It’s officially the dogs days of summer in the hockey world, so it’s time to really kick back and look at the hypothetical. In less than a month, rookie camps and training camp will begin, but until then we are restoring to talking about things we’d like to see happen.
I have a few questions in mind, so I felt like I should put pen to paper, errrr finger to keyboard in this case. The first question is simple, how many games should Laurent Brossoit start this year, and what should his timeline to reach the NHL look like?
2015-16 Workload:
The Bakersfield Condors will play only 68 games this season, part of the new California expansion for the AHL. This means two things for those clubs, one thing being a bonus while the other is a disadvantage. The bonus for these teams is more practice time, more time to work on systems and to teach. The disadvantage? Fewer games means less experience.
For Brossoit, this could get tricky. Likely, the Condors will have three goalies vying for playing time in LB, Eetu Laurikainen and Anders Nilsson. Nilsson might not last the full season in the minors, but Laurikainen and LB probably will.
Laurikainen is young too, only 22 years old. His .933 SV% in 37 SM-liiga games last year shows some real potential, he’s a good risk for Edmonton and a goalie who could actually turn out for them. He needs to see playing time.
That said, Brossoit needs to see time too. He played in 53 AHL games last season, posting a .918 SV% and a 25-22-4 record. He handled the starting role essentially, a big deal. If he’s really Edmonton’s top goaltending prospect, then he needs to handle the load again this season.
It’ll be a tough situation for Gerry Fleming, but I think another 50 games for Brossoit is about right. I know it limits the other goaltenders, but Edmonton really needs to figure out if Brossoit is the guy. If he can take another step this coming season, then we could be talking about a real NHL goalie here.
The Timeline:
I think we all agree that Laurent Brossoit will be the starter in the AHL this coming season. It’ll be another developmental year for the goalie in a great league. After that, however, what should the game plan be for LB? When can we realistically look at him and say he’s ready for the spotlight?
Is 2016-17 the year, or is that too early? Personally, I think that might be the target arrival. If Brossoit has a very good year in the AHL this season, he could back-up in Edmonton in 2016-17, making his ETA just one year away. He could handle that role for a season, and if things go well he could tandem with Cam Talbot in 2017-18, then challenge for the starting role in 2018-19.
Best case scenario? Brossoit is one year away from being ready to play in the NHL and about three years away from being ready to handle a starting job. Worst case scenario? Probably two years away from NHL back-up duty.
Obviously all eyes will be on Cam Talbot this winter, but the body of work from Laurent Brossoit and how much he plays will be of great interest to this observer.
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