I like to think of myself as a “goalie net half full” kind of evaluator. In almost every circumstance, even goaltenders who are suffering under the crushing weight of a passion fanbase’s ire have the ability to play to the level at which they’ve been signed; even if a goaltender isn’t likely to be the next Dominik Hasek, he or she can almost always at least achieve being a nice, respectable future Calvin Pickard.
When the Colorado Avalanche were linked to goaltender Jonas Johansson, I was fascinated. By the time they pulled the trigger on a deal that brought him on board for a sixth round draft pick, though, analysis out of Buffalo — which saw some pundits describe him as “the worst goaltender to ever wear a Sabres uniform” — raised some interesting flags.