Since we’re still mid-summer — although we’re getting close to training camp, which is exciting — there isn’t too much news to catch up on, so we’ll get right into the questions.

Question from BlueandCopper99: After being traded, you came back to Edmonton with Nashville, and we were smoking them. You were the backup, and the crowd was chanting, “We want Dubey.” Do you remember that?

Absolutely, I remember, and I was terrified. I felt like a rookie goaltender again who hadn’t played an NHL game. I know we’ve talked a lot about that trade and that year, just not being in a great headspace and not feeling good about my game.

It was weird enough to get traded. I’ve talked about waking up and forgetting I was traded and wondering if I could be back in Edmonton. The Oilers were the only team I’d ever known. I wasn’t with Nashville very long, so the return happened pretty quickly. Coming back to Edmonton, being in Rexall, seeing the guys — that first time you’ve ever been traded, there’s just so much going on.

Even later, when I came back with Arizona and Minnesota, it took a while to feel normal. But that first time? I remember sitting on the bench and not wanting to go in. I was so nervous, like a 23-year-old in Vancouver on Hockey Night in Canada waiting to get chucked in. I couldn’t feel my body and did not want to go in there. I was certainly rooting for Carter Hutton to make some saves.

I appreciated the fan support so much. They probably wanted me in there because I might have given up a few more at that time, and the score really would’ve gotten ugly. I definitely heard it and appreciated it. I just didn’t want it to come true right then.

Jan 26, 2014; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Nashville Predators goalie Devan Dubnyk (40) warms up against the Edmonton Oilers at Rexall Place. Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-USA TODAY Sports

Question from Alex Z: Did you ever study shooters on the opposing team, or did you trust your instincts?

Great question. It’s a combination of both. You absolutely study shooters, but it’s about tendencies.

How do they shoot? Do they shoot a lot? From bad angles? Are they looking to pass more? Do they have tricky releases they’ll use to catch you off guard? You prepare for things that are a little out of the ordinary, so you’re ready, but you still have to be reactionary.

You’re never guessing, you’re preparing, so you have an advantage if they do what they often like to do. These are the best players in the world. They won’t do the same thing every time.

A few examples:

Connor McDavid: When I played, he was more pass-first (he shoots more now). At 100 miles an hour, he’ll make passes in situations other guys won’t. You have to be aware that he wants to pass, but he can still rip it by you, so you’re prepared for both.
Leon Draisaitl: Everyone knows the back-door play from “his office.” Two keys: (1) know he’s there and be ready to push; (2) know where he likes to put it. He can beat you short-side high if you come across flat or late. Even if you get over, you’ve got to seal under the bar.
Patrick Kane: Not the heaviest shot, but elite placement and accuracy. He’ll throw it on the net from sharper angles and pick tough spots. You always had to be on your toes for something sneaky in a difficult location.
Sidney Crosby: He makes you uncomfortable. I usually felt in control and a step ahead. With Sid, he felt a step ahead. He’s watching you, trying to get you to cheat. One little lean or turn on the post and he zips it past you short-side. Incredible around the net, quick hands, accurate. A scary one.
Big point shots (Evan Bouchard, Shea Weber, Sheldon Souray): They’re unique because their velocity messes with your timing. You’re used to the trajectory of high-90s one-timers. Add five or six miles an hour and it arrives quicker. You can see it, but if your hands move at your usual pace, it’s past you. You need to recognize who’s shooting and get there faster.

You go through this with every team — top-end guys, sneaky guys, common looks — so you’re prepared, but you still react to the actual shot.

Question from toniwong4591: Why are the days of a true No. 1 goalie playing 65-70 games over?

Analytics. We’ve now got a big sample showing Stanley Cup-winning goalies typically play around 55 (maybe up to ~60) regular-season games. It started as a trend and became consistent year after year. Teams dug in and realized burnout is real, both physically and mentally.

Also, the talent pool is deeper. There are more “1B” goalies who can play stretches and win you games. It used to be starter + true backup; now most teams have two who can carry the load.

Regular season is one thing, but playoffs are essentially a whole extra season. Two months of every-other-day hockey, new physical and mental stressors. If you’re at 65-70 games in the regular season, you might get through Round 1 and then hit a wall. The combination of better backups and the burnout data has changed how teams deploy starters.

Question from Morton Abo: Did you consider playing in Europe when your NHL contract expired? If so, which teams were in the running? And what about the Spengler Cup? HC Davos looks unreal.

I considered Europe during the lockout, but not much otherwise until my last year. I thought I was retired when Hockey Canada asked me to play the Spengler Cup. I said yes. It’s an amazing experience. I had nowhere to play and hadn’t been skating, so AHL Charlotte called: Florida had some goalie injuries and said, “Heard you want to get ready for Spengler. Help us help you.” I went to Charlotte, had a great time, and got ready, but the Spengler was canceled due to COVID.

Coming back and playing again put me back on some radars. I got a couple of calls, but the one I seriously considered was Stockholm (Sweden) for the second half of the season. Stockholm’s incredible. English is widely spoken, so moving the kids would’ve been manageable. But the prior shortened season had been brutal for family time. In San Jose, we started camp in Arizona, then played our first 12 on the road, didn’t get back to San Jose until mid-February, and then I got traded to Colorado. I saw my wife and kids for 17 days in six months. I wasn’t interested in leaving them again for a few months. We looked at schools and housing to bring them, but it was too much to arrange too fast. I wasn’t going for money, just the experience, so it didn’t happen.

The Spengler Cup holds a special place for me. In 2006, I was in Stockton and got asked a week before. I’d only seen it on TSN around Christmas and didn’t really understand the format (Team Canada vs. European club teams). Hockey Canada told me to bring someone. I had just started dating my now-wife that summer and asked if she wanted to spend Christmas in Switzerland. She came, and we had the best time. Davos is majestic. It’s in the middle of the Swiss Alps, an amazing village-style city. The rink is classic wood with a loud standing-room section, and it feels exactly like European hockey. There’s a giant outdoor rink with a track around it, and you can take a gondola up and look down on the city. That trip brought us closer. We’re married with three kids now, so something worked.

The lockout in 2012 was a whole different experience. Lots of NHLers went over. Davos had Joe Thornton, Patrick Kane, Loui Eriksson, etc. My wife was pregnant, so I brought my brother. I played all the games except one, and we won the tournament. Hockey Canada does an incredible job. It’s family-oriented, laid back away from the games, and around Christmas. It’s just a fantastic experience all around.

That’s another episode of Ask Dubey. Thanks for tuning in. Don’t forget to submit your questions on social using #AskDubey, or drop a question in the comments below. If we don’t get to it immediately, we’ve got a bank, and we’ll try to answer every single one.

Training camp is just around the corner, so we’ll start heating things up. We’re still at once every other week, but we’ll be back to weekly soon. I’m looking forward to answering your questions every week.

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