The Canucks don’t have a number one goaltender. Instead, they have two potential number one goaltenders, both of whom are long shots to actually reach that potential. 27-year-old career backups rarely take the next step forward to become full-fledged starters.
There are only a handful of goaltenders in NHL history that have taken that step and it would have to be a person with incredibly tiny hands. It’s really just Craig Anderson, Olaf Kolzig, and maybe Manny Legace.
With that in mind, a goaltending controversy was inevitable this season. Both Jacob Markstrom and Anders Nilsson were bound to go through a rough patch or two — neither have started more than 30 games in a season — and when that happens, fans were inevitably going to call for the other goaltender to start.
The phrase “goaltending controversy” will get some up in arms about the media making a mountain out of a molehill. Some might prefer the term “competition.” Call it what you want: even if it is just a minor controversy, it still is one.
There will be times when Travis Green taps one goaltender to start a game that the fans think should have gone to the other goaltender. His decision will be considered controversial. In fact, it’s already happened. There was plenty of talk on social media and in the media that Green should have gone to Nilsson in the Canucks’ fourth game of the season, rather than starting Markstrom. Markstrom’s tough outing seemed to confirm that idea.
Others, notably Steve Darling on Sportsnet 650’s morning show, felt that Markstrom should have started the fifth game of the season, giving him a chance to bounce back after a poor performance. Instead, Nilsson started and posted a shutout. The decision to start Nilsson in that game was, to some people, controversial.
Personally, I don’t think we should be afraid of the phrase “goaltending controversy.” I think the key is to understanding that it has nothing to do with what is happening within the Canucks room. It’s really just a controversy among fans and media. Travis Green will decide on a starting goaltender for each game and the fans and media will react to that decision. In some cases, that decision will be deemed controversial.
It only becomes a problem when that controversy extends into the locker room, and that is a rare occurrence. When the players themselves start to question which goaltender is starting each game, then there’s an issue. That isn’t the case here.
Frankly, a minor goaltending controversy like this is a good thing for the Canucks. They have two goaltenders who are looking to buck the odds and become legitimate number one guys. So far, both have shown signs that they might have what it takes to take the reins this season. Markstrom, despite allowing some soft goals, was outstanding in the first two games of the season. Nilsson was superb in his shutout and deserves to start against the Bruins.
If both can make Green’s goaltending decision a tough one game-after-game, that’s fantastic news for the Canucks. But don’t pretend that it’s not a goaltending controversy.
