Yah I get what you are saying and Bill Ranford has more professional experience for sure. Schwartz did take a huge jump from coaching young guys to the pros but did train with some of the best in Mast and Ranford. Not sure playing experience matters as much as trust/respect between the goalie and the coach, and what he is teaching/practicing. With Talbot's declining play and results this year it is fair to speculate about Schwartz being the most effective goalie coach. By the same token though should he not get credit for Talbot's success the year prior? IMO Talbot bounces back this year, I guess we'll find out.
That's a good point with his play last year, but if bigfuzzydice's statement is true, that doesn't bode well for Schwartz's future or his coaching abilities. Aside from Roloson, which is 12 years ago now, the Oilers have not had a solid goaltender since then and I'm including Talbot. One good season out of three doesn't cut it for me. I like Talbot, I really do but his goaltending was really shaky this season. A good coach should be able to find the wrinkles and iron them out when he's struggling. Now it's not all on the goalie coach. The player shoulders a lion's share of the blame too. Whatever was ailing Talbot, be it mental, physical or a combination of both, I hope he sorts it out prior to the first week of October. I also hope Chiarelli can land a solid and dependable 1B because if Talbot struggles out of the gate again...look out. Maybe Mrazek? Philly is getting lit up against Pittsburgh and he's not even dressed...Neuvirth is the backup. I'm pretty sure Mrazek has to be qualified around $4 million but if he's not and goes UFA, maybe he signs for $2.5-3 million. Wishful thinking, I know.
I'm just frustrated with the recent goalie coaching because the previous guy (Chabot) put so many holes in Dubnyk's game that Trotz refused to start him after seeing him two or three times and Mitch Korn couldn't fix him. That says something, considering Dubnyk turned it around (no I'm not pining for him-I was never a Dubnyk fan but am glad he saved his own career). The Oilers need to get an experienced NHL goalie coach with a resume of successful goalies in order to have successful goaltending themselves.