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G Zach Fucale (2013, 36th, MTL)

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I had him as not an NHLer even from draft day. His numbers in Q were pretty garbage but he had the wins so people were blinded. He was on a powerhouse team which inflated wins and magnified his poor numbers even more. Goalies should have good numbers on a powerhouse

Goalies are like voodoo but Fucale had AHL back up written all over him from get go
 
But he always performs in big games! You wouldn't be saying this during the playoffs!! :sarcasm:

Those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it. There's more to goalies than win totals, GAA, and team success.
 
I've thought he was pretty garbage since day 1 but he's only 21 and I've seen stranger things than a young goalie doing a 180 out of nowhere.
 
Give him some time. I doubt he becomes an NHL starter but could become a backup. He's a really great kid, loved him on the Moosehead and met him a few times, has a great head on his shoulders. However, it was clear that he benefited heavily from the team playing in front of him. The playoff series against Bibeau was not hist best. I am still pulling for him though. Still young and lots of time. Definitely no rush for him with Price at the helm.
 
Jack DiBiase said:
I remember when Carey Price was labeled a bust when he was 21 years old.
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Weird comparison, Price put up great numbers at every level. Fucale has put up poor numbers at every level. I'm not rooting against him, but he was a long shot from day one and that shot is continually getting longer.
 
I never saw anything special in him, and with the Habs having Lindgren and McNiven now I don't see him lasting much longer in the organization, to be honest. At the very best, I saw him as an "okay" NHL backup, but that was the ceiling and I don't see him sniffing it. Maybe he's a late bloomer, but I don't see it.
 
7even said:
I've thought he was pretty garbage since day 1 but he's only 21 and I've seen stranger things than a young goalie doing a 180 out of nowhere.[/QUOTE]

When Tim Thomas was 25, he posted a 3.56 GAA and 0.892 SV% with Detroit in the IHL. And he was around 3.00 GAA for his first few seasons back in the NHL at age 30. A further 5 years or so after that, he posts one of the best seasons ever for an NHL goaltender.

Weirder things have definitely happened with goalies. Like Thomas, Zach has a good head on his shoulders and is a competitor who is dedicated to improving.
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Jack DiBiase said:
I remember when Carey Price was labeled a bust when he was 21 years old.
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he was?

in his 20 year old season and 21 year old season IN THE NHL, his combined stats were...

93gp. 47-28-13 record and 4 shutouts

im unsure why someone was call a 21 year old a bust after a record like that. Not everyday a 20/21 year old plays almost 100 games and wins a lot of games. He was still eligible to play junior hockey that one year
 
there are sooooo many goalies in the NHL that had some ECHL time. I was actually shocked when I looked back and saw

I think people just want faster results due to more and more of these young extremely talented players and goalies doing well at the NHL level at such a young age lately. So then when a player has more of a path year by year where everyone has to be patient like how it used to always be like, people jump to conclusions too quickly

I wonder if a lot of people assumed Jonathan Quick wasn't going to turn into anything after playing 38 games in the ECHL as a 21 year old too
 
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the habs player development is just plain bad
rookie prospects just wishing they dont get drafted into hans system :cry:
 
Skinnyjimmy08 said:
there are sooooo many goalies in the NHL that had some ECHL time. I was actually shocked when I looked back and saw

I think people just want faster results due to more and more of these young extremely talented players and goalies doing well at the NHL level at such a young age lately. So then when a player has more of a path year by year where everyone has to be patient like how it used to always be like, people jump to conclusions too quickly

I wonder if a lot of people assumed Jonathan Quick wasn't going to turn into anything after playing 38 games in the ECHL as a 21 year old too
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Context though

Quick was in his first pro career.
.905Save% 2.79GAA in 38GP in the ECHL
.922Save% 2.32GAA in 19GP in the AHL

and had a few looks in the NHL where he didn't play amazingly but like I said, first year pro.


Fucale is a 2nd year pro, had ample opportunity in the AHL before going to the ECHL where he continues to struggle. He also struggled in his last junior career.


Do you have anything that actually compares to Fucales struggles?
 
Skinnyjimmy08 said:
there are sooooo many goalies in the NHL that had some ECHL time. I was actually shocked when I looked back and saw

I think people just want faster results due to more and more of these young extremely talented players and goalies doing well at the NHL level at such a young age lately. So then when a player has more of a path year by year where everyone has to be patient like how it used to always be like, people jump to conclusions too quickly

I wonder if a lot of people assumed Jonathan Quick wasn't going to turn into anything after playing 38 games in the ECHL as a 21 year old too
Click to expand...

For every Jon Quick there is 10 goalie prospects that had medicore ECHL numbers and busted

I mean you could say any goalie under 27 still has a shot at Vezina (even if they are in Europe because they couldnt cut it here) because Tim Thomas this one time was in Europe till he was a grandpa and then dominated NHL
 
3 Minute Minor said:
Context though

Quick was in his first pro career.
.905Save% 2.79GAA in 38GP in the ECHL
.922Save% 2.32GAA in 19GP in the AHL

and had a few looks in the NHL where he didn't play amazingly but like I said, first year pro.


Fucale is a 2nd year pro, had ample opportunity in the AHL before going to the ECHL where he continues to struggle. He also struggled in his last junior career.


Do you have anything that actually compares to Fucales struggles?
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I was basically just comparing ages here... just saying hes pretty damn young for people to give up on him and call him a bust

people are just too antsy wanting immediate results. Goalies take a while

Im not a Habs fan, but id still never call him a bust. If in a few years hes still bouncing around the minors, then ill call it disappointing he didn't crack the NHL
 
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I prefer not to make any firm judgements like labeling a goalie a bust because the fact is goalies are much different than players in terms of development. While there are guys who simply just don't improve there is the chance for others to suddenly put things together or make certain changes that finally leads them to success. Just like at Tim Thomas, Mike Smith and Devan Dubnyk
 
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