Hey guys just wanted to post links to some AHL goalie coverage I've been writing over the weekend.

AHL Crease Duels Part I: http://www.thegoalieguild.com/2012/0...review-part-1/

AHL Crease Duels Part II: http://www.thegoalieguild.com/2012/0...eview-part-ii/

The AHL "Crease Duels" is my projected tandem for each AHL team, along with a list of every goalie trying out for every team. As you will see, there are NINE "official" crease duels, and therefore I expect at least one or two surprises.

Matt Hackett Honing His Game: http://www.thegoalieguild.com/2012/1...ning-his-game/

John Curry Determined to Make AHL Return: http://www.thegoalieguild.com/2012/1...ke-ahl-return/

If you have any questions about the projected tandems, or what I saw during Houston Aeros training camp, feel free to fire questions my way. I'll have a piece up on Darcy Kuemper tomorrow sometime as well.

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Shawn Hunwick was just added to Providence's roster on a last-minute tryout but don't expect anything to come of that. Bruins have more goalies in their system than they know what to do with.

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Here is my piece on Darcy Kuemper

http://www.thegoalieguild.com/2012/1...-in-loaded-ahl

I have a video to post on Kent Patterson next, with some thoughts on the four-way crease duel in Lake Erie.

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Awesome stuff, Justin!

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macv@dobberbaseball.com
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Thank you for posting this article! Since I own Kuemper in my league it was very interesting to read.

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Here is the video with Kent Patterson, plus a brief breakdown of the Lake Erie training camp. Never in my life have I seen an NHL team that has battled with a lack of goalie depth have FOUR rookies fighting for two AHL spots. It's so insane...and as crazy as it seems...it could end up working for them.

http://www.thegoalieguild.com/2012/1...or-crease-duel

The unfortunate thing that one of Pickard, Patterson, or Aittokallio is destined for the CHL. That's not good. The Central Hockey League is not a league where goalies develop.

If Aittokallio legitimately makes Lake Erie, good. If he is neck-and-neck with Patterson, send Sami back to Finland and let him keep playing in the SM-liiga. Do NOT let him go down to the Denver Cutthroats.

Very interesting stuff happening in Lake Erie's camp. I wish I was there.

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I had a good chat with new Isles goalie consultant Steve Valiquette this afternoon. He is working this season down in Bridgeport, so I got some good stuff on Kevin Poulin and Anders Nilsson. That will be my next AHL goalie preview piece. That will probably be my last one for at least the next few days until something else pops up!

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This is amazing work buddy, very much appreciated.. Your articles are very thorough, indepth, and very detailed.. Your always a must read for anyone needing any news or advice of a goalie who is playing in any league..

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Here is the interview/article with new Islanders goalie consultant Steve Valiquette. This one is VERY interesting with some really good insight on his work with KEVIN POULIN and ANDERS NILSSON.

http://www.thegoalieguild.com/2012/1...to-bridgeport/

If there's one thing to like about the Islanders, it is their very progressive and committed approach to developing goalies. Yes, the DiPietro situation was unfortunate and a bad deal made many years ago, but how they have approached things over the past 2-3 seasons is really solid. That is to be expected when the GM is a former goalie.

It also goes to show that even if a goalie is a "lifelong backup" like Valiquette, they still have the brains and the understanding to be terrific coaches. I think guys like Steve and Chris Osgood and Curtis Joseph make unreal coaches because they have RECENT experience and they understand the mental intricacies and the new-age scientific theories really well.

Should be a strong season for both Poulin and Nilsson ... and even though Kenny Reiter is just their ECHL goalie right now, don't lose sight of him.

Downgrade Mikko Koskinen a bit --- it hurts that he's not in North America working with Valiquette this season. Not to say he isn't developing, but it's not going to be the same as what the guys over here will be getting.

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Nobody needs to have a bigger AHL season than Leland Irving:

http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/...507/story.html

Choice quotes from Feaster -- the org is still not sold that he's ready to be in the NHL and I think I agree with that, but really the only way Irving will ever fully prove himself is by winning a few more NHL games. So he needs to have an unreal AHL season this year, and then he'll have to fend off Karri Ramo, who is definitely in the mix next season.

Tough spot to be in. Sometimes that's just the way it works for some guys.

Another quick note -- Louis Domingue down to the ECHL, so it's between Lee and Visentin in Portland.

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