Comments on: Getting to know Andrew Raycroft http://inthecheapseats.com/avs-notebook/07-01-2008/getting-to-know-andrew-raycroft Your NHL 3rd jersey source (with some Colorado Avalanche stuff mixed in) Fri, 05 Dec 2008 11:02:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Americanario http://inthecheapseats.com/avs-notebook/07-01-2008/getting-to-know-andrew-raycroft#comment-6601 Americanario Sun, 06 Jul 2008 00:04:07 +0000 http://inthecheapseats.com/?p=661#comment-6601 For the improvements in his game, and his only slight Sophomore slump (he was still 4th on the team in scoring despite being benched a number of time by the "Q") I don't have a problem with the amount, though I would have rather he signed a few more years... Hopefully he and Svatos won't have to spend so much of their season wasting their time playing with Arnason. Either that or find a way to pass only to each other so Arnie won't have the chance to miss the open net. For the improvements in his game, and his only slight Sophomore slump (he was still 4th on the team in scoring despite being benched a number of time by the “Q”) I don’t have a problem with the amount, though I would have rather he signed a few more years…

Hopefully he and Svatos won’t have to spend so much of their season wasting their time playing with Arnason. Either that or find a way to pass only to each other so Arnie won’t have the chance to miss the open net.

]]> By: Americanario http://inthecheapseats.com/avs-notebook/07-01-2008/getting-to-know-andrew-raycroft#comment-6600 Americanario Sat, 05 Jul 2008 23:59:43 +0000 http://inthecheapseats.com/?p=661#comment-6600 "So, there you have it folks. I think we all understand the bottom line: one more year of baseball cap jokes!" At least we'll get the jokes at a much reduced salary over Theo. “So, there you have it folks. I think we all understand the bottom line: one more year of baseball cap jokes!”

At least we’ll get the jokes at a much reduced salary over Theo.

]]> By: Mike @ MHH http://inthecheapseats.com/avs-notebook/07-01-2008/getting-to-know-andrew-raycroft#comment-6541 Mike @ MHH Thu, 03 Jul 2008 15:28:23 +0000 http://inthecheapseats.com/?p=661#comment-6541 Also, I know I brought up the equipment regs initially, but I'd like to formally state that I don't believe ONE IOTA that the change in equipment resulted in any significant difficulties for ANY goalie. You can tweak pads and gloves all day, but when 99.9% of goalies in the show today make saves with the middle of the torso, you won't affect anybody's ability; goalies or shooters. Just wanted to get that out there before my brotherhood of goalies eviscerates me... Also, I know I brought up the equipment regs initially, but I’d like to formally state that I don’t believe ONE IOTA that the change in equipment resulted in any significant difficulties for ANY goalie. You can tweak pads and gloves all day, but when 99.9% of goalies in the show today make saves with the middle of the torso, you won’t affect anybody’s ability; goalies or shooters.

Just wanted to get that out there before my brotherhood of goalies eviscerates me…

]]> By: Mike @ MHH http://inthecheapseats.com/avs-notebook/07-01-2008/getting-to-know-andrew-raycroft#comment-6540 Mike @ MHH Thu, 03 Jul 2008 15:26:02 +0000 http://inthecheapseats.com/?p=661#comment-6540 <blockquote>It’s a four year trend of suck v. one good year (in pre-lockout hockey before goalie gear was down-sized).</blockquote> I understand your points completely, and I don't disagree 100%. However, I'd like to point out that the statement you just made was said about Theo when we picked him up, and we suffered through 2 seasons of wretched play before he found his game as a starter, so it can happen. Now we've got Raycroft for ONE SEASON as a BACKUP. Expectations are lower coming in this time, so I don't see the gloom and doom that others do. I still think his injury and his treatment in Toronto have more to do with his play than his actual abilities, but that's just my opinion and doesn't matter worth a hill of beans.

It’s a four year trend of suck v. one good year (in pre-lockout hockey before goalie gear was down-sized).

I understand your points completely, and I don’t disagree 100%. However, I’d like to point out that the statement you just made was said about Theo when we picked him up, and we suffered through 2 seasons of wretched play before he found his game as a starter, so it can happen. Now we’ve got Raycroft for ONE SEASON as a BACKUP. Expectations are lower coming in this time, so I don’t see the gloom and doom that others do.

I still think his injury and his treatment in Toronto have more to do with his play than his actual abilities, but that’s just my opinion and doesn’t matter worth a hill of beans.

]]> By: mf37 http://inthecheapseats.com/avs-notebook/07-01-2008/getting-to-know-andrew-raycroft#comment-6527 mf37 Thu, 03 Jul 2008 01:11:26 +0000 http://inthecheapseats.com/?p=661#comment-6527 <b>Mike @ MHH</b> Only time will tell with Raycroft, but team fandom aside, you'd have to agree all of his stats since winning the Calder are indicative of a precipitative slide. He stunk the year after winning the Calder. He bailed on his team in Europe during the lock-out. He put up terrible individual numbers despite winning 37 games in 2006-07. He was, quite frankly, ECHL caliber last year. It's a four year trend of suck v. one good year (in pre-lockout hockey before goalie gear was down-sized). A year from now we can both look back and see if Colorado has signed another Jim Carey or if Raycroft has anything left in the tank. I know where I'd place my bet. Mike @ MHH

Only time will tell with Raycroft, but team fandom aside, you’d have to agree all of his stats since winning the Calder are indicative of a precipitative slide.

He stunk the year after winning the Calder.

He bailed on his team in Europe during the lock-out.

He put up terrible individual numbers despite winning 37 games in 2006-07.

He was, quite frankly, ECHL caliber last year.

It’s a four year trend of suck v. one good year (in pre-lockout hockey before goalie gear was down-sized).

A year from now we can both look back and see if Colorado has signed another Jim Carey or if Raycroft has anything left in the tank.

I know where I’d place my bet.

]]> By: Geoff http://inthecheapseats.com/avs-notebook/07-01-2008/getting-to-know-andrew-raycroft#comment-6517 Geoff Wed, 02 Jul 2008 22:17:29 +0000 http://inthecheapseats.com/?p=661#comment-6517 The thing about Raycroft in Toronto was that sometimes he'd be brilliant, in good position, making great saves and then... whiff. He really had a knack for letting in goals at exactly the wrong time, kind of the opposite of a clutch play. I think the term deflating is perfect. I really wanted to like him (as a player) but every time I thought I'd give him another chance he'd drive me nuts with his totally inconsistent play. As for his franchise record, well, to tell you the truth I watched a lot of Leaf games and I can tell you that he couldn't take all that much credit for the wins. In fact, with a better goalie they'd have made the playoffs. I do wish Andrew good luck in Colorado. He always seemed like a good guy and he dealt with the constant abuse by the Toronto fans and media gracefully. It had to be hard to be a young goalie following up Joseph and Belfour in this market. Hopefully without the insane pressure he faced here he can regain his confidence and focus and regain the form that saw him win the Calder. The thing about Raycroft in Toronto was that sometimes he’d be brilliant, in good position, making great saves and then… whiff. He really had a knack for letting in goals at exactly the wrong time, kind of the opposite of a clutch play. I think the term deflating is perfect. I really wanted to like him (as a player) but every time I thought I’d give him another chance he’d drive me nuts with his totally inconsistent play. As for his franchise record, well, to tell you the truth I watched a lot of Leaf games and I can tell you that he couldn’t take all that much credit for the wins. In fact, with a better goalie they’d have made the playoffs.
I do wish Andrew good luck in Colorado. He always seemed like a good guy and he dealt with the constant abuse by the Toronto fans and media gracefully. It had to be hard to be a young goalie following up Joseph and Belfour in this market. Hopefully without the insane pressure he faced here he can regain his confidence and focus and regain the form that saw him win the Calder.

]]> By: Mike @ MHH http://inthecheapseats.com/avs-notebook/07-01-2008/getting-to-know-andrew-raycroft#comment-6510 Mike @ MHH Wed, 02 Jul 2008 18:07:28 +0000 http://inthecheapseats.com/?p=661#comment-6510 <b>mf37</b>, You are correct about his save percentage being sub-par. He did face the 8th most shots for any goalie that year, but a quick calc of shot's per game puts him right in the middle of the pack for starting goalies. So I can't argue that. GAA is a meaningless statistic for goalies because it doesn't reflect how good/bad the team is in front of him. I said it before, and stats not withstanding, I don't think he's the empty jersey that everybody in the highly fanatical TO media and fanbase make him out to be. This is the same group that has tried to get rid of Mats Sundin for like 5 years in a row! Why is it everybody is so quick to blame every loss on him, but never lay any of the wins at his feet. Say what you want about the number of games it took to get to a franchise record, it's still a franchise record. I think he's a young goalie with confidence issues who was playing on a rebuilt knee in front of probably the most pressure-indicing crowd on a nightly basis. Getting kicked to the curb by management one year after arriving didn't help. That being said, last year was wretched. But he had no reason to play well. NOBODY believed in him. I've read some comments from his goalie coach about his play, work ethic, and attitude and I haven't heard anything but good things. I'll withhold judgement until I get to see him play regularly in Denver with his ex-teammate Hackett as his goalie coach. I think I can be a little more unbiased about his time in Toronto because I don't bleed Blue-and-White. mf37,
You are correct about his save percentage being sub-par. He did face the 8th most shots for any goalie that year, but a quick calc of shot’s per game puts him right in the middle of the pack for starting goalies. So I can’t argue that. GAA is a meaningless statistic for goalies because it doesn’t reflect how good/bad the team is in front of him. I said it before, and stats not withstanding, I don’t think he’s the empty jersey that everybody in the highly fanatical TO media and fanbase make him out to be. This is the same group that has tried to get rid of Mats Sundin for like 5 years in a row! Why is it everybody is so quick to blame every loss on him, but never lay any of the wins at his feet. Say what you want about the number of games it took to get to a franchise record, it’s still a franchise record.
I think he’s a young goalie with confidence issues who was playing on a rebuilt knee in front of probably the most pressure-indicing crowd on a nightly basis. Getting kicked to the curb by management one year after arriving didn’t help.

That being said, last year was wretched. But he had no reason to play well. NOBODY believed in him. I’ve read some comments from his goalie coach about his play, work ethic, and attitude and I haven’t heard anything but good things. I’ll withhold judgement until I get to see him play regularly in Denver with his ex-teammate Hackett as his goalie coach. I think I can be a little more unbiased about his time in Toronto because I don’t bleed Blue-and-White.

]]> By: eyebleaf http://inthecheapseats.com/avs-notebook/07-01-2008/getting-to-know-andrew-raycroft#comment-6509 eyebleaf Wed, 02 Jul 2008 17:59:33 +0000 http://inthecheapseats.com/?p=661#comment-6509 the defence in toronto wasn't the greatest, but you've got to have some confidence in your goaltender, and RAYCRAP made sure that wasn't going to happen. his routine of giving up weak goals killed any confidence his teammates could have in him, and it showed in their body language. Raycrap sucks. I absolutely cannot believe he got another job in the NHL. It is mind-boggling. He clearly did not possess the mental strength to play goal in Toronto, and not many can. With that said, maybe he can survive in a place like Colorado. But I'm not convinced, nor would I put money on it. I don't think he's an NHL-calibre goalie. His save percentage proves it. Whatever they're smoking in the front offices of the Avalanche, I want it. Raycroft will forever be Raycrap. Good riddance, and may he do a whole lot better for you than he did for us. the defence in toronto wasn’t the greatest, but you’ve got to have some confidence in your goaltender, and RAYCRAP made sure that wasn’t going to happen. his routine of giving up weak goals killed any confidence his teammates could have in him, and it showed in their body language.

Raycrap sucks. I absolutely cannot believe he got another job in the NHL. It is mind-boggling. He clearly did not possess the mental strength to play goal in Toronto, and not many can. With that said, maybe he can survive in a place like Colorado. But I’m not convinced, nor would I put money on it. I don’t think he’s an NHL-calibre goalie. His save percentage proves it.

Whatever they’re smoking in the front offices of the Avalanche, I want it.

Raycroft will forever be Raycrap. Good riddance, and may he do a whole lot better for you than he did for us.

]]> By: Dario http://inthecheapseats.com/avs-notebook/07-01-2008/getting-to-know-andrew-raycroft#comment-6507 Dario Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:55:27 +0000 http://inthecheapseats.com/?p=661#comment-6507 How was the defense in Toronto? BTW it's 10:53 MST on the 2nd and it's quiet in free agency...too quiet. No Hossa, Naslund, Morrison, Peca, Sundin yet. How was the defense in Toronto?

BTW it’s 10:53 MST on the 2nd and it’s quiet in free agency…too quiet. No Hossa, Naslund, Morrison, Peca, Sundin yet.

]]> By: Rather Dashing http://inthecheapseats.com/avs-notebook/07-01-2008/getting-to-know-andrew-raycroft#comment-6506 Rather Dashing Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:32:39 +0000 http://inthecheapseats.com/?p=661#comment-6506 Yeah, I'm just saying that having them with us for the entire year SHOULD be a big improvement for our D. Yeah, I’m just saying that having them with us for the entire year SHOULD be a big improvement for our D.

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