What the HELL is going on with Henrik Lundqvist?

[JaeTM]

I love Hank and all he's done for us, who doesn't? It doesn't mean he hasn't been bad this year, but I'm not ready to throw him under the bus after all these years of him bailing out this organization.

Deflections are hard for any one to stop. The Duby goal last night...the puck that was deflected off of Crosby and to Kunitz, all the goals that are deflected off of our own players, I'll give him a pass on. He's not a robot.

However, the other shots he has to start saving. It's the difference between him giving up 1-2 to now 3-4 a game. And with our starved offense, 3-4 is too much for any team on a consistent basis. We're paying him the money to make those stops. I don't care if every goalie in the league wouldn't make that stop. That's why we gave Hank that kind of money. So he CAN make that save that 59 other goalies in the league wouldn't stop. If we're paying him what, 8.5 over the next 7 years to not make saves that "no goalie can save" what is the point? We should just ride Talbot and let him walk as a UFA.

He needs to be better.

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

Im not a goaltending expert by any means, but in years past the thing that set Lundqvist apart was his ability to recover quickly and stay square to the puck. The foundation came from the lower half of his body and, coincidentally, also made him almost unbeatable on lower shots.

I don't see that drive/push with his legs this season for whatever reason. It seems to be causing him to be a fraction slow and off his angles.

Considering his track record, I have to wonder if he hasn't completely shook that injury that caused him to sit a few games earlier in the season. Wouldn't surprise me in the least if it was a lingering knee or groin problem.

 

[JaeTM]

Im not a goaltending expert by any means, but in years past the thing that set Lundqvist apart was his ability to recover quickly and stay square to the puck. The foundation came from the lower half of his body and, coincidentally, also made him almost unbeatable on lower shots.

I don't see that drive/push with his legs this season for whatever reason. It seems to be causing him to be a fraction slow and off his angles.

Considering his track record, I have to wonder if he hasn't completely shook that injury that caused him to sit a few games earlier in the season. Wouldn't surprise me in the least if it was a lingering knee or groin problem.

I'll have to agree with this. Good point. He has looked slower this season, which may be a reason why he's fighting so many pucks this season and just doesn't look comfortable back there.

 

[Nightshift]

The Dubinsky deflection is a shot Lundquist usually stops in his sleep. The replay from behind the net showed the puck going wide and Hank not in position. Also saw the same on the Wizsnewski goal. Angle from behind net showed Hank way out of position with tons of room on the stick side.

 

[Blueshirt Special]

Clearly Hank has struggled this season so far, but I think he is getting better. I'm not ready to throw this guy under the bus just because he got his payday. He is an integral piece we need to get to The Cup, and frankly I don't care what we are paying him if we get there.

Hank has shown resiliency in the past when he has had to work on certain parts of his game, and I have no doubt that he will make whatever adjustments needed to get back to form. I suspect a combination of injury/pads/aging are at the root here, and he is finding his way. The guy is completely dedicated and his focus and determination will win out.

Remember when his glove hand was weak?

We have to use Talbot from time to time, but I don't think it's a good idea to just sit Hank until Cam breaks down. He's got to be in game situations to progress.

The Olympics coudl be just the thing for him. I just hope he doesn't get hurt.

 

[KreiMeARiver*]

Clearly Hank has struggled this season so far, but I think he is getting better. I'm not ready to throw this guy under the bus just because he got his payday. He is an integral piece we need to get to The Cup, and frankly I don't care what we are paying him if we get there.

Hank has shown resiliency in the past when he has had to work on certain parts of his game, and I have no doubt that he will make whatever adjustments needed to get back to form. I suspect a combination of injury/pads/aging are at the root here, and he is finding his way. The guy is completely dedicated and his focus and determination will win out.

Remember when his glove hand was weak?

We have to use Talbot from time to time, but I don't think it's a good idea to just sit Hank until Cam breaks down. He's got to be in game situations to progress.

The Olympics could be just the thing for him. I just hope he doesn't get hurt.

This is my thinking as well. If he struggles in the Olympics, given his will-to-win and determination on that stage, then comes back and struggles, we might have a problem.

I'm guessing the Olympics will be just what the proverbial Dr. ordered.

 

[Blueshirt Special]

This is my thinking as well. If he struggles in the Olympics, given his will-to-win and determination on that stage, then comes back and struggles, we might have a problem.

I'm guessing the Olympics will be just what the proverbial Dr. ordered.

And I don't think it matters what his overall results are in the Olympics, just so loong as he figures it out and get's back winning us games. Then if Nash, Richards et al can get going we might have some hope.

Anyone seen that optimism thread around?

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

And I don't think it matters what his overall results are in the Olympics, just so loong as he figures it out and get's back winning us games. Then if Nash, Richards et al can get going we might have some hope.

Anyone seen that optimism thread around?

It cannot be understated how poorly Brad Richards has played since the first 2 weeks of the season. The guy is toast.

 

[KreiMeARiver*]

It cannot be understated how poorly Brad Richards has played since the first 2 weeks of the season. The guy is toast.

Yup, he has us all excited that he got his game back, then I think maybe he realized the team wasn't going anywhere and went back into the tree for the winter. #hibernation

 

[patnyrnyg]

Clearly Hank has struggled this season so far, but I think he is getting better. I'm not ready to throw this guy under the bus just because he got his payday. He is an integral piece we need to get to The Cup, and frankly I don't care what we are paying him if we get there.

Hank has shown resiliency in the past when he has had to work on certain parts of his game, and I have no doubt that he will make whatever adjustments needed to get back to form. I suspect a combination of injury/pads/aging are at the root here, and he is finding his way. The guy is completely dedicated and his focus and determination will win out.

Remember when his glove hand was weak?

We have to use Talbot from time to time, but I don't think it's a good idea to just sit Hank until Cam breaks down. He's got to be in game situations to progress.

The Olympics coudl be just the thing for him. I just hope he doesn't get hurt.

Remember when his glove hand was strong? Yeah, neither do I since it has ALWAYS been weak.

 

[nevesis]

Remember when his glove hand was strong? Yeah, neither do I since it has ALWAYS been weak.

I wish you knew what you were talking about, but you just don't. I can try to help educate you and the rest of the non-goalie/hockey players here.







If Henrik didn't have a good glove hand, he wouldn't have made ANY of those saves above.

Now, what most members here don't understand is the specifics about Henrik's equipment/playing style.

His playing style in regards to his glove hand, is more based on the modern butterfly/blocking style. Where the glove is used more about blocking/deflecting rather than purely catching.

This is for two reasons.

Hank prefers the palm of his glove to be VERY stiff. If you've ever taken a 90+ mph slapshot to the palm even in a pro level glove, if it hits in the wrong place your hand will sting very badly, and could be in pain for days, if not weeks.

He has his glove made harder than the stock pro spec to prevent these stingers, and create a better blocking surface. The downside to this is that the glove is very hard to close fully.

What this means is that in order for Hank to catch a puck, he has to catch everything in the t-trap/pocket of the glove because he can't close the glove easily.

This is why you see lots of shots deflecting off his glove, opposed to him closing and catching them. It's a trade off you make based on your style of play, protection, etc. It has absolutely nothing with his ability to make saves like I posted above.

He makes hundreds of saves like these a week if you've ever watched him in practice or warmups before games.

So, it pains me to see when members like you post such ignorant statements about a professional goaltender that aren't even close to being accurate.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

No, I don't think you understand, especially on the difference between Talbot and Lundqvist's performance. The point you missed is that the habits of Lundqvist's past years may be hard to break. These are the same habits that are making our defense in general look much worse than it has recently. Lundqvist, like our veteran defenders, has established patterns over the past years.

If Talbot never had a chance to develop those habits he's going to be starting from a better place.

I totally agree that in addition to underlying issues, he's also completely lost his confidence and is fighting everything that looks routine out there.

I didn't miss anything. You failed to explain your point. Which "habits" does he need to break?

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

I didn't miss anything. You failed to explain your point. Which "habits" does he need to break?

Years of finding pucks through traffic vs. now having to deal with wide open shooters on the rush and right in front of his net seems to be an obvious one.

 

[SingnBluesOnBroadway]

I didn't miss anything. You failed to explain your point. Which "habits" does he need to break?

The bad ones....?

 

[Hunter Gathers]

Also LOL @ cherry picking some YouTube videos to say Hank has a good glove hand. He has an average-at-best glove. It's, thankfully, improved since he broke into the league. But it's not very good.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

The bad ones....?

Oooooh. Those ones!

Years of finding pucks through traffic vs. now having to deal with wide open shooters on the rush and right in front of his net seems to be an obvious one.

So what you're saying is he is having trouble since he can see the puck now.

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

Also LOL @ cherry picking some YouTube videos to say Hank has a good glove hand. He has an average-at-best glove. It's, thankfully, improved since he broke into the league. But it's not very good.

I agree here. When nearly every NHL sniper says thats where you beat him, I think thats pretty cut and dry.

Lundqvist has been exceptional at protecting the bottom half of the net throughout his career, which has made him one of the best.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

66 out of 83 GA were from the face-off dots in. That sounds about right.

44 of 83 GA were from 10' or LESS. That's pretty indicative of the team in front of him.

http://somekindofninja.com/nhl/inde...and+Away&strength=Even&time=All&search=Search

He hasn't been his best. But he's certainly not "terrible" or "horrible" or whatever dumb words are being thrown about here. Fleury, in last year's playoffs was "horrible".

The average distance for goals against Hank has increased this season from 21.5 feet to 21.7 feet. So let's stop making excuses for the guys poor play.

He's going to rebound. I have no doubt about it. But it's just laughable to continue and try and compensate for his crap play so far.

But why do I bother. You will just make up more excuses to blame others for his poor play. Surprised you haven't started blaming the fans yet. Or global warming. Or South Sudan. Or the polar vortex. Or giant soft drinks.

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

So what you're saying is he is having trouble since he can see the puck now.

Im saying that the change in defensive philosophy is leading to very different types of scoring chances (normally, very very good ones). Its got to be a change of pace.

Not saying thats even a main reason why hes struggling -- I happen to think hes nicked up -- but I think its a factor.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

I agree here. When nearly every NHL sniper says thats where you beat him, I think thats pretty cut and dry.

Lundqvist has been exceptional at protecting the bottom half of the net throughout his career, which has made him one of the best.

Exactly. I mean, we must both be Lundqvist haters, though.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

Im saying that the change in defensive philosophy is leading to very different types of scoring chances (normally, very very good ones). Its got to be a change of pace.

Not saying thats even a main reason why hes struggling -- I happen to think hes nicked up -- but I think its a factor.

Yeah, but remember what we heard before the coaching change? I was being a bit sarcastic before because I think you and I both know that we heard that Torts system was killing Hank.

Everyone and their mother KNEW Hank would do better without guys blocking shots in front of him and obscuring his vision. Now he is getting beaten on clean, wide open shots.

I thought the injury was a reason earlier. It's way past that, now, though. And if he IS injured? He is doing his team a huge disservice by trying to play through it.

 

[Ice Hockey]

Remember the slap shot from Chara that he saw the whole way, no deflection, no screen and it straight up beat him? Yeah, if you look closely Hernik literally shies away from the puck. Something is most definitely wrong with him.

He plays too deep in his own net, his confidence is down, not aggressive enough... It seems like there's something else though. If I were Henrik I would work with a new goalie coach who promotes being more aggressive. He almost never cuts off angles and is terribad on breakaways.

I'd like to see the coach split more time and give Cam a chance to give Henrik something to work for.

edit: not to mention he's been a rebound machine this year. And everyone knows to go high all day all night open business 24/7.

 

[nevesis]

Hank in for the Blackhawks tomorrow.

 

[patnyrnyg]

Hank in for the Blackhawks tomorrow.

great, another ride on the L train. This could be more embarrassing than the Sharks game.

 

[patnyrnyg]

I wish you knew what you were talking about, but you just don't. I can try to help educate you and the rest of the non-goalie/hockey players here.







If Henrik didn't have a good glove hand, he wouldn't have made ANY of those saves above.

Now, what most members here don't understand is the specifics about Henrik's equipment/playing style.

His playing style in regards to his glove hand, is more based on the modern butterfly/blocking style. Where the glove is used more about blocking/deflecting rather than purely catching.

This is for two reasons.

Hank prefers the palm of his glove to be VERY stiff. If you've ever taken a 90+ mph slapshot to the palm even in a pro level glove, if it hits in the wrong place your hand will sting very badly, and could be in pain for days, if not weeks.

He has his glove made harder than the stock pro spec to prevent these stingers, and create a better blocking surface. The downside to this is that the glove is very hard to close fully.

What this means is that in order for Hank to catch a puck, he has to catch everything in the t-trap/pocket of the glove because he can't close the glove easily.

This is why you see lots of shots deflecting off his glove, opposed to him closing and catching them. It's a trade off you make based on your style of play, protection, etc. It has absolutely nothing with his ability to make saves like I posted above.

He makes hundreds of saves like these a week if you've ever watched him in practice or warmups before games.

So, it pains me to see when members like you post such ignorant statements about a professional goaltender that aren't even close to being accurate.

Want to bet money that I can find a lot more goals where he is getting beat to the glove side?