The SBP Archives - Your less than frequent dose of SBP!

Last year, everyone was cursing his name.

Now, the bandwagon for backup goalie (that's right, backup) Martin Gerber is piling up so high, it may collapse under its own weight. Now everyone talks about how Emery was (is) an average goalie, isn't worth the new contract he signed, he should be traded and I even heard many say Emery will have criminal charges filed against him before the season ends. (I bet a co-worker $20 this wouldn't happen. Frank, if you're reading this, you might as well write me a post-dated cheque for mid-June 2008).

Doesn't anyone remember where Martin Gerber was when his teams were in the Stanley Cup finals? He was sitting on the bench, the best seat in the house for sure, but there no way he was seeing a minute of ice time. Both Cam Ward and Ray Emery proved without a doubt who the #1 was before each of their series even started.

Now Gerber isn't horrible. He's a good positional goalie, he can be counted on to make the first save and if he's in nets, if you have an average or above team you'll have a chance to win. But compared to Emery, he's the #2. Position was Emery's weakness when he started out, but he worked on it last year and it showed. You can teach position, but you cannot teach athleticism and reflexes, which is what Emery has over Gerber tenfold. Emery is a young 24 years old and will only get better. Gerber is 32 and has reached his prime. He may have 3 or 4 years left, but Emery has at least a decade of hockey left in him.

Another thing to remember about Emery's season last year, was that he played with an injured wrist all season long and during the playoffs. It was revealed during the post-season he never took any practice shots on his glove hand so it would be ready for game time. Can you imagine just how much better a healthy Emery would be? There's no need to rush him back, and when he starts he'll have some "rink rust", but when he's 100% and ready to go, Emery is the #1 goalie in Ottawa.