Hockey Widow wrote:
Personally I don't think someone can ever go down too early. But perhaps that's just me.
See Mathonwy, now that's funny.
Moderator: Referees
Hockey Widow wrote:
Personally I don't think someone can ever go down too early. But perhaps that's just me.
I agree.Vader wrote:Hockey Widow wrote:
Personally I don't think someone can ever go down too early. But perhaps that's just me.
See Mathonwy, now that's funny.
Excellent analysis Per!Per wrote: What I know and think of Markström, well most has already been said. A highly touted prospect, who's still a diamond in the rough. Definitely has the potential to be a bona fide NHL starter, but he's not proven himself ready to shoulder that task just yet.
Since he's from Gävle, which is where I live, the local paper writes quite a bit about him. He became the starting goalie of Brynäs in the SHL in 2008/09 already at the tender age of 18, which is highly unusual. The SHL is not a junior league. He was actually meant to be the backup, but proved himself better than the starter and ended up getting 35 of the 55 regular season games that year. Was nominated for rookie of the year that season, but ended up getting the award the next season instead. How's that possible, you say? Well, the SHL has decided that all players up to the age of twenty are eligible for the rookie award, regardless of how long they've been in the league. He also won the Honken award that year, which is the Swedish Vezina. And then he left for the AHL. A tad too early in my humble opinion. I think he could have developed just as well at home, especially since he was playing for Brynäs, who have Sden's probably best goalie coach. As mentioned before, a long list of his alumni have made it to the NHL; apart from Markström, Läck and Jacim Eriksson, there's Lindbäck, Holmqvist and Greiss.
Markström has also excelled at the international level. He was named best goalie of the 08/09 WJC, where he earned a silver medal, and then played again in 09/10, but only got a. Bronze that time. He was on the gold winning team at the 2013 world championship. Sure, he was backup, behind Enroth, but no mere passenger. He got three starts and 190 minutes of ice time while boasting a 1.58 GAA and a .934 saves percentage. Meanwhile, Johan Gustafsson was riding the pine throughout the tournament. Not a single start. Only entered the ice to pick up his medal. Oh, and Markström also has a world championship bronze as well, from 09/10, and won gold at the 07/08 U18 world cup (aka Ivan Hlinka memorial). The kid may only be 24 years old, but he already has a whole batch of medals from international tournaments, including two golds.
Throughout their career, right up until now, Markström has been considered better than Läck. They're pretty similar, both in build and in having trained for the same goalie coach. Right now Läck may have a slight edge, as Vancouver has done a better job at getting him ready than Florida has with Markström, but Markström has at least as much potential. I expect both to become starting NHL goaltenders. Hard to guess their exact potential.
Will they reach the Lundqvist/luongo level? Probably not, but it's not impossible. They have a friendly rivalry between them, and reuniting them may be turn out to be a smart move, as that may lead to them pushing eachother to try even harder... Will they be better than Cloutier? Hell yeah!
Markström still has some warts. Has a tendency to go down too early, and needs to control rebounds better.
But he'll get there.
Thanks Per! Hopefully he'll help fill the enormous hole that Luo left now that's he gone. (pun intended)Per wrote:
What I know and think of Markström, well most has already been said. A highly touted prospect, who's still a diamond in the rough. Definitely has the potential to be a bona fide NHL starter, but he's not proven himself ready to shoulder that task just yet.