Alvaro Montoya

I really don't know what pick you guys have but if it's the 5th or 6th as I believe, and there is really nothing special with the forwards why not take Montoya, you have like a half dozen 2nd rounders and besides isn't Blackburn coming off a major injury and even if he's healthy next year who says he's your answer in the future. Montoya has alot of similar qualities to another great americn goalie that used to play for the Rangers and won them a cup in 1994. He's american, from Chicago and has proven himself in pressure situations (Gold medal WJC's). I'm a Devil fan and I'm telling you this guy is a perfect fit even if he's a reach at the early pick. I saw him in those WJC's and he just impressed the hell out of me.

I really don't know what pick you guys have but if it's the 5th or 6th as I believe, and there is really nothing special with the forwards why not take Montoya, you have like a half dozen 2nd rounders and besides isn't Blackburn coming off a major injury and even if he's healthy next year who says he's your answer in the future. Montoya has alot of similar qualities to another great americn goalie that used to play for the Rangers and won them a cup in 1994. He's american, from Chicago and has proven himself in pressure situations (Gold medal WJC's). I'm a Devil fan and I'm telling you this guy is a perfect fit even if he's a reach at the early pick. I saw him in those WJC's and he just impressed the hell out of me.
He looks great and all but there is really no need for another top flight young netminder right now. Blackburn IS the future. He played well when he was in the NHL before and he is only going to get better. Yea he had an injury but he is expected to make a full recovery and next season he should get the much need experience that the AHL can provide him. In 2 years he is our starter, that is my prediction. Add that to the fact that we have Lundqvuist who is said to be one of the best goaltenders in Europe. He also has franchise goaltender potential, and he could push Blackburn and create a logjam inside the crease in the near future. We really do have quality depth at the position. It would be like the Sabres drafting a goaltender, or the Thrashers, or Blue Jackets.......just pointless.

What we lack are bluechip offensive prospects. We need top-line talent and this could be provided by a number of guys being discussed like Ladd, Olesz, and Schremp.

It would be like the Sabres drafting a goaltender, or the Thrashers, or Blue Jackets.......just pointless.


That said, I'd like to put a quick word of praise in for Kari Lehtonen.

I thought he was slightly overrated, but even at the NHL level, at 20 years of age, he's 4-0, 1.25 GAA, and a .953 save percentage on a team whose defense corps consists of Exelby, Kaberle, Heins, Kloucek, Tamer, Majesky, Sutton and Tremblay.

Not bad... :bow: :bow: :bow:

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/teams/player_bio.asp?player_id=2893&hubname=ATL

That said, I'd like to put a quick word of praise in for Kari Lehtonen.

I thought he was slightly overrated, but even at the NHL level, at 20 years of age, he's 4-0, 1.25 GAA, and a .953 save percentage on a team whose defense corps consists of Exelby, Kaberle, Heins, Kloucek, Tamer, Majesky, Sutton and Tremblay.

Not bad... :bow: :bow: :bow:

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/teams/player_bio.asp?player_id=2893&hubname=ATL
He is sick. I cant imagine how lethal Atlanta will be when their defense fills out and they can add a few more solid forwards. They are definately a team that was built the right way with alot of luck from solid draft years and the draft lottery (and the Islanders' stupidity).

A team that drafts well will succeed....see the NJ Devils....... of course you have to be bad for years in order to get those high draft picks. :dunno:

Atlanta will be a Cup contender for many years. Lehtonen makes few mistakes, his mental game is that good, and with goalies that's everything, IMO. Too bad Blackie missed the season, his mental toughness is what made him great in Juniors, with more maturity it's only gonna to get better.

Montoya is a good goalie, but at this point I don't see him as a Lehtonen.
I like Schwarz better anyway ;)

A team that drafts well will succeed....see the NJ Devils....... of course you have to be bad for years in order to get those high draft picks. :dunno:
I really dont think it is so much that NJ drafts well, as it is that the Devils have an efficient system in place and the are great at putting players in roles that they fit and can succeed in. The only two players that I can think of that are really relied upon are Broduer (drafted), Stevens, and maybe even Neidermayer. You can talk all you want about Gomez, Elias, ect but last time I checked the Devs were on the verge of being knocked out in Round 1. Thats what happens when you lose Stevens, one of their 2 key components. The draft has certainly helped NJ and given them depth but it is not to say NJ has drafted better than Atlanta, Colorado, Montreal, ect. If Sather ever drafted Adrian Foster we would have had about 9 threads every year since about how he sucks and how Sather is an idiot.

with blackburn and lundqvist in the system and the countless needs on forward and defense, using their first pick on a goalie would be simply moronic...even if the forward isn't as good as montoya, a good forward has more value to the rangers than a goalie cause they don't need a future goalie

If Montoya was Fleury then I would definately consider it, but I really doubt Montoya has a much better career then Blackburn.

with blackburn and lundqvist in the system and the countless needs on forward and defense, using their first pick on a goalie would be simply moronic...even if the forward isn't as good as montoya, a good forward has more value to the rangers than a goalie cause they don't need a future goalie

the other argument is that if montoya is clearly the best player available, you take him, and then you have more resources to make your team better because you have 3 blue chip goalies. you trade one of them and turn that into a player we need who was not available when we drafted.

the other argument is that if montoya is clearly the best player available, you take him, and then you have more resources to make your team better because you have 3 blue chip goalies. you trade one of them and turn that into a player we need who was not available when we drafted.


Hypothetical:


Rangers draft Montoya. He, Blackburn, and Lundqvist all play equally. The three of them exhibit the type of skills that will project them to No. 1 status in a few seasons. They're not great, but they are franchise goaltenders. Who would you deal and why?

Hypothetical:


Rangers draft Montoya. He, Blackburn, and Lundqvist all play equally. The three of them exhibit the type of skills that will project them to No. 1 status in a few seasons. They're not great, but they are franchise goaltenders. Who would you deal and why?

interesting. i definetely keep blackburn. i like his mental game/character.

Hypothetical:


Rangers draft Montoya. He, Blackburn, and Lundqvist all play equally. The three of them exhibit the type of skills that will project them to No. 1 status in a few seasons. They're not great, but they are franchise goaltenders. Who would you deal and why?

Blackburn or Montoya - whoever seems to be the toughest mentally. Unless of course it's Lundqvist by a long shot.

I like North American players :D

.........but I told you so, I told you so!! :razz:

I started this thread back in April because I thought it would be a great pick for the Ranger, mostly because he reminded me alot of Mike Richter. I know alot of you guys are ripping this pick but 3-5 years from now when he is Team USA's top goaltender and yours as well I really believe that you won't regret this pick. He is from Chicago, a big city with the same passion for sports as New York, he's built for this position in this city.

Great pick. Forwards are a dime a dozen espicially in this draft, but great steady goalies are not. Who cares what your depth chart is with the goaltenders, you still don't pass on someone who is perfect in taking your team to the cup. And he is.

I'll admit i wouldnt have picked him but I do believe the sky is the limit for him.

He has that special "Something" that big game players have. I'm not saying Blackburn or Lundqvist don't, but Montoya is a very good prospect.

what "seems" to have impressed me about this draft for the rangers over others is that it "seemed" that all of management and scouting had a hand in it. maloney looks to have had a lot of say in this draft leading up to it. and remember that ex-red wings european scout that was onstage when korpikoski was selected? obviously he had say in that pick.

in the end, it may all amount to absolutely nothing. but it just feels like everyone really did their homework on this draft and felt 3 things:

1. montoya was BPA
2. there were no forwards or d-men after the top 3 that caught their eye as having big-play potential offensively or defensively
3. korpikoski's upside at least as an offensive player (or possibly as an overall better player in general) was better than tukonen. burke even said on tsn that some scouts think tukonen is a defensive-type forward with not a great offensive upside

and keeping in mind that buffalo and san jose both stacked up on goalies above all other positions once upon a time and they are reaping the rewards of it now gives me some hope. not a whole lot yet but at least some...

and keeping in mind that buffalo and san jose both stacked up on goalies above all other positions once upon a time and they are reaping the rewards of it now gives me some hope. not a whole lot yet but at least some...


If that's your exhibit A, I'm scared. :)

Don't get me wrong. When I first heard the selection, I was HIGHLY disappointed. I slouched down in my seat thinking, "oh man, Sather is an idiot..." But the more I think about it, the more I try to look at the bright side, the more I see Roberto Luongo and Marc-Andre Fleury in this Alvaro Montoya kid. His demeanor and passion really reminds me of them, and if he turns out like either (well, it's too early to say for M/A F), especially Luongo, then this draft is a homerun, regardless of what happened afterwards.

Having said that... San Jose got a 2nd round pick for their great young netminding prospect who ended up setting an NHL record for GAA and bringing his team one game from the Cup.

That's the problem with having a glut of great young goaltenders. Goalies NEVER return much on the trade front, especially unproven ones.

If that's your exhibit A, I'm scared. :)

Don't get me wrong. When I first heard the selection, I was HIGHLY disappointed. I slouched down in my seat thinking, "oh man, Sather is an idiot..." But the more I think about it, the more I try to look at the bright side, the more I see Roberto Luongo and Marc-Andre Fleury in this Alvaro Montoya kid. His demeanor and passion really reminds me of them, and if he turns out like either (well, it's too early to say for M/A F), especially Luongo, then this draft is a homerun, regardless of what happened afterwards.

Having said that... San Jose got a 2nd round pick for their great young netminding prospect who ended up setting an NHL record for GAA and bringing his team one game from the Cup.

That's the problem with having a glut of great young goaltenders. Goalies NEVER return much on the trade front, especially unproven ones.


that's indeed a good point taken. the only thing i can say is that having 3 talented goaltenders in our system now, odds are we can't possibly strike out on goaltending in our future. so that's one position down, and more to go. we definitely are taking the "build from the net on out" approach lol