No one
I don't think playing goal at a high level really makes you any less of an armchair analyst here
(myself included)
So, are you saying playing goal at a high level makes you more of an analyst? If so, I would agree.
There’s a lot of intangibles and yeah, analysts with goaltending backgrounds are not going to be right all the time. However, I think if you’ve played the sport you’re critiquing at a higher level, you understand things regular armchair folks don’t get.
I never played goalie at a high level, just house and even then that was part time. I was a forward in my competitive years, but I get how much pressure there was and how challenging it can be for goalies.
As a coach now, I coach my goalies on technique and strategies (as best as I can make 12 year-olds understand) but I can’t really help them on the mental side. It’s tough since I’m no child psychologist but I know in games we’re getting shelled, it’s heartbreaking for my goalie as he’s fending for himself.
I talk with parents who like to just complain sometimes but in the end, they aren’t on the ice. It’s easy to comment from the stands, but facing odd man rushes or not knowing if your defence is covering the pass option is a lot to process in mere seconds.
But my point is that it is easy to just slam players but those who play the position I respect their opinions since they’ve gone through it themselves.