Quote:
Originally Posted by sch19lks
Sandman, did you get any looks on Saskatoon Blades’ back up Evan Gardner? His stats this year were really good, but it’s hard to judge a goalie off of just stats. Especially when he was playing behind a stacked team
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Draft Thoughts (Goalie Edition, Vol. 5):
LHG Evan Gardner, 6'2",174lbs
Saskatoon (WHL): 30gp, 21-5-0, 1.91 GAA, .927 SV%
Saskatoon (Playoffs): 15gp, 10-1-3, 2.33 GAA, .910 SV%
Evan Gardner has the most streling stats of any goaltender in this class, but don't be fooled- he plays on a tight defensive team, and doesn't get tested like other draft-eligible goalies. Saskatoon finished first overall in the league in the regular season, and were the styngiest team in the WHL, with the best goals-against (163), 24 less than the next best team- but they lost in the third round of the playoffs to the eventual WHL Champion Moose Jaw Warriors in seven games. For his efforts, Gardner was named the WHL's Eastern Division finalist for Rookie of the Year, as incredibly, he was playing U-18 AAA Hockey in 2022-23. He's had his fair share of problems to overcome, being diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at 11 years old, and having to wear a glucose monitor at all times.
Gardner is a hybrid goalie, and is technically sound with fluid mechanics and exemplary positioning. Though he plays on a top team and doesn't always need to be the better goalie to win the game, he has shown to be a game-saver on a few occasions. He has cat-like reflexes, and plays aggressively with a wide stance, an upright posture to make himself look bigger, and plenty of knee-bend. Mentally speaking, he's calm and collected, with the mental resilience to reset well after a goal. His movement around his crease is controlled and efficient- he doesn't slide out of position, or overcommit. He moves side-to-side quickly and efficiently, and stays square to the puck, keeping the right angle to the shooter, staying in good position. He seems to understand depth control, and knows when to come forth from the goal-line to challenge a shooter, and when to hang back in his net. His head is always on a swivel to keep a mental map of his surroundings, and he has a good hinge to watch what's going on behind his net. Gardner is able to track the puck well, and exerts good situational awareness.
Gardner doesn't have elite size or athletic ability, and leans heavily on his technique, though he might be a little raw considering that he's in the midst of his first season of Major Junior. When playing the puck, he doesn't scan properly, so he can cause some problems for his D in the form of egregious turnovers. He needs work on his rebound control, as he can bounce pucks into high-danger areas, giving up second-chance opportunites. As stated, his stats are a little inflated, due to the high-level of defense his team employs. Look for Gardner in the fourth, or fifth round.