Part Three: Goaltending
My apologies for the lack of coverage at the tail end of the Gulls Calder Cup run. I couldn’t watch some of the games live and well – with the way things ended, I didn’t quite have the motivation to get writing again so soon after.
But it was a great season, a great year and things can and only will get better. Let us look back on the year that was one player at a time.
#30 – Jeff Glass: B
Jeff Glass was just the fourth goaltender in three seasons to form a tandem with Kevin Boyle after he was acquired mid-season from the Maple Leafs. His arrival initially puzzled many Gulls and Ducks fans, including myself; but he turned out to be a key component of the Conference Final campaign – proving the hero on more than one occasion.
Glass had a rough start to the year with the Marlies, going 3-4-1 through ten starts and posting an absolutely brutal 6.28 GAA and 0.83 SV% through that span.
After Coreau was dealt a month after Glass arrived he started to improve on those numbers when he spelled Boyle on the odd to back to back.
The real turning point in his year came when he assumed number one responsibilities after Kevin Boyle was recalled to Anaheim. Even after Boyle was returned he kept up his strong play, proving to be the hot-hand heading into the playoffs. Since joining San Diego he went 9-5-2 and improved to 3.04 GAA and 0.903 SV%.
- Kid doing a Fortnite dance during a break
- AHLTV scoreboard covering the screen during play
- #BENOITSMASH
- #DREWSMASH
- Snipe City Drew
- Brendan Guhle takes a bad penalty
- Trevor Carrick takes a penalty at the worst time possible
- Maple Syrup Bros
- Captain Sam Scores!
- Limoges Lets it GOOOOO!
- #PUREPERREAULT
- Spot Jeff Bush and the hat
- Dubious call goes against the Gulls
- Jacob Perreault draws a penalty
- Tropp The Mic – Style Goal
- Zilch hot mic interlude – fastfood chat or beatboxing
His one year AHL only deal expired at the conclusion of last season and given the Ducks recent signing of Anthony Stolarz it appears as though he will not be brought back.
#30 – Kevin Boyle: A
Kevin Boyle could be forgiven for developing a case of Separation Anxiety given he has gone through four different partners through his three seasons with the Gulls. Starting with Jhonas Enroth, then Reto Berra last year and this year a split with Jared Coreau and Jeff Glass. This upcoming season appears to be no different with the Ducks recent signing of Stolarz.
Mr. Boyle had the kind of breakout year that I had quietly predicted. He didn’t quite get in the amount of Games with the Ducks that I thought he might but he did get his first NHL start and shutout – the second Ducks goalie ever to achieve the feat. He also saw his first AHL All Star game appearance – the only Gull to be selected. However; injuries resulting from multiple collisions across different games sidelined him at the worst possible time of the year for San Diego and he never quite got his swagger back in time for the Calder Cup run.
Boyle started out relatively well – despite the Gulls slow start; posting a 9-5-0 record with 3.13 GAA and 0.900 SV% at the time of his recall. He saw action in 5 games with the Ducks, getting 4 starts and going 1-3-0 with a 2.17 GAA and 0.928 SV%.
By years end he had 24-13-2 with a 2.90 GAA and 0.907 SV%, the worst overall numbers he had posted in his three years with San Diego but also having broken career records for games played (43) and wins (24).
The 27 year old New Jersey native has one year left on the two year deal he signed with the Ducks and will look to once again lead the Gulls in net.
Just as an aside: Looking ahead to the future – Stolarz has a two year deal, both Redmond and Boyle are on expiring deals this season; recent draft picks Lukas Dostal and Olle Eriksson-Ekk will be looking to make the jump in the coming years. This is the year that Boyle proves he is ready for NHL backup duty or moves on to further his career.
Honourable Mention
Jared Coreau
Coreau was a strange signing. Coming in with high hopes given his recent Calder Cup winning performance with the Griffins – he didn’t quite live up to his billing. He had a 3-6-3 record and 0.895 SV% with a 3.57 GAA at the time of his trade to St Louise/San Antonio. He didnt do too much better in San Antonio, finishing the year 12-13-6, with a 0.886 SV% and a slightly better 3.15 GAA.
Angus Redmond
Signing Redmond to a three year deal hasn’t proved to be the best decision made by the Ducks scouting staff thus far; he is entering his final year of that deal this season and has yet to see time with the Ducks while only seeing just two AHL games – both last season.
That said, his performances in coming relief for Glass while Kevin Boyle was up in Anaheim were admirable if not unexpectedly impressive. Through 42 mins of action he made 20 saves while posting a 0.909 SV% and 2.85 GAA.
He likely starts this season in the ECHL again, for which team I could not say given he didnt seem to be wanted in Tulsa. He played for three different ECHL teams last year, he finished the year with the Jacksonville Icemen – going 3-4-0 and posting .905 SV% and a 2.89 GAA.
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