I think that you will see in this year’s playoffs, the teams that get past the second round will all have GREAT goaltending. Look at Sarnia performance last year with what I considered a superior team than either of our playoff opponents... got extended to way too many games in the first round due to superior opponents’ goaltending, then lost second round to an approximately similar team who out-goaltended Fazio. Fazio wasn’t bad - he just wasn’t great.
So next year we will have a rookie goalie and one of Langevin or Lamour. I believe the franchise sees its future in Gaudreau, but next year will most likely will be a learning year for him.
Langevin has played absolutely to the best of his ability but I’m really concerned that he’s just too small for today’s game and goaltending style. He gets beat over the shoulder fairly often and I just keep seeing the wraparound goal by Giroux in game 3 of the playoffs, where his leg just wasn’t long enough to get to the post. Lamour played great in game 4 - perhaps well enough to be next year’s “other guy”. Best goaltending situation has the pair be at least 2 years apart, but maybe 3 in this situation where Gaudreau will be expected to carry the load in 2020-21. Perhaps trade Langevin to a team needing an effective backup.
The defense just has to get better than last year. Frankly even Eliot wasn’t very good over the last month or so. Are Hatcher, Marko, Kammerer, Dillingham, Reesor and maybe Hogue (?) going to be improved enough to keep the goals-against under control? Time will tell. The only way I see keeping Grima is if McGregor doesn’t come back. If McGregor is back, I see him, Josling and Hatcher as our OAs. (sorry to Egert, Martin... just no room). Where the goals come from, I have no idea!
So as I’ve said a few times before, I really don’t expect next year to be a whole lot better than this past one. Hope they can surprise me, but I see this year’s draft as a further indication of all-in for 20-21.
