John Mandalorian
2022 Avs: The First Dance
- Nov 29, 2018
- 11,113
- 6,924
This is speculation on my part regarding Miska.
I think Parkkila, Sakic, and the Avs scouts looked at Miska, analyzed his mechanics and athleticism and figured he could shoulder the load of a #3. Really, all things considered dude had a MONSTER season in the minors, rocketing his way from the Grizzlies to taking over the crease in Loveland.
And for comparison, back in 2018-19 the Blues had relegated a young goalie named Jordan Binnington to the ECHL, he just refused to go. Not saying Miska is the next Binner, just saying that it’s not unheard of for a guy to be considered ECHL level to have limited success at the NHL level.
And really, his first game wasn’t bad. Not great, but not bad. Unfortunately, it’s pretty obvious nerves eventually got the best of him. He got increasingly uncomfortable back there with each subsequent start until that game against the Ducks where he was just frozen any time a shooter came down on him. Based on what I read he really took that first start hard and felt terrible.
I think Miska, talent-wise, could be a decent #3 type. The problem was mental. I don’t mean this as a diss on him—I’ve slagged the poor guy enough. He was just too nervous and couldn’t settle it down.
Everything about Miska's game says "No NHL skills" especially mentally. Miska hasn't changed a single thing about his game since he came into the AHL. By all accounts and people I've talked to he has an amazing work ethic but he should at best be a no. 4 on the depth chart. Maybe for a rebuilding team you have Miska as the starter showing the rookie goalie what pro work ethic looks like but he doesn't have the reads, the reactions, the patience, the tracking, the size, and doesn't have the agility/mobility to make up for any of that at the NHL level. Anyone who has watched Miska over the past three seasons should understand every red flag that comes with him. Sometimes it just happens to all work out for a goalie in any league and they get lucky for a year. Miska was one of the worst AHL goalies for his first two years, had to take an AHL deal, went on a tear, got a NHL deal and fooled everyone in the Avs organization to trust him as the no. 3 goalie. Miska needs to do a severe overhaul and change in his game to find anything related to success at the NHL level.
Traditionally your no. 3 goalie needs to have some kind of NHL skills so your team defense can insulate them. There's no way to insulate Miska and his interpretive crease breakdancing. The Avs gave him one of the easiest shot quality loads in the league and Miska still hasn't posted one game where he saved more goals than expected (All strengths) via Natural Stat Trick. There's a lot of respect for Hunter Miska the person in the goalie community for the hard work he put in and how he managed to earn himself a NHL deal. There's also a lot of "this guy isn't anywhere near the NHL and having him as your no. 3 is a disaster waiting to happen" even from his biggest fans.
What was this? I missed it and its been deleted.Two idiots
Russo accused Dater of encouraging fans to spew hate tweets towards Miska.What was this? I missed it and its been deleted.
Oh wow. Russo for as good of a writer he is seems like he has just as many issues controlling himself as Dater.Russo accused Dater of encouraging fans to spew hate tweets towards Miska.
Yeah very low blow there. Russo is very good at his job, but man the Avs live rent free in his head.Oh wow. Russo for as good of a writer he is seems like he has just as many issues controlling himself as Dater.
he's still not doneOh wow. Russo for as good of a writer he is seems like he has just as many issues controlling himself as Dater.
I can't agree there. Moser is probably the worst play-by-play guy in the league. Hayes was bottom 5-10, but Moser is literally the worst. His constant bitching about penalties is enough, then his scissor nonsense thrown in...
Thanks for the input.Everything about Miska's game says "No NHL skills" especially mentally. Miska hasn't changed a single thing about his game since he came into the AHL. By all accounts and people I've talked to he has an amazing work ethic but he should at best be a no. 4 on the depth chart. Maybe for a rebuilding team you have Miska as the starter showing the rookie goalie what pro work ethic looks like but he doesn't have the reads, the reactions, the patience, the tracking, the size, and doesn't have the agility/mobility to make up for any of that at the NHL level. Anyone who has watched Miska over the past three seasons should understand every red flag that comes with him. Sometimes it just happens to all work out for a goalie in any league and they get lucky for a year. Miska was one of the worst AHL goalies for his first two years, had to take an AHL deal, went on a tear, got a NHL deal and fooled everyone in the Avs organization to trust him as the no. 3 goalie. Miska needs to do a severe overhaul and change in his game to find anything related to success at the NHL level.
Traditionally your no. 3 goalie needs to have some kind of NHL skills so your team defense can insulate them. There's no way to insulate Miska and his interpretive crease breakdancing. The Avs gave him one of the easiest shot quality loads in the league and Miska still hasn't posted one game where he saved more goals than expected (All strengths) via Natural Stat Trick. There's a lot of respect for Hunter Miska the person in the goalie community for the hard work he put in and how he managed to earn himself a NHL deal. There's also a lot of "this guy isn't anywhere near the NHL and having him as your no. 3 is a disaster waiting to happen" even from his biggest fans.
Really?
I think Sam Rosen for the Rangers is way worse. I think there are some awesome guys in Canada and on the West Coast.
But on the East Coast, where they have millions of people in each city, the announcers are all terrible. Listen to Jack Edwards, Benninati, Butch Goring. They are not pleasant to hear.
I have to admit, I did listen to the Arizona broadcast with Tyson Nash and Biz Nasty tonight. They are definitely better than Moser and Mcnab. I have to mix it up.
Tyson Nash is one of many announcers that is just as big, if not a bigger homer than Moser/McNab though. I honestly don't get this criticism, because there's so many guys that are blatantly worse than Moser in this regard.
Imagine something like what is happening to the Canucks would happen to the Avs during the playoffs.While some NHL teams getting vaccinated, Avalanche still aren’t one
Maybe because they don't have more than 1 day between games the rest of the season, and can't afford to have 3/4 the whole team all out due to symptoms after the 2nd dose? Not to mention most of the team has had it already, either during the pause last season, the offseason, or during their pause this season.
You do it like the Rangers do, vaccinate the team ASAP when it's available to them. If that means playing one or two games sore, fine. The alternate possibility is losing the whole season, especially if it happens during the playoffs.Imagine something like what is happening to the Canucks would happen to the Avs during the playoffs.
Everything ruined.