NHL training camp goalie battles: Eastern Conference

Here’s a common hockey phrase: “He won the job out of training camp.” I know you’ve heard it. I’ve even been told it. But how often is a spot actually up for grabs? And is it sustainable throughout the course of a season?

Answering those questions isn’t easy because every team and situation is different. Going into the 2022-23 NHL season, several organizations need clarity in the goal crease. And I’m not convinced it’ll happen until late in the season – if at all.

Here are four Eastern Conference NHL teams destined for goaltending battles.

BOSTON BRUINS: Linus Ullmark & Jeremy Swayman

Last season, both goaltenders played 41 games and their statistics were nearly identical. And while it’s a position of strength to have two quality netminders, neither was able to grab the net during the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Swayman starred at times, posting three shutouts to Ullmark’s one. But Swayman had a lower save percentage (.914) than Ullmark (.917). Swayman simply wasn’t as consistent as Ullmark.

Of the two goaltenders, I think Swayman has the higher ceiling. But he needs to bring it on a nightly basis if he wants to unseat Ullmark. Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery has two good options in net.

Ullmark and Swayman have a fantastic working relationship. But one of them needs to step up. I think Swayman has the best chance if he can be more consistent. And being that it’ll be his second full NHL season, that’s a good bet.

DETROIT RED WINGS: Alex Nedeljkovic & Ville Husso

Two young NHL goaltenders gunning for the crease on an up-and-coming team like the Red Wings? Keep your eyes on Detroit because I think this will be a fun battle to keep track of.

Nedeljkovic is the incumbent and has one year remaining on his contract at $3 million. Husso is starting a three-year pact worth $4.75 million a year. So let’s not pretend that Husso isn’t going to get every chance to play the bulk of games.

I really like both netminders for different reasons. Nedeljkovic is an outstanding puckhandler while Husso plays with a ton of detail. Both have had successful runs in an NHL crease.

If everything goes as planned in training camp, Husso seems like the safe bet to grab the No. 1 role in Detroit. He won 25 games in 40 appearances for the St. Louis Blues last season.

But I expect the Red Wings to be better as a team than they were last year, and that should benefit Nedeljkovic. The 26 year old from Ohio is just one year removed from posting a .932 save percentage over 23 games for the Carolina Hurricanes.

I think Husso has the inside edge going into training camp. But the leash will be short. And Nedeljkovic will be hungry.

NEW JERSEY DEVILS: Mackenzie Blackwood & Vitek Vanecek

The Devils had the worst goaltending in the NHL last season, so the bar is set pretty low. But for a team that was determined to improve in the crease over the offseason, I’m not sure New Jersey accomplished that goal.

The 2021-22 season didn’t start well for Blackwood and went downhill fast. His delay in becoming vaccinated was a distraction, and injuries limited him to just 25 games played. Blackwood’s .892 save percentage was well off his career mark of .907 and his name was mentioned in trade talks.

Vanecek had a much more stable 2021-22 campaign while a member of the Washington Capitals. He posted a .908 save percentage for the second year in a row and played a career-high 42 games. But he couldn’t hold the No. 1 job during the Stanley Cup playoffs.

I think Vanecek is capable of being an NHL No. 2 goaltender. He was never dominant in the minors or so far during his NHL career. Contrast that with Blackwood, whose first 70 games in the NHL were strong enough to put him in the conversation for the Canadian Olympic team.

The problem is that Blackwood has struggled the past two seasons, and I’m not convinced he can regain the form he showed from 2018-2020.

The Devils can expect decent goaltending from Vanecek. They don’t know what they have in Blackwood. And this race is wide open.

TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS: Matt Murray & Ilya Samsonov

Are Murray and Samsonov better than last season’s tandem of Jack Campbell and Petr Mrazek? They better be. Because GM Kyle Dubas has no room for error when it comes to goaltending. There have been too many questions – for too long – about the position in Toronto.

At this point, Murray is a reclamation project. And Samsonov brings a wealth of untapped potential. Both could use a boost to their careers.

Thankfully the Maple Leafs are a strong team capable of outscoring most opponents. So even on an off night for either goalie, they could come away with the win. That’s important for confidence. Especially for goaltenders that are trying to kickstart their careers.

Samsonov is a former first-round pick of the Washington Capitals but his former employer chose to let him walk this past offseason. The Capitals didn’t even give the Russian goaltender a qualifying offer. To me, that says there were problems beyond Samsonov’s consistency in the crease. Washington didn’t believe in him any longer.

It’s incumbent upon Samsonov to take this opportunity seriously. He has to be willing to listen and make changes. And he needs to be prepared to work as hard in practice as in games. The skill set is there. But the details are lacking.

Murray is almost the opposite of Samsonov. I believe that over the last several years, Murray has lost his game feel and relied too much on his technique. New Maple Leafs goalie coach Curtis Sanford will have to find a way to free up Murray.

In Ottawa, Murray languished behind a poor defensive Senators team and was demoted to the AHL for a portion of the season. He played better after being recalled to the big team in Ottawa, but was soon injured. A common theme in his career.

I think by the end of the 2022-23 season, Samsonov will have won the crease in Toronto. But it may not be through sheer game play. Murray has struggled to stay healthy. And I think Samsonov will benefit from being knocked down a few pegs. Sometimes being humbled is the best cure.

Murray has two Stanley Cups to his credit and a pile of money in his bank account. Samsonov has first-round draft status but also owns a wildly inconsistent past. The Maple Leafs have chosen to go with hope rather than proof in the crease. And that’s a big gamble.

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