The position is very expensive even relatively in an already very expensive sport. I think the position has kind of become "uncool" and all the best players want to be skaters where there's more glory. A generation of robot goalies and a feeling amongst NHL teams of "just throw any random guy and hope for the best" compared to the glory days where you had guys like Roy and Hasek who were total rockstars at the position. As far as development, too many teams do the "stand in net and get barraged by pucks and develop in a trial by fire fashion". I think with teenagers especially, a long CHL schedule is less beneficial than really focusing on training and technique. From an advancement standpoint, it's just size, size, size. Whose the biggest guy? That's who moves up. Igor Shesterkin is 6'1. Mason McDonald, Brent Moran, Alec Dillon were the names of the top three Canadian Goaltenders drafted the same year as him. 6'4, 6'4, 6'5. Arguably the best "up and comer" Canadian Goaltender is Devon Levi, not a big guy himself at only 6'0. He was only a 7th round pick and would be seen as a "late bloomer". Who knows how many guys get missed out on because they're passed over because of size.
