Bruce Boudreau certainly sees the value of a goalie who can handle the puck well. And it’s clear that Braden Holtby has the skills to become one of the NHL’s best in that category – maybe sooner than we think. But you can forgive Boudreau if that skill also puts him on edge sometimes.
“I thought [Holtby] was getting a little too brave sometimes tonight,” Boudreau said of the rookie’s 40-save performance in a win over Carolina on Friday. “I think he’s a young guy. In two or three years when he has all his confidence about him every time he steps on the ice that puck-handling is going to be such an added bonus because he’s really good at it.”
Boudreau joked that Holtby at times is so confident he feels like he can deke actual skaters. And there were a few close calls against the Hurricanes where he managed to elude trouble. All part of the risk-reward of having someone in net with that kind of talent.
“Being here I’ve had to get used to it. But on the same token if you’ve got a goaltender that can play the puck well, what an added bonus,” Boudreau said. “That forces teams to not be able to dump pucks in. When [New York Islanders goalie Rick] DiPietro was at his best there was one game we played them we only had 13 shots on goal because every time we shot it in he got it out – and on the tape.”
The Caps won that Dec. 22, 2007 game 3-2, but actually managed16 shots on goal. Maybe it will take a mistake or two for Holtby to have that confidence with the puck – some might even say cockiness – tempered. One thing is for sure – a guy like that is never going to like the trapezoid, which keeps goalies from roaming away from their net.
“That thing is the worst thing ever invented in hockey,” Holtby said, only half joking. “It drives me insane.”
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