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About This Page: This is a discussion on LA Kings Talk within the LetsGoKings.com forums, at Los Angeles Kings Hockey Fan Forum. I don't think Labs is being "ruined" by the Kings. Sure, his numbers might be better somewhere else, but it doesn't mean he'd be a &
I don't think Labs is being "ruined" by the Kings. Sure, his numbers might be better somewhere else, but it doesn't mean he'd be a "great" goaltender. Luongo is a great goaltender. Even on a horrible team he looks great.
The impression I get from Labarbera is that he lets things get to his head more than other goaltenders. Like the whole thing about "thinking too much" b/c Bernier was playing so well at the beginning. I'm not saying he's an idiot for it, but if he's going to be our no. 1 guy what the hell is he going to be thinking about when the playoffs start, much less the Stanley Cup finals!? I think he makes a decent back up, but I don't think he's a no. 1. At least not from what I've seen.
It goes w/out saying, but the Kings never should have let go of Huet and Legace. Huet in particular. I remember being at TSC and talking to one of the Kings' personel and him telling me, "The Kings have already decided they'll never go w/ Huet as the starter." Mind you, this was during the Dave Taylor era (so Crawford isn't the only one to write a goaltender off before he gets a true shot at the no. 1). When I asked him why, he said he didn't know and he agreed that Huet looked like he could get the job done.
I really wish I could ask DT about his decision to pass on Huet. Granted, he wasn't Dominic Hasek for us while he was here, but the signs of a top goaltender were definitely there.
The Kings have had much better quality goaltenders playing for them in past years, but have had average > poor teams playing in front of them. I can't say all the teams in front of them were bad, but with all of the injuries our teams have had, we have always underperformed. It was easy to see potential in a handful of our previous goaltenders because they were athletic, and strong positionallly. Legace, Huet, and Garon all were released after injury riddled seasons.
Labarbera is a good 1st shot goaltender, however he is far too overaggressive and gets caught out of position. I think JLB has a decent chance to develop into an NHL goaltender if he learns to play within the crease. Yes, as a goaltender you should come out to cut down the angles against shooters, but it is situational and requires a very effective defensive squad in front of them to clear rebounds. JLB also has very poor rebound control. There are times when our defensemen leave him stranded, but I strongly support that he does the same to our defensemen. JLB has good size for a goaltender and should learn to play more of a butterfly style within the crease. If he can learn to adapt, he can prove to be a good goaltender. I think he has the wrong goaltending coach for his style. JLB and Hextall are too similar. Hextall was always an ultra-aggressive, large goaltender, but the NHL has changed so much, that style won't work anymore.
In the Red Wings game 2 nights ago, the first goal was not JLB's fault. It was a nice goal by the Red Wings, but it is also a save that HAS to be made, because of the timing of the game. It was a game changer, and the second it went in, I knew the Kings would lose. We had outshot the Red Wings 7-1 and completely dominated the first 10 minutes of the game. JLB was overaggressive in challenging the shooter and when the pass crossed to the middle, he was out of position. That goal completely deflated us. Proof of that was our poor 2nd period start.
The second goal absolutely should have been stopped on the partial breakaway. It was a fantastic shot by the Red Wing player, but as a goalie, you should never get beat short side, glove, from the top of the circle. He was out challenging, but was off his angle.
The last goal was disgusting. He got trapped off to the far right post and got beat by a wrap around. Most LGKer's blamed Stuart for not taking the body, but he was right in trying to block the shot. He should never have been put in the position to have to try and play goaltender to begin with.
Send JLB back to the AHL where he belongs. He is a backup goaltender at best, unless he falls in with a strong defensive team like Dallas.
I think he has the wrong goaltending coach for his style. JLB and Hextall are too similar. Hextall was always an ultra-aggressive, large goaltender, but the NHL has changed so much, that style won't work anymore.
Hextall isn't the goaltending coach, Ranford is. Plus, there are a few instances of large goalies who are quite succesfull. Luongo being one. One could make the arguement about Giguere.
Quote:
Originally Posted by KingFanMGM
Send JLB back to the AHL where he belongs. He is a backup goaltender at best, unless he falls in with a strong defensive team like Dallas.
So you think Aubin will be any better? Who would back up Aubin when/if he starts struggling or gets injured?
edit: not to mention that JLB would get picked off of waivers in a split second.
I didn't knock on Labarbera's size. I criticized his over aggressiveness and poor positioning. Luongo is the best goaltender in the league in my opinion and Giguere has been a cup winner, but both play butterfly style and utilize their size appropriately. JLB does not, which is exactly why I suggested that he could be a very successful goaltender if he adapted a stay in the crease, buttefly game tought by a different coach. It was my mistake thinking that Hextall was the goalie coach, I forgot that we had 2 goalies on the coaching staff.
As for sending JLB down to the minors now... yeah there is no point. But I do not ever want to see him play another year with the Kings as our #1 goaltender. He just does not have the quality to be a #1. And yes, Aubin is far worse. I don't know how he's still in the NHL.
I don't think LaBarbera would have even had a chance to play in the NHL had it not been for the Kings.
If he has the talent you think he has, NHL scouts can see it.
If that were true, Lombardi would have had no worries trying to bring him up from the minors last year, without worrying that every team would want him (if someone wants to find the direct Lombardi quote, go for it. I'll just tell you he said it).
Labs is a quality goalie; I don't understand the people who think he flat out sucks.
i don't personally think labarbera flat out sucks, but bogey was referencing the fact that labarbera got dropped by the rangers and we were the only ones interested in him at the time. so in that regard, he's lucky the kings gave him a chance to play in more than just the A.
there were worries last year about bringing him up from the minors because all of a sudden, he was playing well. he was finally attracting interest and would have then been reclaimed off waivers by someone else.
Ha! The Rangers made a big mistake giving up Labs, and now they have the most overrated goalie in the league, Lunquvist (spelling). But Labs is great as a goalie, his only issue is overplaying cross ice passes like KingFanMGM other than that he is wonderful imo. Unfortunately the way the kings have played in front of him this season and last i begin to think hell be underrated and his career will go down the drain.
