Ville Husso was drafted 94th overall by the St. Louis Blues one year after the Nashville Predators took fellow 20-year-old Finn Juuse Saros 99th overall. Their stats over the past two seasons in the SM-Liiga are extremely close as well, but that’s where the similarities end. While the smaller Saros relies on quickness and aggressive play-reading to get by, Husso does not. At 6-foot-3, he isn’t required to play that way – so he chooses a more structured route to success. Scouts believe that there is still some untapped raw ability deep down that he has yet to harness, which has Blues’ management extremely excited to work with him.
Splitting time on the Finland under-20 team with Saros, Husso has been handed a lot of opportunities to develop quickly – and he is finally starting to take advantage. His biggest criticism over the years has been towards his dedication, which was likely the reason that he was passed over in his first draft-eligible season. He has quieted the doubters with his excellent play recently. He is in the final year of his contract with HIFK, and will remain in Finland to play out the rest of that deal. After that, expect Husso to make the jump to North America to begin his ascent up the Blues’ suddenly stacked goaltending depth chart.
Undrafted – 23 years old
26 GP, 2.17 GAA, .925 SV%, 17-4-3 (Hershey – AHL)
The Michigan Tech graduate took tremendous strides in 2013-2014, becoming one of the AHL’s top goaltenders while playing for the Hershey Bears. He is tall and lanky, but is a pure athlete that has displayed elite puck tracking ability. He was shipped from the Washington Capitals to the St. Louis Blues in the T.J. Oshie trade – which may not have happened if Copley wasn’t included as part of the deal, by some reports. Capitals’ goaltending coach Mitch Korn will be sad to see him go, but it is a wonderful opportunity for Copley to join a new organization and continue to prove that he is ready to step into an NHL role.
33. Jordan Binnington
3rd round, 88th overall in 2011 – 22 years old
45 GP, 2.35 GAA, .916 SV%, 25-15-4 (Chicago – AHL)
When reviewing the St. Louis Blues’ long term options in goal, Binnington is on the outside looking in despite having two great seasons to begin his professional career. Ville Husso is far and away their best prospect, but is still likely a year away from arriving in North America. The T.J. Oshie trade also landed them Pheonix Copley, another high end prospect. If Allen takes over as the starter on the big club as expected, it wouldn’t be shocking to hear Brian Elliott’s name in trade rumours once again. If not, a change of scenery may be necessary because Binnington is outgrowing the AHL very quickly.
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cardsfan04 wrote:Copley is a bigger prospect than Binnington? I didn't realize that. We have some trade bait at the deadline it seems and a tad bit of cap space too.
The question mark on Binnington apparently is a lack of focus. While he was rated as a great prospect prior to last season, this question arose last season. Copley, apparently, has similar talent, but does not have the focus issues due to what it took to get him to an NHL roster.
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One of the best goalie development coaches in the world works in Finland. That's why there is this increase in Finnish goaltending prospects over the past decade.
ecbm wrote:Good stuff. One will be traded. Nice that they have value.
IMO I'm not too sure one will be traded yet. I think the Blues will keep both Elliott and Allen all year and most likely trade Elliott next summer. Copley and Binnington will play for the #1 spot in Chicago and the winner will get behind Allen next year(16/17) or maybe even both will get equal playing time behind Allen in 2016/17. Husso will come in 2016/17 to the AHL and then the Blues should look at trading someone to make room for Opilka to come into the AHL.
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ecbm wrote:Good stuff. One will be traded. Nice that they have value.
IMO I'm not too sure one will be traded yet. I think the Blues will keep both Elliott and Allen all year and most likely trade Elliott next summer. Copley and Binnington will play for the #1 spot in Chicago and the winner will get behind Allen next year(16/17) or maybe even both will get equal playing time behind Allen in 2016/17. Husso will come in 2016/17 to the AHL and then the Blues should look at trading someone to make room for Opilka to come into the AHL.
I somehow had the impression that the organization wanted Husso over here this coming season. I'm not sure where I got that idea. So yes, this is fine if Husso stays. If he comes over, there's one goalie too many for the system as I think you're right that Elliot will be here at least to start the season.
ecbm wrote:Good stuff. One will be traded. Nice that they have value.
IMO I'm not too sure one will be traded yet. I think the Blues will keep both Elliott and Allen all year and most likely trade Elliott next summer. Copley and Binnington will play for the #1 spot in Chicago and the winner will get behind Allen next year(16/17) or maybe even both will get equal playing time behind Allen in 2016/17. Husso will come in 2016/17 to the AHL and then the Blues should look at trading someone to make room for Opilka to come into the AHL.
I somehow had the impression that the organization wanted Husso over here this coming season. I'm not sure where I got that idea. So yes, this is fine if Husso stays. If he comes over, there's one goalie too many for the system as I think you're right that Elliot will be here at least to start the season.
Since Husso is playing out the final year of his contract with HIFK, the earliest he would be available is mid-March if HIFK misses the playoffs and mid-April if they make it to their league's Finals. So - next year for Husso with the Wolves. Someone will have to move if they don't get moved this season.
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ecbm wrote:Good stuff. One will be traded. Nice that they have value.
IMO I'm not too sure one will be traded yet. I think the Blues will keep both Elliott and Allen all year and most likely trade Elliott next summer. Copley and Binnington will play for the #1 spot in Chicago and the winner will get behind Allen next year(16/17) or maybe even both will get equal playing time behind Allen in 2016/17. Husso will come in 2016/17 to the AHL and then the Blues should look at trading someone to make room for Opilka to come into the AHL.
I somehow had the impression that the organization wanted Husso over here this coming season. I'm not sure where I got that idea. So yes, this is fine if Husso stays. If he comes over, there's one goalie too many for the system as I think you're right that Elliot will be here at least to start the season.
Since Husso is playing out the final year of his contract with HIFK, the earliest he would be available is mid-March if HIFK misses the playoffs and mid-April if they make it to their league's Finals. So - next year for Husso with the Wolves. Someone will have to move if they don't get moved this season.
Correct, I think Ells will be shipped over the summer after the draft, if Allen doesn't have a complete melt down and regression (you also have to remember that there might be a potential expansion draft and having too many goalies may be a good thing in that case)
That leaves Copley or Binnington backing up Allen, My guess would be Copley and Binnington split time so the Blues can make a final decision on who they trade. Husso takes the number 1 in Chicago then Opilka comes in to back up him.
I vision Copley or Binns getting the #1 in a few short years with Husso coming into back one of them up until he is ready to be our next #1. But you never know with goalies they are tricky to figure out.
15/16
Blues-Allen/Elliott
wolves-Copley/Binns
16/17
Blues-Allen/Copley/Binns Splitting Time as back up
Wolves-Copley/Binns/Husso
17/18
Blues-Allen/Copley or Binns
Wolves-Husso/Opilka
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I hadn't even considered the expansion draft. Perfect opportunity to get rid of some excess. The only problem is, I'm fairly positive there's no form of compensation at all. Is there even monetary compensation, aside from the expansion fees?
ecbm wrote:Good stuff. One will be traded. Nice that they have value.
IMO I'm not too sure one will be traded yet. I think the Blues will keep both Elliott and Allen all year and most likely trade Elliott next summer. Copley and Binnington will play for the #1 spot in Chicago and the winner will get behind Allen next year(16/17) or maybe even both will get equal playing time behind Allen in 2016/17. Husso will come in 2016/17 to the AHL and then the Blues should look at trading someone to make room for Opilka to come into the AHL.
I somehow had the impression that the organization wanted Husso over here this coming season. I'm not sure where I got that idea. So yes, this is fine if Husso stays. If he comes over, there's one goalie too many for the system as I think you're right that Elliot will be here at least to start the season.
Since Husso is playing out the final year of his contract with HIFK, the earliest he would be available is mid-March if HIFK misses the playoffs and mid-April if they make it to their league's Finals. So - next year for Husso with the Wolves. Someone will have to move if they don't get moved this season.
Correct, I think Ells will be shipped over the summer after the draft, if Allen doesn't have a complete melt down and regression (you also have to remember that there might be a potential expansion draft and having too many goalies may be a good thing in that case)
That leaves Copley or Binnington backing up Allen, My guess would be Copley and Binnington split time so the Blues can make a final decision on who they trade. Husso takes the number 1 in Chicago then Opilka comes in to back up him.
I vision Copley or Binns getting the #1 in a few short years with Husso coming into back one of them up until he is ready to be our next #1. But you never know with goalies they are tricky to figure out.
15/16
Blues-Allen/Elliott
wolves-Copley/Binns
16/17
Blues-Allen/Copley/Binns Splitting Time as back up
Wolves-Copley/Binns/Husso
17/18
Blues-Allen/Copley or Binns
Wolves-Husso/Opilka
It's so tough to predict goaltending tandems. Goaltending is so fickle and can change so quick. I'm very curious to see how well Allen & Elliott play this year. Allen had a poor finish to the playoffs after a spectacular run to end the season and early in the first round...and Elliott has had great numbers with the Blues for the past 4 seasons, but struggled down the stretch last season.
I'm not sold on Allen yet. He needs to play with more consistency and focus. Which he did late last year...he just needs to do that all of the time before I'm ready to give him the #1 job.
And I don't think Elliott is going anywhere. If Allen does indeed take over the #1 job, which is far from a sure thing, Elliott would be a tremendous option at backup should Allen get hurt or falter at some point.
To me, it comes down to mental toughness. Those who have it, in this level of league, end up winning championships. Those who don't contribute to sinking a team.
Jake Allen kind of demonstrated lapses of losing his own mental toughness, both in the minors and in the playoffs. Most of that may easily be attributed to lack of experience, and I sure ain't knocking the guy because he was put in a position he should never have been put in - a rookie carrying a team into the playoffs - but he did that job as a stand-up guy to the best of his abilities and what he knew, and anyone that hates on that, has issues. We see that same sort of thing out of Brian Elliott too; he's either in the zone or he's flat out garbage.
If it comes down to mental toughness among all these netminders, Copley has won that game simply by getting as far as he has undrafted and progressively getting better as he climbs the ladder, which might be what makes the difference between him and the others. I think it's far too early to say he's the next Tim Thomas or insert-name-here, but that one upper edge makes him hungry and gives him an extra gear at the expense of age, so his window of opportunity has to be nailed at the right time for it to work.
Husso, it all boils down to how his game translates to the majors. He could work with the best and not be personally able to adjust; we've seen that so many times before in this league, the promise and the skillset but they don't ever come together at this level. To me, it's too early to tell.
Bings, I think is great, and this talk of his mental toughness, I don't know how to take that, to be honest. It's just too easy to say (even for me) that player x played horribly because of that. Numbers-wise he's alongside Husso in many respects. It'll be interesting to see how it works out, but I expect Copley to end up in Blue before any of them. And that's not a huge stretch as I think we'll end up trading someone down the road anyway.
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Oaklandblue wrote:Bings, I think is great, and this talk of his mental toughness, I don't know how to take that, to be honest. It's just too easy to say (even for me) that player x played horribly because of that. Numbers-wise he's alongside Husso in many respects. It'll be interesting to see how it works out, but I expect Copley to end up in Blue before any of them. And that's not a huge stretch as I think we'll end up trading someone down the road anyway.
I did some more digging on the mental toughness/focus thing for Binnington. Turns out he admitted as much when moved to a team where he was going to be the backup for awhile. Vets with the team got on his case about it, because he wasn't working as hard in practice which doesn't help the vets work on their game either. He took the advice and started working like he should have been working in the first place. 2nd half of last season Matt Climie got hurt and Binnington took over starting 17 consecutive games and played very well. It's kind of similar to how Allen took over the starting role when the guy ahead of him got hurt and he started some similar number of consecutive games and played very well.
Will be interesting seeing how it shakes out in Chicago.
At least we know the Blues have quality prospective depth in goal.
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