FROM THE SCOUTS - GOALTENDERS
What do scouts look for while watching goalies ?
The TSA Scouting staff is extremely fortunate to have multiple former goaltenders who currently scout goaltenders at the tier I and tier II junior level. The below is a compilation of what each look for while scouting.
While scouting the goaltending position, there are certainly a lot of attributes to look at, most importantly the mental side of the game for a goaltender is something scouts try to determine.
Composure
Giving up goals is inevitable, a goalie’s ability to re-focus and get back to his/her game is extremely important. Letting the frustration from giving up a goal can affect the way someone plays from then on in a game.
Body language is the thing a lot of scouts look for in this situation, it’s the one way someone can get a good read on how goaltender is feeling throughout the game.
Into the technical side of the game there are many little parts that get broken down, a lot of scouts like to start with how balanced a goalie is with their positioning.
Balance
A goalie’s balance starts from how his feet are positioned, like said in many situations keeping your feet in line with your shoulders naturally give you the best balance in a stance.
Moving to having your head over your toes, so a goalie is not forced into sitting back on his heels is something that is looked at as well.
A lot of body control and balance in a goaltender comes from a goalie’s hand positioning, good balanced and even hands will keep a goalie in control while moving on their feet or on their knees
As with players skating ability is a prominent thing looked into for goalies. Their skating ability has to be a little different that of players as goalies move in much more confined spaces, but just as important as any pother trait a goalie has to have.
Skating Ability
Ability to move laterally is paramount for a goaltender as much of their work has to come side to side in the crease. Whether it be done on their feet or on their knees, scouts tend to look for how quickly and efficiently goaltender’s movements are laterally.
Edge work is incredibly important as well, being able to stop on a dime and control one’s movements in confined spaces is something that all scouts will look for throughout their evaluation process.
Skating ability on and off of posts is also something that is looked at, how do goalies project coming off of posts to attack shooters with grade a scoring chances off passes from behind that net. The quick and more efficient goalies get off of their posts is an important trait to have while scouts are looking throughout the year.
A goalie’s ability to handle the puck and help out his teammates is an added bonus that scouts love to see. When a goalie knows how to handle the puck correctly it will help their team tremendously.
Puck Handling
The one very important thing that scouts like to see in puck handling is that it is done quickly. Too many times goalies get caught out of position because they get caught behind their net and tangled up with other players. Puck handling has to be done quickly and in tight support with their teammates
Being successful at puck handling does not only require good hands and vision but very good communication as well. Communicating with teammates is important all over the ice and something scouts love to see, especially while being able to handle the puck.
Lastly a very important part of the game for goaltenders is their rebound control. Rebound control is a critical attribute that scouts look for as no one like to see second and third high quality chances for opposing teams.
Rebound Control
Scouts first and foremost like to see a goalie dictate their rebounds, it’s virtually impossible to swallow up and hold onto every shot. So being able to dictate and put pucks to the correct spaces is paramount.
Being able to direct pucks into corners and stay away from second and third chance opportunities is important, having a good stick and hands helps contribute to this and something that is looked out throughout the process.