The Colorado Avalanche are a wagon in 2026. They transport the puck through the neutral zone like a hot knife through butter, and they pass the puck east to west in the offensive zone better than anybody. It's a fun way to play when your team has the skill to do so, so what does that mean for the opponent?
It starts in the net. This is a key lesson from Kevin Swanson's course The Goalie Coach Toolkit.
The goaltenders from the San Jose Sharks, Washington Capitals, Nashville Predators, and Toronto Maple Leafs you see in these clips no doubt had an extra dose of inspiration when they prepared to play the league's best. Watch as each goalie plays each zone entry a little different. First, individual goalies have their own preferences when it comes to depth of course. You'll see Jussi Saros, who is under-sized considering average goalie heights in the NHL, aggressive at the top of his crease. That might leave potential back door plays open, but Saros has made a career or predicting where the puck is going next with uncanny accuracy.
The disparity between each clip is a mind opener for regular coaches. Every time the puck crosses the blue line the goaltender has to imagine every scenario that could come next. Watch these with your goalies and ask them if they'd play at the same depth as the goalies in the clips.
Learn more about how to teach your goalies proper depth and positioning with The Goalie Coach Toolkit.
