent then both of these players. I also think that he will be going to a team that will be lucky to earn 50 points this year even with a decent veteran netminder. Why subject your most talented player to this kind of batism by fire? Why the rush? Is it best for his developement or is it just what a few clueless homer fans want to see so they have something to be excited about. If you are one of the people who just won't be happy unless Fluery starts the season in the NHL ask yourself this question, if someone was buying you a free meal and nobody but you would know where you ate, are you one of those people who would rather pull into Carls jr for that instant gratification for a burger or would you rather go to the best resturaunt in town, sit down and order a truly great meal with all of the trimmings?
I am not saying that a good burger isn't great most of the time (just an example, it could be a burrito etc, whatever fast food you like) but wouldn't you rather wait for the better meal? Wouldn't you rather give the kid time to work out all of the bugs in his game and build your pro team so that he doesn't HAVE to be your saviour every night instead of relying on an 18 year old to go out and try and win you the 20 to 25 games that you are going to win this year and take a chance on his ruining his confidence?
Sure the kid is a rare talent and he MIGHT be able to step into the NHL game and earn a spot right away on a bad team like the Pens have this year but at what cost? Why take a chance with him. For every (although not that many goalies) example you can give me of a young player that stepped into the league and was great right away, I can show you DOZENS of examples of "Potential Superstars" that have washed out.
Why take a chance at ruining this kids chance at being the best in the game so that a few homers will have something to focus on this year besides how bad their current team is. I am not trying to bash the Pens, I think that they have been an awsome team and that with 66 on the ice you never know what will happen, I am saying that if you are going to rely on 66 and an 18 year old kid playing the hardest position on the ice to try and win you the cup then I can say that you are being nearsighted and asking way too much of two players.
The Kings have had two stellar young goalies come into their system during this time period and the comparison with Fluery's situation is very close. The Kings at the time weren't very good, especially on D and the Pens don't look to be much better at this point in time.
Rob Stauber had just won the Hobie baker when he came to the Kings. He was the best young goalie in the world at the time as some hockey journalists would tell you including Don Cherry. (outside of the NHL) He had set many records during his time in Min and was technically exceptional. He came to the Kings and due to the fact that they didn't have anyone else near his level of talent they rushed him into the line up. I was in the forum club for the pre game team dinner/meeting (only the players who weren't playing that night actually ate) the night he first came to the team. I talked to the kid and he was a nice guy who looked confident and ready. I had a chance to do the same thing about two months later and he was a different guy. The guy had more rubber flying at this chin then a hollywood hooker on most nights and it didn't take long for him to lose his stellar positional play in favor of adopting more unorthodox habits in an attempt to try and keep the puck out of the net. There were many nights that he would face 35 or more shots without any real D plan in front of him. He left the Kings to Buff and is out of the NHL in less than 6 years.
Jamie Storr is another good example. At the time he was one of the highest drafted goalies in NHL history. (He was drafted 7th over all I think. Remember i said ONE of) He was thought of as THE goalie of the future. The Kings also worked him into the line up waaaay to early and he too went from stud to dud in no time. He would show you flashes of absolute brilliance on some nights and then be a pure goat on others. He was given every opportunity to become a great NHL goalie EXCEPT the time he needed to develope his game at the pro level. He is playing in Russia this year with the HOPE of making an NHL comeback. He isn't even 29.
I think that Fluery has better talent then both of these players. I also think that he will be going to a team that will be lucky to earn 50 points this year even with a decent veteran netminder. Why subject your most talented player to this kind of batism by fire? Why the rush? Is it best for his developement or is it just what a few clueless homer fans want to see so they have something to be excited about. If you are one of the people who just won't be happy unless Fluery starts the season in the NHL ask yourself this question, if someone was buying you a free meal and nobody but you would know where you ate, are you one of those people who would rather pull into Carls jr for that instant gratification for a burger or would you rather go to the best resturaunt in town, sit down and order a truly great meal with all of the trimmings?
I am not saying that a good burger isn't great most of the time (just an example, it could be a burrito etc, whatever fast food you like) but wouldn't you rather wait for the better meal? Wouldn't you rather give the kid time to work out all of the bugs in his game and build your pro team so that he doesn't HAVE to be your saviour every night instead of relying on an 18 year old to go out and try and win you the 20 to 25 games that you are going to win this year and take a chance on his ruining his confidence?
Sure the kid is a rare talent and he MIGHT be able to step into the NHL game and earn a spot right away on a bad team like the Pens have this year but at what cost? Why take a chance with him. For every (although not that many goalies) example you can give me of a young player that stepped into the league and was great right away, I can show you DOZENS of examples of "Potential Superstars" that have washed out.
Why take a chance at ruining this kids chance at being the best in the game so that a few homers will have something to focus on this year besides how bad their current team is. I am not trying to bash the Pens, I think that they have been an awsome team and that with 66 on the ice you never know what will happen, I am saying that if you are going to rely on 66 and an 18 year old kid playing the hardest position on the ice to try and win you the cup then I can say that you are being nearsighted and asking way too much of two players.