GDB 21: Garon rides the pine
Jason Gregor
November 26 2008 01:46PM
If it wasn’t obvious before, it is now. Craig MacTavish has lost confidence in Mathieu Garon. In a move that shocked most, Dwayne Roloson will be starting tonight, not Garon, against the Kings.
Why you ask?
I have no idea. This move doesn’t make sense on any level. Roloson got pulled his last time out, and while Garon didn’t look comfortable for the first ten minutes in relief, he did look much better as game wore on.
The Oilers had four days of practice, Garon got to see more rubber than he had in the previous weeks, he looked and acted more comfortable and even he gave the impression he expected to start tonight against his former team.
But there was Roloson, first off at practice, and talking openly about starting tonight.
At the start of MacTavish’s press conference today, he was asked about Garon, but said he didn’t want to talk about the goalies before the game. Later in presser when pushed on it again he spoke about it.
“In talking to Pete about Mathieu he says his game in coming along in practice. It’s not just about the game, it’s about how Pete sees them (three goalies) coming along in practice. Matty’s game is coming around and based on practice he will get a start very soon.”
This move is more about just whether Roloson is better than Garon. MacTavish has lost confidence in Garon, and it sounds like goaltending coach Pete Peeters isn’t on the same page as Garon.
It was well-documented last season that Peeters wasn’t enamoured with Garon working with another goaltending consultant, Lyle Mast. Garon enjoyed working with Mast, and sources have hinted that #32 is no longer allowed to work with him.
If that is indeed the case, then Garon’s not playing could be based on more than just stopping pucks.
There is clearly something fishy about this situation.
Garon was great in his first three starts, and then average to below-average in the four since, but he wasn’t awful in relief against the Wings. And it’s not like Roloson was outstanding in his past few starts. He was okay, but not so great that you wouldn’t consider going with Garon.
Many wonder if the Oilers are showcasing Roloson, or plan on doing the same with Garon when, or if, he gets another start. So I asked MacTavish if he ever takes that angle when considering who will be his starter.
“I’m not a fortune teller. It's incumbent on the player to get in there and play well, if he wants continue to play. That's the simple part of it. When the goalies get and play well, like Mathieu did earlier, Jeff did in the middle, and how Rollie has done now. I go by what I see in practice and in the games; it's as simple as that.”
Based on those comments Garon must not be practicing well, because he has only played 48 minutes since Nov 7th.
Rarely do I second guess a lot of moves a coach makes, because I don’t think I know more than him, but in this case I’m scratching my head.
All the signs pointed to starting Garon. He allowed one goal in 25 shots versus Detroit. He had four days of practice, he was playing his former team, and he hasn’t had a start since November 6th, but he will be watching again.
Coaches get paid to win, so if the Oilers win tonight, MacTavish can feel confident in his decision. But this decision has many more negatives possibilities than it does positive ones.
The only positive is a win.
A lose opens him up to loads of criticism, and justified criticism in this case. It leaves Garon wondering more than ever where he fits on this team. It also hurts the team down the road. They need to clarify their goaltending situation sooner than later, and hopefully find a solution that ends what has become a five-year search for a true #1 goalie.
Win or lose tonight, not starting Garon looks wrong.
—Listen to Gregor weekdays from 3 to 6 p.m. on the TEAM 1260 or online at www.justagame.ca.
i disagree.
I blame the media for pestering him all damn year about the sophmore slump. If you keep forcing the issue, eventually it becomes an issue.
about the Guiness.
HA, Leafs rebuild is going in the toilet
Burke - making rules before he even has the job
Btw, wasn't someone in the paper talking about LA essentially deliberately pissing away the season to get a high draft?
So...we can barely compete, and can't get motivated after a week for a team that got waxed by the Flames yesterday, and that is barely trying to begin with.
Awesome.
The panel tonight has about as much life in them as a palleative care unit
Burke is such a piece of sh1t by the way. How on earth does he leave the Ducks for family reasons mid season? Doesn't even have the sack to stick out the season. What a douchebag. A player couldn't do that.
blah blah Burke blah Leafs blaha blah hahaha
Douche is his middle name
2 biggest Douches in the league gonna be in TO now. The inventor of hockey & th egod father of hockey.
Not to mention he is an over-rated piece of previously flung money dung. What did he truly do to build Anahiem. Look at them after this year. What maybe 3 or 4 guys who aren't UFA's
video games are awesome.
I hope a Zombie Apocalypse happens in Toronto
Getzlaf was a good pick, but so was Pouliot
What's up with TSN's "Final Fantasy" music?
Did Burke pick Getzlaff or inherit him?
Dual hat tricks by Ovechkin and Malkin is basically a TSN wet dream
0-7 when trailing after 2?
Good night...
Burke picked him & Perry
Don't tell Toronto fans that Burke is over rated though. They won't be having that. It takes a really gifted man to get Chris Pronger to play for a team that doesn't end in monton, and get the other Nidermeyer to come play with his baby brother. What a genius!!!
I still like that Russian guy who may or may not actually exist.
(Sure SOMEONE was here a couple of years back, but really, it coulda been anybody.)
grebs lost teeth!
Poor Goat - Plastic Surgeon
LUCKY THING WE HAVE AN EXTRA DMAN
Grebeshkov is out.
I really think they should consider putting Pouliot on D. It's the outside the box thinking.
Plastic surgery for Grebs? Sammy hopes it's new boobies.
Bring back Mikhnov!
He will have to gum his morning breakfast of garbage and old shoes
How bad did I butcher the spelling? Ahh who cares.
*Laughing right out loud...yes yes, I just went "LOL"*
The complete tool of a coach puts Smid out as a forward AGAIN.
If it weren't true it'd be hilarious.
and we got Poo in '03.
http://oshlhockey.blogspot.com/2008/11/get-ready-canada.html
Russian last names are like asian faces. They all look the same
I'm surprised you can break his teeth - tin cans toughen up those choppers
we make shitanusly® bad passes. shitanusly® shitanusly® shitanusly®
Hockey Gods: HAHAHHAHAHAH
What is that OSHL? Any good shortsies?
They have a very topical post about TSN and Brian Burke.
someone owes me 20 cents
its in the email.
2003 Draft
1 19 Anaheim Ryan Getzlaf 1 22 Edmonton Marc-Antoine Pouliot 1 24 Philadelphia Mike Richards 1 28 Anaheim Corey Perry
shitanusly®
quarters are easier to send.
Someone has to add this to Urban Dictionary - I cannot use it in context or define it..
shitanusly®
*starts sewing stop signs on the back of all NHL jerseys*
use it once more and you get one free.
SO MANY people find the Nation by searching for shitanusly. I'm wondering if I have stumbled upon some sort of dutch S&M safe word
Probably a vacation for Staois.
Strudwick making saves left and right. HE'S THE NEW NUMBER ONE PEOPLE!!!!
It doesn't have a definiton on Urban Dictionary
Studwich starts in goal Saturday... someone already called it. I second it
Buck75 -
I can say with 100% confidence I invented this word. I thought of it one day and googled it and nothing came up. Now - all me.
This word is my contribution to society
Juice Boy. I smell a new nickname!
we are so lucky it isn't 4-1