Goalies: The LAST line of defense

Huet's only as good as what's in front of him.

The Huet/Niemi debate will go on all season. This I am sure about. What I'm not too sure about is why Coach Q and the Hawks are allowing this debate to play out in the media. Having a specific insight into the inner workings of the flawed sponge that is the mind of a netminder, I know that this continuing controversy will do nothing but harm Huet and make Niemi the next whipping boy when it turns out he isn't the Savior we've all hoped for.

The introduction boos and the cheers when Huet stops a simple clearing shot are detrimental, yes. But the constant keeper switching and lack of any real supportive statements out of the Hawks front office are going to make Huet a bigger head case than he already is.

He has taken credit for dropping the ball on some questionable bounces, yes. But it's what Huet isn't saying that shows he's a class act. The abysmal defense in the games vs. Calgary and Edmonton have been discussed ad nauseum, as well as the total lack of back checking in the latter two periods of the Dallas game. But no one wants to point the fingers at the failed Spin-o-Rama or the inability to put a breakout pass on the tape for eight consecutive periods. Why not?

Goalies are the last line of defense, implying that there's something in front of him. Huet has acknowledged his penchant for dropping into the butterfly too early, which makes him seem weaker on the high glove side. He is working with goaltending coach Stephane Waite to try to keep on his feet for the initial shot in order to better defend the rebound. I think that shows an immense amount of personal character when you've been in the league as long as Huet has, and can admit that you don't do everything perfectly.

Huet could very easily ask why his big guys like Seabs or Buff don't clear out the front of the net when the microphone is pushed in his face, but instead he takes his lickings and lets the mouthpieces of the organization say that they all win and lose as a team. Chicago sports fans have a short memory, and that's too bad in this case. We're in the very beginning of a long season, and the "what have you done for me lately?" approach is just going to leave us with a bad taste in our mouths.

I for one, am going to remember Game 5 and the Golden Leg Pad every time a weird bounce dribbles past Huet. He's not Khabby, and I think he's ok with that. It's time for the rest of us to get on board.