01-11-2016, 06:41 PM
Alright, welcome to the RainDelay’s Analysis of the SHL Starting Goalies for the Upcoming Season.
I had eight people send me lists of the current starters between the pipes for all fourteen SHL franchises ranked in order of who they felt would have the most success as a goalie RIGHT NOW (so, no, Aittokallio is not on top of the list)
Prior accolades don’t mean much except for the fact that they helped the goalies develop into what they are now. This is a Season 27 Article only.
For each goalie that we take a look at, I will give the name, team, highest placing in the lists, lowest placing in the lists and average placing in the lists. This should give an accurate representation on how the community perceives the current SHL starting goaltenders on the basis of current ability.
Alright, here we go.
In fourteenth place we have…
Earnest Ciarelli
New England Wolfpack
Highest Placing: 10
Lowest Placing: 14
Average Placing: 12.5
The New England Wolfpack were basically the only team that did not have a clear starter last season, and may have derived some of their struggles from this problem. Arton Laxk started many games for them, but it was always a question of when he was going to give way to Ciarelli. Earnest Ciarelli is on track to enter his first full season as a starter if all goes well in preseason. His adept control of rebounds is one of the main categories in which he is clearly better than Laxk, but his relative inexperience leaves him at the bottom of this goalie ranking.
In thirteenth place we have…
Tyler NoNerves
Buffalo Stampede
Highest Placing: 10
Lowest Placing: 14
Average Placing: 12.5
It was a tie in average placing between Ciarelli and the Buffalo goalie, Tyler NoNerves, but I gave the nod to the latter as he was a full time starter last season. After a brief spell of inactivity which hindered his progression, Tyler NoNerves has seemed to check back in to the site and should return to normal training form, which will be to the delight of the Buffalo faithful. He definitely has some work to do if he wants to move up this list, though. His Hand Speed and Reaction Time are currently at a rating of 80, which is actually lower than some goalies still in the SMJHL.
And now in twelfth place we have…
Nikita Nevzorov :admirals: Portland Admirals
Highest Placing: 11
Lowest Placing: 14
Average Placing: 12.25
And without further ado, here is the second expansion team. We knew it would be coming. Much like Tyler NoNerves above, Nikita Nevzorov has the duty of being the stopper for a relatively new franchise, the Portland Admirals. Once again this year, Nevzorov will be the go-to guy up in Oregon. He has good main attributes that any goalie would want to have, and being young he still has plenty of time to develop, but Nevzorov may need to address a potential endurance problem sooner than later in order to assure the team that he will indeed be able to go out there for back to backs and long stretches.
In eleventh place we have…
Robert Andersson
Minnesota Chiefs
Highest Placing: 11
Lowest Placing: 14
Average Placing: 12.25
Robert Andersson is a goalie that I think will surprise a great deal of players and GMs alike this season! I have played with him, and I know how dedicated he is to becoming a really solid goalie. He is also a very good guy to have around the locker room, so maybe his positive energy will unite a team on or off the ice. As far as stats go, he will have to keep working diligently in order to keep up. I expect some bright spots to go with some struggles, natural for a very raw prospect that will be appearing in his first SHL action. But to be honest, the Chiefs are just glad he’s not Ryan Winters.
In tenth place we have…
Phil Osgoode
Seattle Riot
Highest Placing: 10
Lowest Placing: 11
Average Placing: 10.5
The Seattle Riot are an interesting case. They had a solid goalie, Valdemorts Karlensons, who’s off the ice issues caused him to have to leave the team. Enter Phil Osgoode, who will likely have the reigns for the Riot this year. He is relatively inexperienced, but the stat numbers are there and I think he could thrive in a starting situation, now that he is given the prime opportunity. There was a gaping hole in the goalie spot for Seattle, let’s see if Osgoode has what it takes to seize control.
Here we go with the single digits.
Number 9…
Dymo Ranjan
Manhattan Rage
Highest Placing: 9
Lowest Placing: 9
Average Placing: You guessed it, 9!
Dymo Ranjan is a very solid goalie who has seemingly lost interest in the SHL and improving his abilities. The Manhattan Rage can probably last with him for maybe one or two more seasons, but I can bet they will be chomping at the bit to get Selena Bauer up to the big club to take over for him. Ranjan has good numbers, but with virtually no potential upside left, one can only wonder what value he has to the team and as a potential trade chip. Right now, Ranjan is all right, but for the future, it’s a good thing the Rage had a solid draft.
Now for eighth place…
Erik Lundqvist
Los Angeles Panthers
Highest Placing: 8
Lowest Placing: 8
Average Placing: Umm…8?
Although he shares the same last name as my favorite goalie in the real National Hockey League, Erik Lundqvist is a bit different from King Henrik. Is he a good goalie? Yes. But he’s not the king. Well, enough of that. Let’s talk about Erik. His ratings are generally consistent, most at 85 or 90, and he is still committed to working on his skills. He plays for a Panthers team that isn’t surrounding him with all the blue-chip talent in the world, so all the fault cannot fall on him. I guess eighth is a suitable ranking for him. Not the best goalie out there, but certainly not the worst.
In seventh place we have…
Mark Harter
Toronto North Stars
Highest Placing: 5
Lowest Placing: 7
Average Placing: 6.25
Mark Harter is a very, very solid goalie who has been around the SHL for a while now. He is no unseasoned prospect, he is a great guy to stick in front of the net and hope he stops pucks from going in. Also active in other areas of the SHL website, it is clear that many people around the forums are friends with him. His ratings on the ice are also extremely high, so if he has a down year, it might be because of the legendary “Toronto North Stars Curse”!
In sixth place we have…
Hunter Wong
Calgary Dragons
Highest Placing: 5
Lowest Placing: 7
Average Placing: 6
Ahh, Hunter Wong. One of the most talked about solid goalies that the SHL has to offer. When I selected him in fantasy this season, others told me that he was a great pick and “would be a beast this season”. I can only hope it rings true. The Calgary Dragons have been surprising picked my many to finish last place in their conference, but I cannot see that happening, especially with a goalie as controlled and consistent as Hunter Wong.
Alright, top 5! Here we go!
In fifth place we have…
Jakub Aittokallio
Edmonton Blizzard
Highest Placing: 3
Lowest Placing: 6
Average Placing: 5
Jakub Aittokallio is one of the most decorated goaltenders to ever play in the Simulation Hockey League. If this were a list for a few seasons ago, he would most certainly be in the top 3, maybe even the number one goalie. But unfortunately, regression has set in a bit for the big Edmonton netminder. However, that being said, he is still a force to be reckoned with. Nobody wants to play against the Blizzard when Aittokallio is in front of the net. Even in his latter seasons, he is still a premier puck stopper, and a very good person in the community.
Now for fourth place we have…
Jakob Tanner
Hamilton Steelhawks
Highest Placing: 4
Lowest Placing: 6
Average Placing: 4.5
And there he is, Jakob Tanner, the most recent cup winner. A lot can be said about Tanner on the ice. Most of his vital stats are maxed out…that’s right…99 for a lot of his best attributes. And those that aren’t at 99? Don’t worry, he still has plenty of stats in the 94-95 range that allow him to perform quite well on the ice, and that allowed him to carry the Steelhawks to the promised land and take home the hardware. Hamilton is a very lucky franchise to have a guy like Jakob Tanner in front of their net night in and night out.
That’s right everyone, it is now time for the Top 3!
Coming in at number three we have…
Jackson Weekes
Texas Renegades
Highest Placing: 2
Lowest Placing: 4
Average Placing: 2.75
Unlike one of his relatives and former Carolina Hurricanes and New York Rangers goalie Kevin Weekes, Jackson actually knows how to keep pucks from going into the net. It seems he’s the first one in the family. But speaking seriously, the Texas Renegades have the real deal in Jackson Weekes. Only beat out by two goalies on this list (on several occasions, it was only one) his strong play is reflected in the eyes of the community. This guy knows what he is doing between the pipes, and his ratings are a direct representation of the hard work that allowed him to achieve this status. Will Texas be a perennial contender? As long as they have Jackson Weekes, they will be.
And now for the runner up…
Lauris Prikulis
Winnipeg Jets
Highest Placing: 2
Lowest Placing: 3
Average Placing: 2.25
Lauris Prikulis is one of the greats, and anyone that is looking to develop their goalie should look at Lauris Prikulis. He has had a great track record in the SHL, and even took home some trophies on multiple occasions. It is unfortunate that this will be his last season in the league, but we can bet he is on his way to his jersey number hanging in the rafters of Winnipeg’s home arena. It would be more than well deserved. With most of his ratings at one point being over 95, Prikulis was…and still is a dominant force on the ice. Look for one last hurrah for him before he hangs up his skates!
And now, number one, the one, the only…
West Kendall Platoon’s Colin Schmidt!
Colin Schmidt
West Kendall Platoon
Highest Placing: 1
Lowest Placing: 1
Average Placing: 1 (damn right!
Nobody ranked anyone other than Colin Schmidt as the number one goalie in the SHL today! This just goes to exemplify what he is truly capable of. Of the eight lists I received, everyone’s ranking varied… pretty much…except for this guy right here, Colin Schmidt. I know that as a West Kendall Platoon goalie myself, I aspire to be like Colin! It has been a true honor to even be in the same locker room as him and I know he will only help my development into his eventual successor. I can’t think of anyone better to learn from! This guy is truly deserving of the top spot, and this shouldn’t surprise anyone, seeing as how you all had him at #1!
Thanks for the read everyone!
1956 words
I had eight people send me lists of the current starters between the pipes for all fourteen SHL franchises ranked in order of who they felt would have the most success as a goalie RIGHT NOW (so, no, Aittokallio is not on top of the list)
Prior accolades don’t mean much except for the fact that they helped the goalies develop into what they are now. This is a Season 27 Article only.
For each goalie that we take a look at, I will give the name, team, highest placing in the lists, lowest placing in the lists and average placing in the lists. This should give an accurate representation on how the community perceives the current SHL starting goaltenders on the basis of current ability.
Alright, here we go.
In fourteenth place we have…
Earnest Ciarelli
New England WolfpackHighest Placing: 10
Lowest Placing: 14
Average Placing: 12.5
The New England Wolfpack were basically the only team that did not have a clear starter last season, and may have derived some of their struggles from this problem. Arton Laxk started many games for them, but it was always a question of when he was going to give way to Ciarelli. Earnest Ciarelli is on track to enter his first full season as a starter if all goes well in preseason. His adept control of rebounds is one of the main categories in which he is clearly better than Laxk, but his relative inexperience leaves him at the bottom of this goalie ranking.
In thirteenth place we have…
Tyler NoNerves
Buffalo StampedeHighest Placing: 10
Lowest Placing: 14
Average Placing: 12.5
It was a tie in average placing between Ciarelli and the Buffalo goalie, Tyler NoNerves, but I gave the nod to the latter as he was a full time starter last season. After a brief spell of inactivity which hindered his progression, Tyler NoNerves has seemed to check back in to the site and should return to normal training form, which will be to the delight of the Buffalo faithful. He definitely has some work to do if he wants to move up this list, though. His Hand Speed and Reaction Time are currently at a rating of 80, which is actually lower than some goalies still in the SMJHL.
And now in twelfth place we have…
Nikita Nevzorov :admirals: Portland Admirals
Highest Placing: 11
Lowest Placing: 14
Average Placing: 12.25
And without further ado, here is the second expansion team. We knew it would be coming. Much like Tyler NoNerves above, Nikita Nevzorov has the duty of being the stopper for a relatively new franchise, the Portland Admirals. Once again this year, Nevzorov will be the go-to guy up in Oregon. He has good main attributes that any goalie would want to have, and being young he still has plenty of time to develop, but Nevzorov may need to address a potential endurance problem sooner than later in order to assure the team that he will indeed be able to go out there for back to backs and long stretches.
In eleventh place we have…
Robert Andersson
Minnesota ChiefsHighest Placing: 11
Lowest Placing: 14
Average Placing: 12.25
Robert Andersson is a goalie that I think will surprise a great deal of players and GMs alike this season! I have played with him, and I know how dedicated he is to becoming a really solid goalie. He is also a very good guy to have around the locker room, so maybe his positive energy will unite a team on or off the ice. As far as stats go, he will have to keep working diligently in order to keep up. I expect some bright spots to go with some struggles, natural for a very raw prospect that will be appearing in his first SHL action. But to be honest, the Chiefs are just glad he’s not Ryan Winters.
In tenth place we have…
Phil Osgoode
Seattle RiotHighest Placing: 10
Lowest Placing: 11
Average Placing: 10.5
The Seattle Riot are an interesting case. They had a solid goalie, Valdemorts Karlensons, who’s off the ice issues caused him to have to leave the team. Enter Phil Osgoode, who will likely have the reigns for the Riot this year. He is relatively inexperienced, but the stat numbers are there and I think he could thrive in a starting situation, now that he is given the prime opportunity. There was a gaping hole in the goalie spot for Seattle, let’s see if Osgoode has what it takes to seize control.
Here we go with the single digits.
Number 9…
Dymo Ranjan
Manhattan RageHighest Placing: 9
Lowest Placing: 9
Average Placing: You guessed it, 9!
Dymo Ranjan is a very solid goalie who has seemingly lost interest in the SHL and improving his abilities. The Manhattan Rage can probably last with him for maybe one or two more seasons, but I can bet they will be chomping at the bit to get Selena Bauer up to the big club to take over for him. Ranjan has good numbers, but with virtually no potential upside left, one can only wonder what value he has to the team and as a potential trade chip. Right now, Ranjan is all right, but for the future, it’s a good thing the Rage had a solid draft.
Now for eighth place…
Erik Lundqvist
Los Angeles PanthersHighest Placing: 8
Lowest Placing: 8
Average Placing: Umm…8?
Although he shares the same last name as my favorite goalie in the real National Hockey League, Erik Lundqvist is a bit different from King Henrik. Is he a good goalie? Yes. But he’s not the king. Well, enough of that. Let’s talk about Erik. His ratings are generally consistent, most at 85 or 90, and he is still committed to working on his skills. He plays for a Panthers team that isn’t surrounding him with all the blue-chip talent in the world, so all the fault cannot fall on him. I guess eighth is a suitable ranking for him. Not the best goalie out there, but certainly not the worst.
In seventh place we have…
Mark Harter
Toronto North StarsHighest Placing: 5
Lowest Placing: 7
Average Placing: 6.25
Mark Harter is a very, very solid goalie who has been around the SHL for a while now. He is no unseasoned prospect, he is a great guy to stick in front of the net and hope he stops pucks from going in. Also active in other areas of the SHL website, it is clear that many people around the forums are friends with him. His ratings on the ice are also extremely high, so if he has a down year, it might be because of the legendary “Toronto North Stars Curse”!
In sixth place we have…
Hunter Wong
Calgary DragonsHighest Placing: 5
Lowest Placing: 7
Average Placing: 6
Ahh, Hunter Wong. One of the most talked about solid goalies that the SHL has to offer. When I selected him in fantasy this season, others told me that he was a great pick and “would be a beast this season”. I can only hope it rings true. The Calgary Dragons have been surprising picked my many to finish last place in their conference, but I cannot see that happening, especially with a goalie as controlled and consistent as Hunter Wong.
Alright, top 5! Here we go!
In fifth place we have…
Jakub Aittokallio
Edmonton BlizzardHighest Placing: 3
Lowest Placing: 6
Average Placing: 5
Jakub Aittokallio is one of the most decorated goaltenders to ever play in the Simulation Hockey League. If this were a list for a few seasons ago, he would most certainly be in the top 3, maybe even the number one goalie. But unfortunately, regression has set in a bit for the big Edmonton netminder. However, that being said, he is still a force to be reckoned with. Nobody wants to play against the Blizzard when Aittokallio is in front of the net. Even in his latter seasons, he is still a premier puck stopper, and a very good person in the community.
Now for fourth place we have…
Jakob Tanner
Hamilton SteelhawksHighest Placing: 4
Lowest Placing: 6
Average Placing: 4.5
And there he is, Jakob Tanner, the most recent cup winner. A lot can be said about Tanner on the ice. Most of his vital stats are maxed out…that’s right…99 for a lot of his best attributes. And those that aren’t at 99? Don’t worry, he still has plenty of stats in the 94-95 range that allow him to perform quite well on the ice, and that allowed him to carry the Steelhawks to the promised land and take home the hardware. Hamilton is a very lucky franchise to have a guy like Jakob Tanner in front of their net night in and night out.
That’s right everyone, it is now time for the Top 3!
Coming in at number three we have…
Jackson Weekes
Texas RenegadesHighest Placing: 2
Lowest Placing: 4
Average Placing: 2.75
Unlike one of his relatives and former Carolina Hurricanes and New York Rangers goalie Kevin Weekes, Jackson actually knows how to keep pucks from going into the net. It seems he’s the first one in the family. But speaking seriously, the Texas Renegades have the real deal in Jackson Weekes. Only beat out by two goalies on this list (on several occasions, it was only one) his strong play is reflected in the eyes of the community. This guy knows what he is doing between the pipes, and his ratings are a direct representation of the hard work that allowed him to achieve this status. Will Texas be a perennial contender? As long as they have Jackson Weekes, they will be.
And now for the runner up…
Lauris Prikulis
Winnipeg JetsHighest Placing: 2
Lowest Placing: 3
Average Placing: 2.25
Lauris Prikulis is one of the greats, and anyone that is looking to develop their goalie should look at Lauris Prikulis. He has had a great track record in the SHL, and even took home some trophies on multiple occasions. It is unfortunate that this will be his last season in the league, but we can bet he is on his way to his jersey number hanging in the rafters of Winnipeg’s home arena. It would be more than well deserved. With most of his ratings at one point being over 95, Prikulis was…and still is a dominant force on the ice. Look for one last hurrah for him before he hangs up his skates!
And now, number one, the one, the only…
West Kendall Platoon’s Colin Schmidt!
Colin Schmidt
West Kendall PlatoonHighest Placing: 1
Lowest Placing: 1
Average Placing: 1 (damn right!
Nobody ranked anyone other than Colin Schmidt as the number one goalie in the SHL today! This just goes to exemplify what he is truly capable of. Of the eight lists I received, everyone’s ranking varied… pretty much…except for this guy right here, Colin Schmidt. I know that as a West Kendall Platoon goalie myself, I aspire to be like Colin! It has been a true honor to even be in the same locker room as him and I know he will only help my development into his eventual successor. I can’t think of anyone better to learn from! This guy is truly deserving of the top spot, and this shouldn’t surprise anyone, seeing as how you all had him at #1!
Thanks for the read everyone!
1956 words