New goalie. Henrik Lundqvist: Legendary Rangers Goalie Retires After 15 Stellar NHL Seasons

How did Henrik Lundqvist impact the New York Rangers during his career. What were Lundqvist’s most significant accomplishments in the NHL. Why did Henrik Lundqvist decide to retire at this point in his career. How does Lundqvist’s retirement affect the New York Rangers going forward.

Henrik Lundqvist’s Illustrious NHL Career Comes to an End

On August 20, 2021, Henrik Lundqvist, the longtime goaltender for the New York Rangers, announced his retirement from professional hockey after 15 seasons in the National Hockey League. In a heartfelt social media post, Lundqvist reflected on his journey and expressed gratitude for the opportunities hockey had provided him throughout his life.

Lundqvist wrote, “For the last 30 years, I have devoted my life to the game of hockey…and now it’s time to walk away from the game I love and begin a new chapter.” He went on to thank Swedish hockey, the Rangers organization, New York City, and the NHL for their support throughout his career.

Lundqvist’s Impact on the New York Rangers Franchise

During his 15-year tenure with the Rangers, Lundqvist established himself as one of the greatest goaltenders in franchise history. His consistent excellence between the pipes helped elevate the team to new heights and created a lasting legacy in New York.

Key Accomplishments with the Rangers:

• Won the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s top goaltender in 2012
• Led the Rangers to the Eastern Conference championship in 2014
• Guided the team to a Stanley Cup Final appearance in 2014
• Selected to five NHL All-Star Games
• Holds numerous franchise records for goaltending statistics

How did Lundqvist’s presence impact the Rangers’ competitiveness? His elite play in net provided a strong foundation for the team, allowing them to consistently contend for playoff spots and make deep postseason runs. Lundqvist’s ability to steal games and perform under pressure made him a cornerstone of the franchise for over a decade.

Lundqvist’s Place in NHL History

Beyond his contributions to the Rangers, Lundqvist cemented his place among the all-time great goaltenders in NHL history. His career statistics and accolades put him in elite company.

Notable NHL Career Achievements:

• 6th all-time in NHL wins with 459
• 2nd most wins among goaltenders without a Stanley Cup
• 8th all-time in games played by a goalie (887)
• 10th all-time in save percentage
• Olympic gold medalist with Sweden in 2006

Where does Lundqvist rank among the greatest goalies in NHL history? While opinions may vary, his consistent excellence over 15 seasons and numerous statistical achievements place him firmly among the top tier of netminders to ever play the game. His lack of a Stanley Cup championship is the only major accolade missing from an otherwise stellar resume.

The Decision to Retire: Factors and Timing

Lundqvist’s retirement announcement came after a challenging year that saw him sign with the Washington Capitals but ultimately miss the entire 2020-21 season due to heart issues. He underwent open-heart surgery for an aortic valve replacement, aortic root, and ascending aortic replacement.

Why did Lundqvist choose to retire at this point in his career? Several factors likely contributed to his decision:

1. Health concerns following major heart surgery
2. Age (39 years old at the time of retirement)
3. Desire to end his career on his own terms
4. Recognition that his best years were behind him
5. Opportunity to transition into the next phase of his life

While Lundqvist had attempted to make a comeback with the Capitals, the severity of his health issues and the challenges of returning to elite form at his age likely played a significant role in his decision to hang up his skates.

The Legacy of “King Henrik” in New York

Henrik Lundqvist’s impact on the New York Rangers and the city of New York extends far beyond his on-ice accomplishments. His consistent excellence, leadership, and community involvement made him a beloved figure among fans and earned him the nickname “King Henrik.”

Lundqvist’s Lasting Impact:

• Face of the franchise for over a decade
• Philanthropic efforts through the Henrik Lundqvist Foundation
• Cultural icon in New York City
• Role model for young goaltenders
• Potential future Hall of Fame inductee

How will Lundqvist be remembered by Rangers fans? His combination of skill, competitiveness, and class both on and off the ice endeared him to the New York faithful. Many consider him the greatest goaltender in franchise history, and his jersey retirement ceremony will undoubtedly be an emotional affair at Madison Square Garden.

The Rangers’ Goaltending Situation Post-Lundqvist

With Lundqvist’s retirement, the New York Rangers find themselves in a period of transition in net. The team had already begun preparing for life after Lundqvist in recent seasons, but his official retirement marks the end of an era.

Current Rangers Goaltending Depth Chart:

1. Igor Shesterkin
2. Alexandar Georgiev
3. Keith Kinkaid

How does Lundqvist’s retirement affect the Rangers’ goaltending plans? The team has been grooming Igor Shesterkin as Lundqvist’s successor, and the young Russian netminder has shown promise in his limited NHL action. Shesterkin will now have the opportunity to fully step into the starting role and attempt to fill the large skates left behind by Lundqvist.

Lundqvist’s Potential Post-Retirement Plans

While Lundqvist has not announced specific plans for his post-playing career, his skills, experience, and popularity open up numerous possibilities for his future endeavors.

Potential Post-Retirement Roles:

• Broadcasting or media work
• Coaching or player development
• Front office position with an NHL team
• Expanded focus on philanthropic efforts
• Business ventures or entrepreneurship

What path might Lundqvist choose for his post-playing career? Given his intelligence, charisma, and deep understanding of the game, a role in broadcasting or team management seems like a natural fit. However, Lundqvist may also choose to focus on his charitable foundation or explore opportunities outside of hockey.

The Impact of Lundqvist’s Retirement on the NHL

Henrik Lundqvist’s retirement not only affects the New York Rangers but also leaves a void in the NHL as a whole. His consistent excellence and professionalism made him one of the league’s most respected players and a true ambassador for the sport.

Lundqvist’s Contributions to the NHL:

• Elevated the profile of European goaltenders
• Set a high standard for consistency and longevity
• Provided memorable performances in high-stakes games
• Served as a positive role model for young players
• Helped grow the sport’s popularity, especially in New York

How will Lundqvist’s retirement impact the league’s goaltending landscape? While a new generation of talented netminders has emerged, Lundqvist’s departure marks the end of an era for a goaltender who defined excellence for over a decade. His retirement, along with that of other veteran goalies in recent years, signals a changing of the guard in NHL creases.

Comparing Lundqvist to Other Goaltending Legends

Henrik Lundqvist’s career achievements naturally invite comparisons to other legendary goaltenders in NHL history. While evaluating goalies across different eras can be challenging, Lundqvist’s consistency and longevity put him in elite company.

Goaltenders with Similar Career Trajectories:

• Martin Brodeur
• Patrick Roy
• Roberto Luongo
• Ed Belfour
• Curtis Joseph

How does Lundqvist stack up against these goaltending greats? While he may not have the Stanley Cup championships of Brodeur or Roy, Lundqvist’s individual statistics and impact on his franchise are comparable to many Hall of Fame netminders. His international success, including an Olympic gold medal, further bolsters his case as one of the best goalies of his generation.

Lundqvist’s career save percentage of .918 ranks among the best all-time, showcasing his consistent ability to stop pucks at an elite level. His 459 wins place him sixth in NHL history, a testament to both his individual skill and longevity in the league.

The Evolution of Goaltending During Lundqvist’s Career

Over the course of Henrik Lundqvist’s 15-year NHL career, the art of goaltending underwent significant changes. Lundqvist’s ability to adapt and maintain his elite level of play throughout these shifts highlights his exceptional skill and work ethic.

Key Changes in Goaltending During Lundqvist’s Era:

• Increased emphasis on butterfly style and blocking techniques
• Advancements in goalie equipment technology
• Growing importance of puck-handling skills for goalies
• Shifts in defensive systems and shot-blocking strategies
• Implementation of advanced analytics in evaluating goaltender performance

How did Lundqvist adapt to these changes throughout his career? Known for his exceptional positioning and reflexes, Lundqvist successfully incorporated modern techniques while maintaining his unique style. His ability to read plays and anticipate shots allowed him to excel even as the game evolved around him.

Lundqvist’s Impact on Swedish Hockey

As one of the most successful Swedish goaltenders in NHL history, Henrik Lundqvist has had a profound impact on hockey in his home country. His success has inspired a new generation of Swedish netminders and further solidified Sweden’s reputation for producing top-tier goaltending talent.

Lundqvist’s Influence on Swedish Hockey:

• Raised the profile of Swedish goaltenders in the NHL
• Inspired young players to pursue goaltending
• Represented Sweden with distinction in international competitions
• Helped maintain Sweden’s strong goaltending tradition
• Paved the way for future Swedish goalies in the NHL

What is Lundqvist’s legacy in Swedish hockey? His success at the highest level of the sport has cemented his status as a national hero and role model for aspiring goaltenders. Lundqvist’s career serves as a blueprint for young Swedish players hoping to make their mark in the NHL, demonstrating that with talent, hard work, and dedication, it’s possible to achieve greatness on the world’s biggest hockey stage.

The Financial Impact of Lundqvist’s Retirement

Henrik Lundqvist’s retirement has financial implications for both the player and the New York Rangers organization. As one of the highest-paid goaltenders in NHL history, Lundqvist’s contract situation and its resolution are noteworthy aspects of his retirement.

Financial Considerations of Lundqvist’s Retirement:

• Buyout of final year of Rangers contract in 2020
• Salary cap implications for the Rangers
• Potential loss of future earnings from playing
• Opportunities for post-retirement income (endorsements, appearances, etc.)
• Long-term financial planning for life after hockey

How does Lundqvist’s retirement affect the Rangers’ salary cap situation? The team had already navigated the majority of the financial impact when they bought out the final year of his contract in 2020. This buyout will continue to count against the Rangers’ salary cap for the 2021-22 season, but at a reduced rate compared to his original contract.

For Lundqvist personally, while retiring means foregoing potential future playing salary, his career earnings and smart financial management should set him up well for retirement. Additionally, his popularity and reputation may lead to lucrative opportunities in broadcasting, endorsements, or other hockey-related roles.

Memorable Moments from Lundqvist’s Career

Throughout his 15 seasons with the New York Rangers, Henrik Lundqvist provided fans with countless memorable performances and milestone achievements. His clutch play in big games and consistent excellence created a highlight reel of unforgettable moments.

Some of Lundqvist’s Most Iconic Moments:

• 2014 Eastern Conference Finals Game 6 vs. Montreal – 18-save shutout to clinch series
• 2012 Vezina Trophy win – recognition as the NHL’s top goaltender
• 2014 Olympic silver medal with Sweden
• Multiple Game 7 victories in playoff series
• Becoming the fastest goaltender to reach 400 NHL wins

Which moment stands out as the defining performance of Lundqvist’s career? Many would point to his heroics in the 2014 playoffs, particularly the Eastern Conference Finals clinching shutout against Montreal. This victory sent the Rangers to their first Stanley Cup Final in 20 years and showcased Lundqvist at the peak of his abilities on one of hockey’s biggest stages.

Beyond individual games, Lundqvist’s consistency and longevity created a legacy of excellence that Rangers fans will cherish for generations. His ability to give his team a chance to win night after night, year after year, made him a cornerstone of the franchise and one of the most beloved players in team history.

Henrik Lundqvist, legendary New York Rangers goalie, retires after 15 seasons in the NHL

Getty Images

Henrik Lundqvist, a legend between the pipes for the New York Rangers, announced his retirement from hockey in a social media post on Friday.

Lundqvist’s opened his post saying, “It’s time.”

“For the last 30 years, I have devoted my life to the game of hockey…and now it’s time to walk away from the game I love and begin a new chapter. The future excites me. I’ve met so many amazing people over the years and that will help to guide and inspire me in my new journey. There are many things I love about this game: From the excitement I felt as an 8-year old at my first practice to the 15 years of butterflies I had every time I took the ice in the greatest city in the world. I’m extremely grateful for what hockey has brought me and taught me in life. These lessons will never leave me.”

In the post, the 39-year-old went on to thank Swedish hockey, the Rangers, New York City and the NHL.

Following the announcement, the Rangers thanked their longtime goalie and made an announcement about the upcoming season.  

Lundqvist played 15 seasons for the Rangers, winning the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s top goaltender in 2012 and leading the Rangers to an Eastern Conference championship and Stanley Cup Final appearance in 2014. He signed with the Washington Capitals before the 2020-21 season, but missed the entire season after needing open heart surgery for an aortic valve replacement, aortic root and ascending aortic replacement. While he did make it to the practice rink for the Caps, Lundqvist did not appear in a game with Washington.

In addition to winning a Vezina Trophy, Lundqvist retires with the sixth-most wins in NHL history, 459, which is the second highest number among goaltenders to have not won a Stanley Cup. He was selected to five All-Star Games, played in 887 regular season games (eighth among goalies in NHL history), and is 10th in league history in save percentage.  

Colorado Avalanche find their new goalie in a trade for Darcy Kuemper

After losing Philipp Grubauer to Seattle, the Colorado Avalanche went out and found themselves a new starting goalie as they have traded for Darcy Kuemper from the Arizona Coyotes.

In exchange, the Avalanche will send defender Conor Timmins, their 2022 first round draft pick and a conditional 2024 third rounder to the Arizona Coyotes. the deal also includes Arizona retaining $1m of Kuemper’s salary meaning that the netminder will count for $3.5m against the cap this coming season.

The first round pick that Colorado sent to the Coyotes is lottery protected meaning that if Kuemper were to get injured and the season takes a terrible turn resulting in the Avs missing the playoffs, the first round pick gets pushed to 2023.

General Manager Joe Sakic had to pay a big price but in Kuemper, he is getting one of the best goalies in the NHL. He is also a rental. With one year left on his contract, Kuemper can become an unrestricted free agent next summer. Given the price paid in this trade, it stands to reason that the Avalanche will be looking to work out an extension with the 31-year old.

Though he comes at a very high price – particularly for someone with only one year left on his contract – Kuemper has been consistently one of the best goalies in the league over the last four seasons. During his time in Arizona he had a .920 sv% with a 35.1 GSAA and a 63% quality start rate. In other words, he has been better than Philipp Grubauer over the last three seasons while playing on a much worse team.

Kuemper will now join Pavel Francouz and Jonas Johansson as the three goaltending options for the Avalanche this season.

The one concern with Kuemper is his past injuries. He has had lower-body issues lately but has now had the same surgery that’s kept Semyon Varlamov healthy in Long Island so it seems as if the Avalanche don’t believe health will be an issue.

Despite the trade capital given up, this is a very good gamble if for no other reason than his high-quality doggo content on Instagram.

For comparison’s sake, here is Philipp Grubauer’s save chart for the last three seasons. Very strong but not as strong as Kuemper.

Who is Alex Bishop? Meet the Maple Leafs’ New Backup Goalie

Varsity Blues Hockey

“Can you imagine what it must be like to get that call?” 

“No”

That’s how T.J, Brodie summed up the peculiar circumstances surrounding Alex Bishop over the past 24 hours to reporters Saturday morning, shortly after it was announced that the 24-year-old University of Toronto student would be the Maple Leafs’ backup goaltender that night against the Ottawa Senators.  

This call-up could not come at a worse time for Bishop, either. 

As the temperatures begin to cool and the calendar flips deeper into October, U of T students are typically neck-deep in a pile of mid-terms and term papers at this point in the academic year, surviving solely off of pure caffeine and food from the famous brown truck parked outside of Sydney Smyth Hall on St. George Street. 

Bishop, thanks to an injured Petr Mrazek and an inconclusive PCR test from Justin Holl, will now be forced to sacrifice a precious night of studying in order to serve as Jack Campbell’s understudy in the latest installment of the Battle of Ontario. 

For his hometown team. On Hockey Night in Canada. Oh, and then there’s fact that Bishop hasn’t played in an organized hockey game since February 16th, 2020. 

No pressure, kid. 

And knowing U of T, that excuse won’t absolve him of any missed assignments, either.

Given how Bishop is now one ill-timed tweak away from the Leafs’ starting job (at least for one night), it might be a good idea to learn a little bit more about Saturday’s star attraction.  

When it comes to the rapid movement of high-level hockey, Bishop is well acquainted. 

The Richmond Hill-native capped off a whirlwind QMJHL career that spanned from 2014-2017 by playing his final year with three different teams, moving from the Saint John Sea Dogs to the Quebec Rempart to the Val d’Or Foreurs all in a matter of two months. After leaving the CHL and splitting his 2017-18 season between the OJHL and MHL (Maritime Hockey League), Bishop ultimately opted to embark upon his post-Junior career and enrolled in the University of Toronto’s commerce program in 2018.

That new chapter has gone well thus far. 

Through two seasons with the Varsity Blues, Bishop has emerged as the program’s top goaltender. His freshman year consisted of an impressive .917 save percentage across 22 regular-season games, with Bishop earning the starting nod for both of U of T’s playoff matches that year, too. 

Bishop followed that rookie showing up with an even better sophomore campaign the next season, holding down a . 922 save percentage in 24 games while leading the OUA with 19 wins and being named a second-team OUA All-Star. 

As far as U-Sports goalies go, Bishop is one of the best. 

And yet, still not much is known about the Leafs’ newest addition. 

Bishop lists Marc-Andre Fleury as his favourite player in his profile on the Varsity Blues’ website. He’s a big Will Ferrell fan, proclaiming the comedian as his favourite actor of all time, and the comedy classic “Anchorman” as his favourite film. 

Bishop loves The Office, likely marathoning it between study sessions the way most students his age do in the wee hours of the morning. Country is his go-to music genre. His favourite food is chicken parm. 

One look at Bishop’s interests offers a brief glimpse into who he is, along with a stark reminder that, despite his presence on an NHL bench tonight, this is still just a normal university student with normal university student interests. 

The only difference is most university students don’t have a stall with their name on it in Scotiabank Arena.  

Bishop will almost certainly finish the amateur tryout he’s signed to with zero minutes of ice time and one incredible story to tell his future grandchildren. That’s what the Leafs are hoping, at least. But if he doesn’t, and there are more chapters to this story, Bishop’s time as a relative unknown will undoubtedly be over. 

You’ll have to watch Saturday night to find out. 

Merzlikins pays tribute to Kivlenieks with new goalie mask

Matiss Kivlenieks won’t ever be able to play again for the Blue Jackets after his tragic passing this summer, but the fallen goaltender will never be forgotten by the team or its fans, in particular his best friend, fellow Latvian goalie Elvis Merzlikins.  

And thanks to Merzikins, Kivlenieks’ No. 80 will still be on the ice this year in Columbus colors. Yesterday, Merzlikins debuted one of the two new masks he will wear this season, a helmet whose mask art has been created in memory of Kivlenieks, who passed away on the Fourth of July.   

“I want him close to me,” Merzlikins said. “I always want him with me. I know he is going to always be with me and he is going to look on from up there and help me. That’s the minimum of what he can do for me because he is not here with anymore with us. The passion and love that he had for this game, that is what he is going to do, and I believe that.” 

Video: Elvis Honors Kivi with New Mask

The mask — painted by Merzlikins’ usual artist, David Gunnarsson of DaveArt — features a number of tributes to Kivlenieks, including his sweater No. 80 with angel’s wings on either side on the front of the mask below the cage, where most other goalies would have their own number or nickname. 

The rest of the mask is painted similarly to the helmet Kivlenieks wore in 2019-20 when he made his debut for the Blue Jackets. Most notably, the left side includes a rendering of Heath Ledger’s Joker character from Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight series of Batman movies. A fan of pop culture who had Family Guy‘s Peter Griffin on his USHL mask, Kivlenieks memorably had a menacing version of Ledger’s Joker on the same spot on his mask two seasons ago, while the other side of Merzlikins’ new cage also features a depiction of the CBJ cannon, just as Kivlenieks’ mask did in 2019-20.  

The mask also features a quote from Sabrina Legace, the daughter of CBJ goaltending coach Manny Legace. Merzlikins and Kivlenieks were celebrating Sabrina’s wedding at the Legace household the night of Independence Day when an errant firework struck Kivlenieks in the chest, leading to his passing. 

At an emotional memorial service in the days after the tragedy, Merzlikins detailed how Kivlenieks was standing between Merzlikins, his then-pregnant wife Aleksandra and a group of others, preventing the shell from causing more damage, including to their unborn baby.  

Aleksandra has since delivered the baby, a boy named Knox Matiss Merzlikins, and Sabrina Legace pointed out in the days after the incident that by taking the brunt of the impact, Kivlenieks made the last stop he could. As such, the phrase “You saved the last puck, little brother,” also appears on the mask.  

The mask — which also includes references to Merzlikins’ family members on the back plate — is a tribute in a difficult situation, yet Merzlikins wanted the design to be more inspirational than somber. 

“It’s not dark, it’s light,” he said of the coloring. “I told them to play more with the red and the white and the blue, not to make it be dark. … I wanted it to be a really, really similar mask to what he had. He was my little brother. He’s always going to be with me. ” 

Before his passing, Kivlenieks was expected to carve out a bigger role this upcoming season with the Blue Jackets. After working his way up through the minor leagues, he had started eight games in his Blue Jackets career over the past two seasons, winning two — his NHL debut in Madison Square Garden against the New York Rangers in January 2020 as well as the Jackets’ last contest, an overtime victory against Detroit to finish the season this past May after which Merzlikins raced down the player tunnel at Nationwide Arena to embrace Kivlenieks on the ice after the victory.  

Merzlikins, meanwhile, returns for his third season in Columbus after starring with HC Lugano in Switzerland for six years. A native of Riga, Latvia, like Kivlenieks, he is expected to battle for time in net with fellow veteran Joonas Korpisalo, as the two have shared games over the past two seasons.  

In that time, Korpisalo has started 66 games while Merzlikins has started 54, with the latter posting a 21-21-13 record, 2.54 GAA and .920 save percentage. The two will report for CBJ training camp when it begins the week of Sept. 20, ready to again push each other between the pipes for the Blue Jackets. 

And it’s Merzlikins’ hope to dedicate his performance this upcoming season to Kivlenieks, going as far to say that he has focused his energy in an effort to win the Vezina Trophy — given to the league’s best goaltender each year — in memory of Kivlenieks.  

“That is my goal,” Merzlikins said. “I worked my ass off because when it happened, I had this goal right away in that moment. I worked my ass off this summer, and that is my goal. I don’t make any promises because I don’t know how many games I am going to play. The season can go each way, but this is my goal and mind-set that I have and I am going to do anything I can to reach it.” 

New Jersey Devils 2021-22 Season Preview Part 3: Goalies

Welcome to part three of our the week-long preview of the 2021-2022 New Jersey Devils. Yesterday, Stephen discussed the defense and moves made to shore up that part of the lineup. Today we move on to the only personnel not yet discussed in the goalies. While we have a couple of familiar names to discuss in today’s piece, there’s a couple new names joining the organization, both at the NHL and AHL levels. Let’s start today off by looking at last season’s performance before we jump into anything related to this season or beyond.

What Happened Last Year?

I’d like to start this section off with some sort of positive note, so I’ll begin by saying that MacKenzie Blackwood came out of the gate roaring hot, posting a .940 or higher save percentage in each of his first three contests. Then he (and pretty much the entire team) wound up catching Covid-19; between recovery and an already accelerated schedule becoming even more condensed, everything went downhill. Want proof? Take a look at how everyone who played at least one game in net for the Devils did last season:

Image and stats courtesy of Hockey-Reference.com

Whole lot of “yikes” among those stats, no matter which goalie you look at. The save percentages at season’s end were bad all across the board, even the one game that Eric Comrie gave the Devils in a winning effort. Aaron Dell in his limited appearances played well below average, and as a result finds himself starting in the AHL (albeit under the Buffalo Sabres umbrella) this season.

As per the two goalies still with the Devils, I’m willing to give both of them a bit of leeway due to A) the entire team not exactly being great and B) many players struggling with lingering symptoms from when they were ill. However, I’m not willing to let them off the hook completely; of special concern should be the goals saved above average (GSAA) column. Blackwood in particular was letting in multiple goals that he should have stopped, and when you consider how amazing he looked to start the season, this number is an even bigger disappointment. I’m under the assumption he’s going to want to bounce back in a big way this upcoming season, but will he? We’ll get to that a little bit later.

Wedgewood meanwhile brought quite a bit of average to subpar goaltending in his role that unexpectedly expanded prior to the start of the season. He returns on another one year deal, but should see a reduced role in 2021-22 provided everything goes according to plan.

I’ll take a moment here to note that, as Stephen pointed out yesterday, while the 2021 Devils defense was a step up from the 2019-20 group performance, it still was not good. I have to assume that playing behind the tire fire that was the Devils defense, particularly after the trade deadline when the team traded their best defender in Travis Zajac, (I stand by what I just said) probably resulted in the goaltending stats taking a nosedive. An improved group of defenders should help take some pressure off of the guys in net in 2021-22, but we will have to wait at least until Friday to begin to see if that holds true.

What’s Changed?

One major thing has changed at that would be the team bringing in a veteran goalie to backup/mentor Blackwood. If that concept sounds familiar, it’s because the Devils tried to do exactly that last season as well. This time they inked Jonathan Bernier to a 2 year (again, this seems very familiar) deal at $4.5 million per; the salary is possibly an overpay, but the team was in need of a solid backup/1B and the cap hit won’t be an issue this season or next.

I mentioned above that the Devils brought Wedgewood back again, but this season he should slot in firmly as the third string goalie (provided that Bernier doesn’t decide to retire in the next four days) and will more than likely be waived today unless the Devils plan to carry three tenders. The team will also have Nico Daws and Akira Schmid in Utica, which changes everything about the minor league netminders from last season. The two youngsters (Daws in particular) showed some promise this preseason, but unless literally everything goes wrong in terms of injuries and performance this season, it’s probably best for both of their development curves to spend the season in the AHL.

What to Expect This Season?

Well, if we want to start with Jonathan Bernier, I think we can at least expect some better goaltending than what the team got from Wedgewood last season, regardless of the defense. As you can see from above, thanks to the stats/tweet from JFreshHockey, Bernier is usable either as a backup or in a tandem role, and while the hope is for Blackwood to seize the reins, Bernier provides a nice fallback option if the MacKenzie struggles. I would wager we’ll see Jonathan for roughly 20-25 contests this season, with a larger share coming his way if there are injuries or struggles.

As per MacKenzie Blackwood, the hope is that he returns to the form he showed during his best moments of last season. He’s not going to be a .940 or better SV% every game obviously; heck that would make him pretty much superhuman in net! The Devils, however, do need him to find a consistent level of his game where he performs well, stops all of the shots that he should (and steals a few more from going in) and gives the team an opportunity to win each time he starts a game.

The question marks today come in the forms of player availability and depth. As of this writing, Blackwood is the only Devils player not vaccinated, although after some testing issues last week, he’s said he’s leaning toward vaccination. If he chooses not to go through with it after all, not only is he ineligible to play any games in Canada, but he also could be stuck on the sidelines repeatedly for inconclusive or positive tests. That would leave the Devils without their #1 guy for varying amount of time, during which they may have to go into their depth beyond Bernier, which much like last season, could be troublesome.

Ditto if either Blackwood and/or Bernier go down for an extended period of time to injury. Riding one while the other gets healthy might go okay, but if both go out (perhaps even due to a testing/injury scenario) I don’t have faith in Wedgewood or the rookie goalies to be able to shoulder that large of a load.

I’m going to sit here and inject (pun maybe intended?) some positivity into my concluding thoughts here. While we will see some minor wear and tear injuries on both goalies this season, I think the stars align for the guys in net this season. Blackwood gets the lion’s share of starts while truly establishing himself as the Devils’ #1, Bernier brings some quality backup and relief appearances as needed, and both players thrive behind a rebuilt Devils defense.

Your Take

What are your thoughts on the Devils’ goalie tandem as we sit only a few days away from the 2021-22 season opening? Do you believe this pair can backstop the team back to success? Does the lack of depth beyond Blackwood and Bernier concern you? Are you worried about the possibility of one or both missing time? Leave any and all comments below, thanks as always for reading, and come back for Part 4 of our Season Preview tomorrow!

Senior goalie Grace Gilman anchors New Canaan’s tough defense

At times this fall, New Canaan’s Grace Gilman has faced a relentless of barrage of shots in a relatively short period of time.

And that’s just from her field hockey teammates.

“For much of the season she’s been the only goalie on our team, so she gets peppered with shots all practice long from some really good forwards on our team,” New Canaan coach Mary Clare Snediker said. “She is such a talented goalie.”

Gilman’s blend of skill, athleticism and anticipation have combined to help turn the Rams’ 2021 season into one of the best defensive performances in the storied program’s history.

The Rams’ defense has allowed just five goals in 21 games and has never surrendered more than one goal in a game, while Gilman has collected 16 shutouts.

New Canaan, the second-ranked team in the coaches poll and the No. 1 seed in Class L, held off Greenwich in a thrilling quarterfinal game, 1-0 in double overtime at Dunning Field on Saturday. Gilman made four saves, and was active around the circle, cutting off numerous chances for the Cardinals.

That victory put New Canaan in the semifinals for the first time since it was the Class M runner-up in 2017. The Rams face No. 5 Glastonbury in the semifinals on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Pomperaug.

Gilman has had a lot to celebrate off the field, as well, signing her National Letter of Intent to Lehigh University during a ceremony in Waveny House on Wednesday.

“From my freshman year I knew that I wanted to play (in college),” Gilman, who plays for the AGH club program, said. “My club team sends a lot of people to college for field hockey, so I kind of knew what I wanted. I didn’t know the caliber, but I knew I wanted to play in college.

Gilman said she felt comfortable at Lehigh and with the Mountain Hawks’ Division I program, which is led by coach Cailtin Dallmeyer. She’ll be joining her older brother James at the school.

“Immediately when I started talking to the coaches they made me feel like Lehigh was such an amazing school,” Gilman said. “And when I went to meet the team, they were so kind. Everything just felt like home to me.”

“She’s going to be phenomenal there,” Snediker said. “We just had her signing day so we’re really excited to celebrate her commitment. She is just so mentally tough, so athletic, so quick in the cage. We’re really going to miss her next year, but our loss is Lehigh’s gain for sure.”

Gilman gives a lot of credit to her defensive corps, which features Kiera Cooney, Zoey Bennett, Rachel Gilio and Sunny Jane Holland.

“My defense is incredible,” Gilman said. “I couldn’t do it without them. Kiera Cooney, our center-back, does a great job of communication. Our line has been playing together for two years now and we really jel as a defense.”

The Rams allowed just one goal in their first 14 games, that coming in a 6-1 win over Ludlowe.

The second goal allowed came early in the second half at Darien on Oct. 22, but New Canaan rallied behind goals from Izzy Schuh and Shawna Ferraro to win 2-1.

That game featured a stellar performance from Gilman, who racked up 12 saves, including eight during the first half.

“She’s come up so huge for us in all of our big games,” Snediker said after the win. “She is just a brick wall back there and it allows my Ds to push up more offensively and help us keep the ball on offense.

“We trust her so much back there.”

The Rams faced Darien again in the FCIAC final and lost a heartbreaker 1-0 in double overtime.

The winning goal came after the ball bounced over a defender’s stick, giving the Wave a 2-on-1 breakaway, with Blake Wilks scoring off a pass from Molly McGuckin. Even on that play, Gilman dove to her right and nearly made an incredible save to keep it scoreless.

The Rams have won two straight since that loss, and the defense is back to posting goose eggs in the first two rounds.

Gilman said losing in the conference final has only made New Canaan more determined in the state playoffs.

“The loss was upsetting,” Gilman said. “But that makes us even hungrier now and we’re going to come out even more powerful for the state tournament. We hope we can get to the championship and if it ends up being the same two teams, we really hope we’re the one on top.”

[email protected]; @dstewartsports

Canadiens’ new goalie Samuel Montembeault gets rude welcome in Toronto

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Netminder allows six goals on 44 shots as Maple Leafs cruise to a 6-2 win in Montreal’s second-to-last pre-season game.

Author of the article:

Pat Hickey  •  Montreal Gazette

Publishing date:

Oct 05, 2021  •  October 5, 2021  •  3 minute read  •  50 Comments A shot by Maple Leafs forward Nick Ritchie eludes Canadiens goaltender Samuel Montembeault during the first period Tuesday night at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. Photo by John E. Sokolowski /USA TODAY Sports

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Samuel Montembeault’s first game in a Canadiens’ uniform was one he would prefer to forget.

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Montembeault, who was acquired on waivers from the Florida Panthers on the weekend, found himself in a shooting gallery as the Toronto Maple Leafs outshot Montreal 44-22 en route to a 6-2 victory Tuesday night at Scotiabank Arena.

The plan is for Montembeault to back up Jake Allen if Carey Price isn’t ready for the regular season opener next Wednesday in Toronto and the Canadiens have to figure out how much of the loss is on Montembeault and how much of the blame should be placed on what was generally a subpar performance by the team. If it’s the former, Cayden Primeau could be back in the picture.

“I was nervous, it’s different from playing in Florida, but I was prepared for the game,” Montembeault said. “I did some good things and I just have to get back to work and be ready for the next game.”

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Defenceman David Savard said the Canadiens made it difficult for the goaltender.

“We had a lot of turnovers and gave them too many Grade A chances,” Savard said. “We spent too much time in our zone.”

And coach Dominique Ducharme wrote it off as one of the games you see in the pre-season. He wasn’t happy with the loss, said Montembeault made some good saves, had some bad luck, and let in a softy or two.

After limiting Ottawa to 20 shots in a 2-1 win Saturday, the Canadiens’ defence was missing in action.

Toronto had 24 shots on goal in the first period and scored three goals, including two from Nick Ritchie. The free-agent signing from the Bruins redirected a pass from Mitch Marner for his first goal and then took advantage of a broken stick to score a power-play goal from the slot. Ryan Poehling was checking Ritchie, but he had given his stick to defenceman Alexander Romanov, who broke his stick early in the Leafs’ advantage.

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The Leafs added two more goals on 14 shots in the second period, with Brennan Menell and Semyon Der-Arguchintsev upping the count to 5-2.

The Canadiens got a lucky bounce to take a 1-0 lead early in the game. Ben Chiarot threw the puck at the net from the left boards and Joel Armia deflected it. It was going wide of the goal when it deflected in off the skate of Leafs defenceman Mac Hollowell.

Montreal had a power-play goal in the first period with Alex Belzile scoring from the faceoff circle. Belzile is headed to Laval, but the Canadiens will remember that goal when they need help from the farm. Mathieu Perreault didn’t make the scoresheet on that goal, but he raised his stock by standing in front of the net and screening Toronto goaltender Petr Mrazek.

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Belzile’s goal allowed the Canadiens to tie the game at 2-2, but the Leafs regained the lead and the momentum when Ilya Mikheyev scored late in the period. After Belzile scored at 16:32, the Canadiens went more than 16 minutes without a shot on goal.

The Leafs took advantage of an errant pass by Romanov as Brett Seney came out of the penalty box early in the third period and beat Montembeault with a backhander,

The Canadiens wrap up their pre-season schedule Thursday when they play the Senators at the Bell Centre (7 p.m., TSN, RDS, TSN-690 Radio, 98.5 FM).

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1. Stu Cowan: Jonathan Drouin appreciates warm welcome back to Canadiens

2. Canadiens Notebook: Carey Price absent from camp again with illness

3. Canadiens add goaltending depth with waiver pickup Samuel Montembeault

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90,000 Agent Miracle or Well-Deserved Breakthrough? Lunev is Bayer’s new goalkeeper!

Former Zenit goalkeeper Andrei Lunev moved to Leverkusen as a free agent. Will he be able to gain a foothold in the basis of the German club?

Transfer details

On July 10, Bayer officially announced the signing of Andrey Lunev. The transfer of the Russian goalkeeper to the German club turned out to be a sensation in many ways, although the player himself had long dreamed of going to Europe. Many experts, including the former Zenit sports director Boris Rapoport, expected that the player would nevertheless prolong the agreement with the club: the goalkeeper had been playing for the St. Petersburg team since 2017.The footballer’s agent Denis Sarsania said in an interview with Sport-Express that the parties failed to agree on the terms of a new contract.

“In winter, I had a conversation with the St. Petersburg club, he made his offer. Lunev replied that he would take a break until the end of the season. He wanted to prove himself in the spring, to get to the European Championship. Andrei went to the training camp before Euro, but did not make it into the main application. After that, a meeting with Zenit took place, where the sums figured even less than in winter. As a result, they did not agree with the people of St. Petersburg. “

🚨 TRANSFER NEWS 🚨

Goalkeeper Andrey Lunev has joined Bayer 04 on a two-year deal! pic.twitter.com/Bc8xiCUzeG

— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) July 10, 2021

Negotiations with Bayer, according to Sarsania, lasted only two or three days. The agent did not disclose details about his ward’s salary, but journalist Gennady Orlov said that Lunev agreed to an amount less than what he received at Zenit. It is reported that Andrei also received offers from other countries: Turkish “Adana Demirspor”, Spanish “Mallorca”, English “Middlesbrough” and Italian “Genoa” were interested in him. However, Lunev’s team chose Bayer as a priority option, where better career prospects open up for the player.

First number or only reservist?

Many fans, however, were skeptical about the transfer – for two reasons at once. Firstly, against the background of the goalkeeper’s recent performances in the RPL, this transition really looks quite unexpected. In the 2020/21 season, Andrei played only 12 matches in the Russian championship – and conceded 12 goals in them. The goalkeeper spent the first half of the tournament on treating pelvic and hip injuries, after which the player was able to fully recover from which the player was able to only by the end of December.

Subsequently, the goalkeeper returned to the position of the first number and played, for example, a brilliant match against “Akhmat” (4: 0), having made nine saves per game at once, but in general he was far from his best form. They noted this in the coaching staff of the Russian national team, not becoming to invite the 29-year-old goalkeeper to the European Championship – even as a reservist.

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Secondly, it is not very clear to what extent Bayer is counting on the Russian newcomer. The role of the first number in Leverkusen’s roster has been played by Lukasz Hradecki for almost four years, and is clearly not going to give up his position.According to the results of the last three seasons of the Bundesliga, the Finnish goalkeeper has consistently ranked in the top five in his position, gaining an average of nine “crackers” per campaign. In the last draw of the German championship, he completely surpassed Manuel Neuer, earning the best statistics on conceded goals per game!

Hradecki’s performance at the Euro was only supposed to strengthen his position at the club. It was he who became the protagonist of the historic match between Finland and Denmark at the start of the tournament, making six rescues per game and, in particular, reflecting a penalty.At the same time, Hradecki is only two years older than Lunev, and his contract with Bayer expires only in 2023. No rumors about the transfer of the Finnish goalkeeper appeared in the press either this year or last year: the player is happy in Leverkusen.

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At the same time, the Germans signed an agreement with the Russian goalkeeper for only two years, and this is evidence of at least caution on the part of the local leadership, and maybe uncertainty in the newcomer. From the words of agent Lunev, one can understand that Bayer did not guarantee the goalkeeper a place at the base of the team – that is understandable.Sarsania claims that the best goalkeeper in the club will be determined in the course of a competitive struggle, but it is clear in advance that Hradecki remains the main choice for the Germans. Gennady Orlov, transferring his own conversation with Andrey, claims that “there was no talk about the role of the reserve goalkeeper,” and in Leverkusen they are counting on Lunev. But, frankly speaking, it’s hard to believe in this.

In the footsteps of Kokorin?

By the way, Bayer fans were surprised by this transfer. Their reactions on social media can be summed up in one word – bewilderment.Fans agree that Lunev is a good goalkeeper. But why the club needs him and why he needs the club is not very clear. He has few chances to get practice here, and Bayer himself already has a cool reservist in the person of 22-year-old Lennart Grill, whose talent is treated with awe in Germany. This whole story is even a little reminiscent of Alexander Kokorin’s transfer to Fiorentina – at least the agents in both cases did an amazing job.

Lunev’s complete lack of experience in playing for European clubs also speaks not in favor of Lunev.After moving to the Bundesliga, which is considered the new center of tactical innovation, he will need to grow well above himself. Here the bar of goalkeeper’s skill is raised much higher than in the RPL, and the requirements for goalkeepers are different. In Germany, goalkeepers are more active at the exits and start attacks more often than in Russia, or act as the last defender, moving out of the box. Lunev plays great with his feet and, in general, is not used to hugging the ribbon, but to get used to the specifics of German football, he will obviously need time.

Domestic goalkeepers generally do not take root well abroad, and they rarely move there. In Germany, only one native of Russia now performs – Anton Mitryushkin. The former goalkeeper of “Spartak” at one time moved to the Swiss “Sion”, and from there four years later – to the double of “Fortuna” from Dusseldorf. This summer, the 25-year-old footballer moved to Dynamo Dresden, where Stanislav Cherchesov played in the 90s.

In past years, neither Yuri Lodygin nor Ruslan Nigmatullin nor Vladimir Gabulov gained fame abroad.Stanislav Kritsyuk recently managed to interrupt a series of unsuccessful goalkeeper transitions, having shown himself well in the last season of the Portuguese championship and deserving the transition from the modest Belenenses to Zhil Vicente. But to win the competition for a place in the base in the middle peasants of Primeira is objectively easier than in Bayer, which is considered the European top club.

Станислав Крицюк: Привет «Жил Висенте». Привет Барселуш! 👋 Я рад быть здесь с вами и уверен, что впереди нас ждёт захватывающий сезон! Давайте сделаем это! 💪😉 pic.twitter.com/zOSsb8n8oI

— Российские футболисты за границей (@ruslegioners) June 26, 2021

Apparently, Lunev will still play the role of a stunt double in Leverkusen.The club really had problems with them during the last season, so it looks more than logical. This means that we will be able to see Andrey again in the frame either in the early stages of the German Cup, for example, in the upcoming match against Lokomotiv from Leipzig, or at the group stage of the Europa League – and then only in the most insignificant matches. There are also rumors about the possible lease of Lunev to Hamburg, whose transfers are managed by the former sports director of Bayer. If Andrei does not gain a foothold in Leverkusen, he may well move to the second Bundesliga, and there he may already get the first number.But was it worth leaving Russia for this?

New at the gate: change of goalkeeper did not save Spartak from misfires | Articles

Saturday’s match of the 13th round of the Russian football championship between Spartak Moscow and Rostov was to answer the question whether the capital club managed to recover from the largest defeat in the history of their performances in the national championship. On October 24, Rui Vitoria’s charges were beaten at a visit by Zenit St. Petersburg with a score of 1: 7. And now the main goalkeeper Alexander Maksimenko has been replaced by Alexander Selikhov for the home match against Rostov.But in the end the game ended only in a draw – 1: 1.

In addition to the goalkeeper’s castling, the Portuguese coach made only one change – the central defender Samuel Gigot returned to the squad, having missed the meeting in the Northern capital due to injury. Georgy Dzhikia and Nikolai Rasskazov again came out next to him. Perhaps the latter would have ended up on the bench, but after being sent off in St. Petersburg Maximiliano Kofrie was disqualified, and Vitoria still does not count on Ilya Kutepov and Evgeny Gaponov.

Everything else remained unchanged.Ayrton and Victor Moses on the flanks, Roman Zobnin and Ruslan Litvinov in the center of midfield, Quincy Promes, Jordan Larsson and Alexander Sobolev in the attack. During the week, there were active rumors in the media about the winter transfer to Spartak of the leader of the Tula Arsenal, Daniil Khlusevich. An hour before the start of the match against Rostov, the general director of the red-and-white Yevgeny Melezhikov confirmed to the Bookmaker Rating that this player had already been signed.

Alexander Selikhov played for the first time since the May away match against Arsenal (2: 1), and he was the permanent main goalkeeper of Spartak in 2017-2018, until Maksimenko was ousted due to injuries.Most of the meeting with Rostov, the 27-year-old goalkeeper acted quite confidently.

True, there were very few moments on both sides. In the first half, I remember only the one-on-one outing of Rostov resident Dmitry Poloz, who shot past. Spartak fans were clearly unhappy that even after the defeat in St. Petersburg, the team was acting primitive and not particularly showing the ability to rehabilitate for that shame.

At the same time, the stands supported Rui Vitoria, not for the first time this season indicating the position that they see the problem not in the coach, but in the club’s management – in the person of the owner Leonid Fedun and his wife Zarema Salikhova, who actively intervened in the work of the organization and that’s it. Summer publicly criticized the Portuguese specialist.

Until the 75th minute there were a minimum of chances, and then again went one-on-one with Poloz Selikhov, but the goalkeeper parried the blow. By this time, Vitoria had sent Zelimkhan Bakayev onto the pitch. And after Selikhov’s save, Mikhail Ignatov came on as a substitute.

These two substitutions worked. Literally immediately after appearing on the lawn, Ignatov went one-on-one with Sergei Pesyakov, but the Rostov goalkeeper hit the ball for a corner, from which Bakaev successfully hung, and Ruslan Litvinov scored his first goal in the RPL.

It seemed that “Spartak” would finish this minimal victory, but in the last seconds of the meeting, a long-range throw by Mikhail Osipenko led to a head discount by Nikolai Komlichenko on Danila Glebov, whom Dzhikia had lost.Selikhov for some reason left the goal, and Glebov threw the ball over him into the goal.

After the final whistle, when Spartak players approached the stands of their fans to thank them for their support, insults and calls to take off their red-and-white uniforms were responded.

“It is obvious that the agony continues,” Andrei Chervichenko, the former owner of Spartak, a native of Rostov-on-Don, told Izvestia. – Now they are looking for the guilty again. Before that, they made Rasskazov, now Selikhova, although the goalkeeper just saved the team a couple of times.Hysterics will start again as to whether to remove Vitoria, but I do not understand what the demand is from him, if he simply has no one to play with. Either there are no quality players, or they are playing the fool, like Larsson and Sobolev. I will repeat again: it’s not the coach, but the general managerial mess. This led to today’s draw, which Spartak should be happy about, because Rostov was closer to victory. And he is the one who needs to bite his elbows because of the lost glasses. Although, in general, we should be glad that the team has recently gained speed and is gradually moving away from the relegation zone.

After 13 rounds, Spartak is in ninth place, 11 points behind the leading RPL Zenit and six points ahead of the transition zone. “Rostov” is one point ahead of her and occupies the 12th line.

The former goalkeeper of the Russian national team will move to Zenit :: Football :: RBK Sport

Stanislav Kritsyuk from Zhil Vicente will sign a three-year contract with the St. Petersburg club

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Photo: Global Look Press

Former goalkeeper of the Russian national team and Krasnodar Stanislav Kritsyuk, who now plays in Portugal for Zhil Vicente, is close to joining Zenit. This was reported by the Sic Noticias TV channel.

The transfer amount will be € 2 million, Zenit can pay another € 2 million as bonuses for the successful performance of the goalkeeper. The 30-year-old footballer himself will sign a three-year contract.

Troubled Juve and beggar Swedes. Who will Zenit play in the Champions League

Information about the imminent transition of Kritsyuk is confirmed by the “Championship”.It is noted that the St. Petersburg club decided to sign the goalkeeper after Krylia Sovetov refused to sell goalkeeper Ivan Lomaev to Zenit.

The main goalkeeper of Zenit is Mikhail Kerzhakov. In the reserve in the last matches were Daniil Odoevsky and David Byazrov.

RBC sent a request to Zenit.

Zenit became the leader, Spartak are at the relegation zone.How the sixth round of the RPL began

Kritsyuk played for Krasnodar from 2016 to 2020, on account of him 72 matches, in 33 of which he left the team’s goal intact. In 2020, Kritsyuk moved to the Portuguese Belenenses, which in July of this year was replaced by Zhil Vicente.He has played six matches in all tournaments this season. He also played for Braga and Rio Ave in Portugal.

As part of the Russian national team, Kritsyuk played two matches in 2016.

Author

Ivan Vitchenko

Manuel Neuer is once again recognized as the best goalkeeper in the world | News from Germany about Germany | DW

FC Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has been named the best goalkeeper in the world for the third time in a row. This was announced on Friday, January 8, by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics on its own website.

According to a poll conducted by the organization, Neuer is well ahead of goalkeepers such as Gianluigi Buffon of Juventus Turin, Claudio Bravo of Barcelona and David de Gea of ​​Manchester United.

The German goalkeeper expressed his joy at the next title on Twitter. At the same time, Neuer noted that the awards won with the team are more important to him.

On the same day, the Bayern goalkeeper was included in the symbolic team of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) 2015. Together with Neuer, his teammate, Austrian defender David Alaba, was included in the team of football stars.

See also:

• Manuel Neuer is the best goalkeeper of the 2014 World Cup

  A reliable gatekeeper

  Like his famous predecessors – German goalkeepers Oliver Kahn, Sepp Maier and Toni Schumacher and (Toni Schumacher) – Manuel Neuer has a quick reaction on the goal line and the ability to dominate the entire penalty area. But his talents are not limited to this.

• Manuel Neuer is the best goalkeeper of the 2014 World Cup

  Border Breaker

  A distinctive feature of Manuel Neuer’s modern football style is his sudden long exits outside the penalty area, sometimes sharply exacerbating the attacks of the German national team at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. “He took goalkeeper play to the next level,” said Oliver Kahn of Neuer, a former goalkeeper himself.

• Manuel Neuer is the best goalkeeper of the 2014 World Cup

  Since childhood on the field

  Manuel Neuer began to explore the space at the goal at the age of five, when he was enrolled in the children’s team of the football club “Schalke 04” (Gelsenkirchen).For the senior squad, he first played in August 2006, and three months later he was appointed the main goalkeeper. In 2010, Neuer, together with the team, became the vice-champion of the Bundesliga, a year later – the winner of the German Cup.

• Manuel Neuer is the best goalkeeper of the 2014 World Cup

  “Neuer” means new

  In 2011, the athlete moved to Bayern Munich. Fans at the first games greeted the goalkeeper with ironic posters with an inscription in the Bavarian dialect “No to a beginner” (“Koan Neuer”).The literal meaning of Neuer’s surname – “new”, was played up. The posters soon disappeared as the rookie set a Bundesliga record by ending the 2012/2013 season with a minimum of 18 goals conceded.

• Manuel Neuer is the best goalkeeper of the 2014 World Cup

  Conqueror of Rio de Janeiro

  In the German national team, Neuer made his debut in 2009 in a match against Saudi Arabia, won by the Germans with a score of 7: 2. A year later, he was constantly wearing the first number on his T-shirt.Five years later, after a brilliant victory at the World Cup in Brazil, Manuel Neuer was hugged by Angela Merkel and congratulated by German President Joachim Gauck.

• Manuel Neuer is the best goalkeeper of the 2014 World Cup

  Master of unusual style

  The head coach of the FRG national team Joachim Löw put on Manuel Neuer from the very beginning and was right. Modest in communication and not a fan of social hype, the professional goalkeeper turned out to be incomparable on the field.Not prone to exaggeration, Loew enthusiastically calls Neuer’s signature style “a new interpretation of goalkeeper’s play.”

• Manuel Neuer is the best goalkeeper of the 2014 FIFA World Cup

  A Living Legend

  Neuer’s phenomenal performance at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil has earned him a truly iconic status among German football fans. The goalkeeper managed not only to reliably cover the rear, but also to direct the attackers’ attacks by aiming powerful throws of the ball. According to the results of the World Cup, Manuel Neuer received the title of the best goalkeeper on the planet.

• Manuel Neuer is the best goalkeeper of the 2014 World Cup

  Absolute goalkeeper

  Manuel Neuer is distinguished by his unique ability to “read the game”, anticipating the actions of opponents. Huge growth (190 cm), both kick legs, excellent head play – as if by nature he is endowed with all football abilities. German goalkeeping coach Andreas Köpke calls Neuer “the absolute goalkeeper”.

• Manuel Neuer is the best goalkeeper of the 2014 World Cup

  The most humble star

  Although Neuer appears on TV shows and even runs a children’s charity fund, unlike other famous football players, he avoids the increased attention of the press and tries to live a private life.But he’s too famous, which is why journalists were able to find out that in October 2014, Neuer broke up with his longtime girlfriend Kathrin Gilch.

  Author: Alexander Delfinov

90,000 published trailer and poster of the new fantastic blockbuster

The creators of the new fantastic film “Goalkeeper of the Galaxy”, which will be released on August 27, presented a trailer for the picture and a poster dedicated to it.

“When we were filming” Goalkeeper of the Galaxy “, we wanted to make a movie for family viewing – bright, big, interesting. For those who love science fiction, fairy tales and, oddly enough, the game of football”, – said the director Janik Fayziev.

The film is set in 2071. At this time, the climate on Earth changed so much that Moscow was at the mercy of tropical forests, and New York was covered with ice. A huge spaceship hovering over Moscow hosts competitions in spaceball – a game that combines sports and gladiatorial combat.The entire galaxy is watching the matches. And only an ordinary guy Anton is not interested in these competitions at all – he is trying to find a job to help the family. However, fate has prepared a completely different role for him. One day, superpowers are discovered in him, thanks to which he is accepted into the national team. And the final match, in which he must participate, will eventually become a battle for Earth.

“Goalkeeper of the Galaxy” is not only about the future and sports games, it is also about friendship, and about love, and about the fact that, if you believe in yourself, you can even defeat the apocalypse and become a superhero, “explains director Janik Fayziev.

The main roles in the new film were performed by Evgeny Mironov, Evgeny Romantsov, Victoria Agalakova, Maria Lisovaya, Ivan Ivanovich, Elizaveta Taichenacheva, Svetlana Ivanova, Mikhail Efremov, Elena Yakovleva, Svetlana Permyakova, Yan Tsapnik, Gosha Kutsenko and others.

And the Main Road Post studio was engaged in the creation of visual effects (earlier this company had already created a whole world in Fyodor Bondarchuk’s film “Attraction”).

Goalkeeper of the Galaxy will be released in Russian cinemas on 27 August.But the Russian film is actively interested in abroad. The rights to display the picture have already been sold to several European countries, as well as to Latin America and the Middle East, Turkey, Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines. And recently, a deal was completed to acquire the rights to show a Russian film in the United States – where it will be released in January 2021 under the name Cosmoball.

90,000 media outlets: Napoli offered a new contract to Ospine

https://rsport. ria.ru/20211110/napoli-1758325791.html

Media: Napoli offered a new contract to Ospine

Media: Napoli offered a new contract to Ospine – RIA Novosti Sport, 10.11.2021

Media: Napoli offered a new contract to Ospine

Italian Napoli, which is a rival of Spartak Moscow in the Europa League, has offered a new contract to the team goalkeeper David Ospina, … RIA Novosti Sport, 10.11.2021

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MOSCOW, Nov 10 – RIA Novosti. The Italian “Napoli”, which is the rival of the Moscow “Spartak” in the Europa League, has offered a new contract to the team goalkeeper David Ospina, according to Sky Sport Italia. The current contract of the Colombian goalkeeper expires at the end of this season. The proposal for a new contract to the 33-year-old goalkeeper was made personally by the president of “Napoli” Aurelio De Laurentiis, the details of the new agreement were not specified.Also, according to the source, another Italian club is interested in Ospina’s transfer – the Roman “Lazio”, the rival of the Moscow “Lokomotiv” in the Europa League. The Romans are ready to lure the Colombian goalkeeper to themselves already in the January transfer window if his negotiations with Napoli come to a standstill. Ospina has been playing for Napoli since the summer of 2018, before that he played in Europe for French Nice (2008-2014 ) and London Arsenal (2014-2018). This season, he has played 11 games for the team (10 in Serie A and one in the Europa League), in which he conceded five goals.In seven matches Ospina played to zero.

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aurelio de laurentis, Napoli, David Ospina

Media: “Napoli” offered a new contract to Ospina

MOSCOW, November 10 – RIA Novosti. Italian “Napoli”, which is the rival of Moscow “Spartak” in the Europa League, has offered a new contract to the team’s goalkeeper David Ospin, according to Sky Sport Italia.

The current Colombian goalkeeper contract expires at the end of the current season. The proposal for a new contract to the 33-year-old goalkeeper was made personally by the president of “Napoli” Aurelio De Laurentiis, the details of the new agreement were not specified.

Also, according to the source, another Italian club is interested in Ospina’s transfer – the Roman “Lazio”, the rival of the Moscow “Lokomotiv” in the Europa League.The Romans are ready to lure the Colombian goalkeeper into the January transfer window if his negotiations with Napoli come to a standstill.

Ospina has been playing for Napoli since summer 2018, having previously played in Europe for Nice (2008-2014) and Arsenal (2014-2018) in London. This season, he has played 11 games for the team (10 in Serie A and one in the Europa League), in which he conceded five goals. In seven matches Ospina played to zero.

November 4, 22: 49Football “Napoli” defeated “Legia” and led the group with the participation of “Spartak” in LE

Goalkeeper of the year – 2013/2014 – Ogonyok No. 21 (5327) from 02.06.2014

At the end of the football season, Ogonyok, following a tradition that has been going on since 1960, sums up the results of the Goalkeeper of the Year competition named after Lev Yashin. The best goalkeeper was recognized by both readers and experts as Igor Akinfeev (CSKA)

Sports specialists are impressed: Akinfeev is a kind of phenomenon of our time. Speaking about the results of the past Russian football championship, most of them note his game. And in his native CSKA goalkeeper they calculated that in terms of the number of “dry” matches, he has already caught up with the legendary Lev Yashin and is approaching the undisputed leaders – Evgeny Rudakov and Rinat Dasaev. The club’s fans also voted him the best player of the season. Their joy is understandable: until the last round it was not clear who would become the champion – this, perhaps, was the main intrigue of the season. In such a tense struggle, the success of the team depended on the goalkeepers. For example, Lokomotiv, which was one of the main contenders for the first place, lost because of one conceded goal in the match with CSKA.

Still, as the finished championship has shown, in domestic football there is a gradual change of generations: promising goalkeepers are increasingly demonstrating high-quality play.It is no coincidence that among the best goalkeepers of the season experts and readers of Ogonyok named rising stars like Yuri Lodygin (Zenit) and Alexander Belenov (Kuban).

As for the Goalkeeper of the Year competition, this season voting was divided into two stages – in the middle of the season, the list of goalkeepers was updated to take into account the changes in the teams. As a result, the votes collected at the first and second stages were added up. Also, according to tradition, our experts expressed their opinion about the best goalkeepers, and the winner was chosen by a majority of votes.Goalkeeper of the Year prize Lev Yashin was awarded for the eighth time to CSKA goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev.

Top-5

The right to defense

The best goalkeepers of the year according to the results of the reader’s vote on the Ogonyok website (number of votes)

1. Igor Akinfeev, CSKA Moscow – 6648

2. Yuri Lodygin, Zenit St. Petersburg – 1398

3. Sergey Veremko, “Wings of the Soviets” Samara – 279

4. Artem Rebrov, “Spartak” Moscow – 116

5.Ilya Abaev, Lokomotiv Moscow, Volga Nizhny Novgorod – 95

Opinions

Decide the best

Expert council of the award – about the most notable goalkeepers of the season

Alexander Gorbunov,

football observer

1. Igor Akinfeev . Phenomenon. Has been playing steadily at such a high level for so many years! I agree with the coach of CSKA goalkeepers Vyacheslav Chanov, who puts Akinfeev in the top five goalkeepers in Europe.Amazing loyalty to the club.

2. Yuri Lodygin . In one season, he took a place at the gate of one of the leading teams in Russia, got into the national team.

3. Ilya Abaev . Largely thanks to Abaev and his confidence, “Lokomotiv” was among the medalists of the championship. Can’t be called an experienced goalkeeper, because I’ve never played for clubs that fought for something serious. But he played the season well.

Victor Gusev,

sports commentator “Channel One”

1.Igor Akinfeev . Confirmed my class. The goalkeeper of the team that became the champion. He was stable and, as always, helped out. Remains the first goalkeeper of the national team and in this capacity goes to the World Cup.

2. Alexander Belenov . Played some amazing matches. Very promising.

3. Yuri Lodygin . May qualify for Premier League Rookie of the Year. I made a few mistakes at the very end, but I played enough in third place.

Alexey Spirin,

Member of the RFU Referee-Inspection Committee, Head of the Inspection Commission, International Judge, UEFA Inspector

1.Igor Akinfeev . Reliability, stability. Grew up as a leader, a captain, became a real star. No doubt the first one.

2. Alexander Belenov . The confidence of his game is passed on to the rest of the players: the not-so-stellar team has shown good results.

3.Sergey Ryzhikov . I had to show leadership qualities after the departure of Berdyev. Withstood with dignity.

Mikhail Gershkovich,

Chairman of the Board of the “Association of Domestic Football Coaches”

1.Igor Akinfeev . Undeniably had an outstanding season. He played very well, confidently.

2. Yuri Lodygin . Not bad. I played a couple of last games not quite confidently, but overall a good season, entered the national team, will go to the world championship.

3. Alexander Belenov . In general, I played well.

Vladimir Pilgui ,

“Goalkeeper of the Year” (1973 with Dynamo Moscow)

1.Igor Akinfeev .Plays stably and without problems, without interruptions.

2. Yuri Lodygin . Immediately proved itself. Maybe he played a couple of games unsuccessfully, but spent the whole season smoothly. An accomplished goalkeeper.

3. Alexander Belenov . There are practically no weak points, there are individual blunders, but this is more an accident than a pattern. This season is only a plus for him.

Grigory Tvaltvadze,

sports commentator of the TV channels “Russia-1” and “Russia-2”

1.Yuri Lodygin . He’s making progress. Calmly ousted from the composition of the first number of the team – Malafeev. When Malafeev returned, he did not go to the bench, but continued to play – for me this is more important than the game of Akinfeev.

2.Igor Akinfeev . Still the number one goalkeeper in the country. But not the most unambiguous season. Much more small blots than before.

3. Ilya Abaev . Very stable, the invitation to Lokomotiv is not accidental, and that the team did not get to the gold medal is not his fault.

Ruslan Nigmatullin,

“Goalkeeper of the Year” (2000, 2001 with Lokomotiv Moscow)

1. Ilya Abaev.

2. Alexander Belenov.

3. Sergei Ryzhikov.

Sergey Ovchinnikov,

“Goalkeeper of the Year” (1994, 1995, 2002 with Lokomotiv Moscow)

1.Igor Akinfeev . An excellent season for both the national team and the club.

2.Sergey Ryzhikov . I got a lot of workload, but I managed it.