Should Valiquette be Replaced?

When fans think of the Rangers current goaltending situation, they often feel like there is not much to say, as Henrik Lundqvist carries the load in that area of this team. While this is true, and Lundqvist has averaged around seventy games played in his last three seasons, there will be times Henrik will need his rest, especially under Tortorella who intends on giving Hank more nights off this year than he has seen in previous seasons. And then there are the times like now, when Lundqvist will have something within his body tweaked or causing him discomfort, keeping him out of the lineup.

As we know, or at least I hope we do, Steve Valiquette is the current back-up netminder for the Rangers. When it seemed like Valiquette's career was over, his saving grace in Benoit Allaire came along and made him into the goalie we now know today. Vally, for the most part, has served his purpose here in New York, but in my opinion, has been nothing above average. One may say that is what they expect from a back-up, but in today's NHL, where every win and loss could potentially make or break you come April, there needs to be an upgrade between the pipes as back-up to Lundqvist.

Valiquette is just three games over .500 in his career, is good for at least one soft goal beating him per game, and is not the most dependant goaltender against highly skilled teams (*cough* San Jose *cough*).

Just take Steve's last two starts for example; in Edmonton, only two shots beat the 32-year-old goalie, but one was was a floating wristshot that went in because Vally was not covering his post. The other never even left the ice and beat him low. Against Calgary, the first goal allowed, granted he was screened, could have been stopped with the correct positioning, something Lundqvist is so good at. The second Flames tally was not his fault, but the third was, as he allowed a shot from about the goal line to sail over him, a goal in which buried the Rangers in the game.

As I said, he is due for one of those softies at the very least every game, sometimes two or more, which turn out to be contests the Blueshirts usually do not come out of as victors. Another aspect of Vally's game that was never perfect was his rebound control, still isn't. If wrist shots from the blueline are not being smothered by this guy, I do not know exactly what to expect him to cover. And when shots are taken that require quick saves with no cover, nine out of ten of them will be directed right into the slot where the opposition picks up the rebound. Little things like these can very well add up and be costly in the end.

While there is not much I believe Glen Sather can really do about our back-up goaltendng scenario this season, Valiquette is a free agent this coming July, and I expect him to be sent walking. Not only will there be availabilities in the free agent market to replace Vally (look at what the Isles did this Summer), but there is also a very capable goaltender in Chad Johnson that will more than likely be ready for the NHL level by the 2010-11 season. So if I was Glen Sather, I would be planning on this season being Valliquette's last in New York.

With that being said, I do realize there are more severe problems with this team at the moment, and that other areas of the lineup need to be improved before the goaltending. At the same time, I feel that it is a problem that is beginning to nag Ranger fans, but they tend to ignore it because we have Lundqvist. When Hank is in, you know you have a great chance of winning on that given night, but when Vally starts, the Ranger faithful are always doubtful of the inconsistent netminder. Nonetheless, we must deal with Valiquette for now, and keep our fingers crossed that he does his job when called upon, but with Tortorella as coach, I think their will be an improvement made in the near future.

(Photo courtesy of Reuters Pictures)