Five security guards to watch out for when the new season in the NHL
Photo: Gene J. Puskar Associated Press
Matt Murray already has two rings from the Stanley Cup and the confidence of the team even if he’s only 23 years old.
Some guards will attempt this season to reach plateaus important, others will try to bounce back after having experienced a season was disappointing, and finally some may wish to make a good impression in their new environment. Here are the five guards that will be monitored in 2017-2018.
Matt Murray, Pittsburgh Penguins
Murray already has two rings from the Stanley Cup and the confidence of the team even if he’s only 23 years old and he has played in 62 regular season games in his career. The net of the Penguins belongs to the player from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, now the leader in the history of the franchise in wins, Marc-Andre Fleury, left to join the Golden Knights in Las Vegas.
Steve Mason, Winnipeg Jets
The Jets have had consistency issues in front of their net since they moved to Atlanta and they believe that they have found, at least for the time being, the solution in Steve Mason. The Jets have entered into a two year agreement with the veteran 29-year-old on the 1st of July, after having spent five seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers. He, at least, should facilitate the task of the guardian of 24 years Connor Hellebuyck. Mason has made 445 departures in career in 10 years with the Blue Jackets in Columbus and the Flyers, while Hellebuyck has completed 79 in the course of the last two campaigns.
Ben Bishop, Dallas Stars
After years of uncertainty in front of their net, the Stars hope they have finally fixed the problem with the acquisition of Bishop of the Los Angeles Kings before offering him a contract of six years and $ 29.5 million US$. The veteran 30-year-old is coming off his worst season, statistically, in his career, although he has been slowed by numerous injuries during his stints with the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Kings. The player native of Denver has been acquired by the Kings on the eve of the trade deadline last year to compose a tandem with Jonathan Quick in anticipation of the playoffs, but he has won two of his seven starts, and the Kings have missed the dance of spring.
Mike Smith, Calgary Flames
The Flames are looking for a starting goalkeeper and the Coyotes of Arizona is considering to rebuild, Smith has become an attractive option for training in alberta, which was acquired by way of transaction. The best days of the old veteran of 35 years are obviously behind him, but the Flames believe that he will be able to hold his or her end behind a defensive tight and the lead beyond the first knockout round, as was the case last year. The Flames got the first pass awarded to the teams rescue in the West last year, but they have found themselves in trouble early in the regular season due to problems with consistency of goalie Brian Elliott, who left the team as a free agent.
Roberto Luongo, Panthers in Florida
Luongo has had a tough season in 2016-2017, primarily due to injuries, but he could reach this season some of the trays if he remains healthy. The Montreal-38 years of age, is 34 encounters to reach the plateau of 1,000 career and would be the third goalkeeper in history to accomplish this feat. It is also six games to surpass Terry Sawchuk (971), ranking third in history for games played, and only needs two wins to move ahead of Curtis Joseph (454) in the fourth row of the history of the NHL.