Sadly, I'd argue the players are outpacing the goalies in development, right now.
Discussion
Really?! Is it pretty recent, I am curious about this. The things we are teaching my players vs what Im expected to know for my goalies, the goalie skills have me trying to learn on the fly while player skills are very run of the mill.
My biggest issue I'm having with player skating skills right now is doing the skills again after being off the ice for 10+ yrs after career ending surgeries.
Yeah, the goaltending development has been decelerating, while the players' has accelerated. The coaching isn't nearly as innovative as it used to be. Goalie coaches are too preoccupied with gimmicks than real technology.
The average SAV% in the NHL has been on a steady decline for the last 5 years. It's on pace to be below .900 by the next two seasons, if it stays on trend.
Thank you for the insight, I've probably just been away from this side of the game to really see the stagnation in goaltending. I've been watching equipment evolve over the last 4-5 years wanting to get back out on the ice. The more time I spend back in the game I'm sure I will pick up on the change in development.
I do see the goalies being neglected in practice, I'm teaching my kids (mostly U10) how I got started. We're just focusing on basic skating skills on public skates. Just get them moving in the gear, they don't get any work on this stuff in practices and are ignored for a good portion of their practice.
I'm trying to figure out what I should be doing for them, people want me to work on just butterfly slides and how to stop the Michigan... Not the foundation of a goaltender, tpushes shuffles and getting up and down.
I wonder if I am doing it wrong sometimes.