That expectation could remain unfulfilled if the Caps are unable to resign Cristobal Huet, their reliable and often outstanding goalie picked up at the trade deadline from Montreal.
Still, they'll have a few choices. They can go crawling back to Olie Kolzig and offer him back his starting job, but that seems unlikely to work from both sides. Sadly, Kolzig's time both in DC and as a starting goalie are likely over. Alternately, they could promote current backup Brent Johnson, but there is a consensus that Johnson would be over matched in such a role. They could promote a rookie from the minors, though both young goalies in the organization thought to be future NHL goalies likely aren't yet ready for the rigors of an NHL season.
Their last and probably best option is to go outside the organization. Unfortunately, if the Caps aren't able to come to agreement with Huet, there aren't many great choices available on the free agent market.
But I propose that if the Caps think outside the box a bit there may be some people who can do the job. Let me throw out a name: Thorsten Scheibler. Not familiar with him? I'm not surprised. Here's a picture:
Yes, Thorsten Scheibler is a sumo wrestler. Like Olie Kolzig, he's from Germany. Unlike Kolzig, he is 6'5 and weighs 439 lbs. Keep in mind a regulation NHL net is 6'x4'. Scheibler easily consumes the vast majority if not all of that available space. Scheibler would have many advantages with his size. Often a potential scorer has trouble lifting a puck up and over a goaltender. This realization led to the butterfly style of goaltending, who's primary tenant is to protect the ice surface of the goalmouth. Scheibler would have no problem doing that, and additionally would be able, through sheer girth, to protect much of the upper areas as well.
Goalies are a combination of size and agility. Kolzig was successful for so long due to his size. He was able to position himself in such a way that the puck would simply bounce off him, or he would force the shooter into a bad shot simply through positioning. Huet is smaller but has quicker reflexes that make up for his lack of size. Scheibler's size would make him an extreme Kolzig. But it would also limit the distance he would have to go to make a save, meaning his size actually reduces the importance of agility.
To be successful, sumo wrestlers have to be strong (stronglikebull!), but also quick and agile with all limbs. This is because sumo wrestling is as much about positioning as it is about brute strength and weight. Positioning in terms of arms on your opponent and legs on the mat are of prime importance. These skills are highly transferable to goal tending. Scheibler's agility would allow him to go post to post and react quickly to a deflection or rebound shot.
In short, the Caps need a goalie if they aren't able to luer Huet back to DC. Scheibler is a sumo wrestler in a country that ignores sumo wrestling but loves ice hockey. How badly would he love to become a hockey player? How badly would he love to follow in the footsteps of his countryman, Kolzig? There is an answer to the Caps goalie problems, and his name is Thorsten Scheibler.
2 comments:
It reminds me of when I lived in LA, when the Kings were actually relevant, many newbie hockey fans would ask the "why don't they jusy put a really fat guy in net?" question.
I guess if you found a guy who was actually 6 feet wide, and who could remain standing - on skates - for 60 minutes, it might just work.
I should have written it better. Its a funnier idea than it came out on the page. Oh well. Nobody reads this crap anyway.
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