Confidence Comes From Andersen

Photo By: Angie Hamilton

I hate writing game recaps.  Anyone can sit down and write a play-by-play of what happened during the game.  Some of those same people may even give a few observations.  Most of the time those observations aren't because they really observed them but because someone else mentioned it and they just happen to agree.  I am neither of those people.

Yesterday I put a blog together that explained what Anaheim wants out of the Norfolk Admirals.  Tonight I could write almost the same blog as last night, with a few changes.

There was a big change for tonight's game over last night and it wasn't the fact the Admirals finally pulled points at home.  It was Frederik Andersen.  Everyone who reads my blogs knows my opinion on our goal tending situation.  If you don't you are going to hear a little of it now.

***If you are sensitive to a fan criticizing their team you may want to stop reading now and pick up later in the blog.***

I am some what on the same side as Anaheim when it comes to the role of the Norfolk Admirals and the AHL should play in hockey.  The AHL is the top developmental league that should be used to create future stars for a particular team depending on the affiliation.  The AHL is not the start of development though.  This should be a league used to fine tune skills of players who are almost there not make huge strides to develop lower level players.  This is the case with Igor Bobkov.  Don't get me wrong, Bobkov is a good goalie but he has a lot of development issues.  The easiest way to sum up Bobkov is "When he's on, he's on but when he's off he is REALLY off.  And he's off a lot."  You can see every time Bobkov gets in the net he is working on the areas he needs to improve on.  But at best right now he is an ECHL goalie.  That is where he should be making improvements to his game.  When the skaters get on the ice in front of Bobkov you can see they don't have the confidence to play without worry.  The defense pulls close to the goal to create more traffic knowing it is better to block the shot then to give Bobkov the opportunity to make the save because they know Bobkov has huge rebound control issues.  The forwards don't get a chance to push deep into the offensive zone for a good hard forecheck because they know they need to get back faster to help block shots.  The skaters lose the opportunity to develop the skills they have so they can contribute to the future of the Ducks.

***Sensitive fans can start reading again.***

Then you have Frederik Andersen.  Norfolk plays with confidence when Andersen is in goal.  Andersen allows for a good forecheck from the forwards and doesn't require as much coverage from the defense.  He is a perfect example of a goalie who needs development but at a more fine tuning level.  This is the kind of goalie you expect to see in the AHL.  By no means is Andersen perfect.  He has movement problems.  He needs to work on speed from post to post.  He also needs to work on his ice vision when he is being screened.  But he is at the level where a good year will give him what he needs to be valuable as a future NHL goalie.

There was something else I liked seeing during the game.  I heard an interview with the Ducks head coach talking about Emerson Etem.  He said he was very impressed by the way Etem can move the puck and pretty much skate circles around any teams defense.  He also went on to say he feels Etem needs to be a little more aggressive on the ice.  That is where the AHL comes into play.  Tonight I saw an Emerson Etem I have never seen before.  He played a little harder and was aggressive pushing through the defense instead of around them and was rewarded for it with several good scoring chance.

Again, I am not a coach.  I am not a manager.  I am a guy... no... a FAN who sites in the stands and watches these young men become great athletes.

With that said... Rabbi out!

Email any questions to hockeypocket@hotmail.com and I will try to get some of them into the Rant's Weekly Video Blog.  You can also become a writer for the Rant Norfolk Admirals by just sending your fan writing to jack_miceli.norfolkadmirals@blogger.com.  Follow the Rant on Twitter @HockeyRabbi and make sure you follow Brad @AdmiralsUnited.

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**The Rant Norfolk Admirals is in no way affiliated with the AHL or the Norfolk Admirals organization. The views and opinions in this blog do not reflect the views and opinions of the AHL or the Norfolk Admirals organization. For the fans by the fans.