Hockey Canada is so worried about their homegrown talent in between the pipes that they are looking at the idea of banning import goalies from joining the Canadian Hockey League.
The official discussion on banning European goalies started last week when CHL commissioner David Branch met with Hockey Canada officials.
There is no denying the best overseas goaltenders have overshadowed Canada's top talent in recent years. After all, the three nominees for the Vezina this year are Sweden native Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers, Finland native Antti Niemi of the San Jose Sharks, and Russian native Sergie Bobrovsky of the Columbus Blue Jackets. Back in the early 2000s, it was a different story with Patrick Roy and Martin Brodeur cleaning house in the blue paint.
The three Vezina candidates weren't groomed in the CHL, though. They developed in their respective country's junior leagues before making the jump to the pro game in North America.
On the draft floor, European netminders have stolen the spotlight for the last four years and arguably longer. The last Canadian who was selected first among goaltenders in his respective draft class was Chet Pickard in 2008 when the Nashville Predators picked him 18th overall.
It appears this year will be a different story, as the Halifax Mooseheads' Zachary Fucale is the unanimous top goalie of the draft according most scouting services, including NHL Central Scouting Service.
Nonetheless, since there are more starting goaltenders in the NHL that were drafted in the seventh round or later than first-round picks, it seems where a puck stopper is selected isn't much of a telling point to how his career will go.
Zeroing in on the Western Hockey League, the top goalie last year was an import - the Red Deer Rebels' Patrik Bartosak who hails from the Czech Republic. He was sensational in his second year in the league, posting a .935 save percentage and a 2.26 average throughout 55 games.
You could, however, make a strong argument that the next three top netminders are Canadians with the Edmonton Oil Kings' Laurent Brossoit, the Calgary Hitmen's Chris Drieger, and the Portland Winterhawks' Mac Carruth posting outstanding showings in the regular-season and post-season. Therefore, it's not as though there aren't any Canadian born stars in between the pipes.
At the end of the day, it doesn't seem banning European goaltenders from the CHL would fix Canada's puck-stopping problems because the most talented Canadian netminders are going to be in the league despite their import competition. It would, however, create better depth at the position as the junior A goalies who would make the jump to the CHL would likely improve with the stronger coaching.
Hockey Canada has somewhat shot themselves in the foot by developing import goalies that stymie them at the international stage, though. Just look to the Saskatoon Blades' Andrey Makarov for prove of that.
However, this is the best junior league in the world because it attracts the top talent in North American and overseas. If the CHL decides to take away import goalies, it will undoubtedly water down the league. This could ultimately give rival leagues such as the United States Hockey League an opportunity to get a step on them. In addition, with teams such as the Swift Current Broncos, Prince George Cougars, and Lethbridge Hurricanes struggling to get out of the red, a weaker product on the ice could hurt some team's balance sheets.
A large issue in developing goalies is the high costs in minor hockey - pads are expensive. Not to mention, most goalies only suit up for half of their team's games, even if they are clearly more talented than their teammate.
The ban on import goalies wouldn't take effective until 2014 at the earliest. If the CHL goes down this road, it will show the league is more focused on developing Canadian talent than sustaining the most competitive junior hockey league in the world.
