Hartford Wolf Pack rookie goaltender Al Montoya was a standout college player who carved out a stellar career at the University of Michigan. Now the New York Rangers' first-round pick (6th OA) in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft is scrapping for a small piece of New York real estate that is one of the most coveted in all of sport: The ice between the pipes at Madison Square Garden.
"There's a pretty big step from carrying the ball in the AHL to carrying the ball in the NHL, especially with goaltenders," said Hartford coach Jim Schoenfeld.
One of the most naturally gifted goaltenders in development, Montoya has struggled with rhythm-breaking injuries. He was out nearly six weeks in the first half of the season with a fractured ring finger on his left, catching hand. He also dropped at least three games in February with a groin injury. Montoya has only played in 27 games through Feb. 20.
Before the groin injury, Al had posted a 17-5-1 record with a 2.47 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage. In a 3-2 victory over Bridgeport on October 28, 2005, he set a franchise record by making 51 saves.
Those kind of numbers would draw accolades from many organizations.
Stats-schmats, scolds Schoenfeld: "Goals-against average and wins are as much team stats as they are goaltending stats. I think a true indication for goalies is save percentage. That's saves per shot. Al's are decent."
You know you’re in tough company when a .913 save run and a franchise record draws “decent” from your coach. Schoenfeld wants that level of performance every day. Being naturally gifted isn't enough. Being a great college player gets you to the AHL. The rest of the way requires a retooling that goes faster for some than others, no matter what their ability.
"(Montoya) does have good, raw talent. But sometimes your first jump is rapid and to get up to the next level, [sometimes] it's incremental. Look how long it took Jason LaBarbera. In the last two years he was dynamite [with the Hartford Wolf Pack] but he was 25, 26 years old.
LaBarbera played five seasons in the minors before hooking on this season with the Los Angeles Kings. Sentiments from other corners, evidenced by our survey of teams and coaches suggest that Montoya’s thought of as one of the top three goaltending prospects in the American Hockey League.
Still, what others in the league think means nothing to your parent club. The NHL is the some of the most demanding, and often unforgiving ice in the world. Benoit Allaire, the Rangers' goaltending coach turns Al’s focus on to subtleties of the game to which Montoya may not have paid much attention.
"Benoit has been a huge help teaching me certain things that you need in order to adjust to the pro game, things like being square to the shooter, reading the pass, staying in front of it and battling," said Montoya. "That's been part of my success and the team's success so far."
Allaire is teaching Montoya to respect what goes on in the zone. Not between the pipes, but the ears.
"(He) has helped with the mental aspect, coming out here and being prepared for the professional game … knowing what to expect every night," said Montoya. "The things I was doing before, the players here will tear me apart. Good players find a way to adjust to new things. Benoit has been a huge help for me."
"This is a developmental year and an important time to be on the ice," said Schoenfeld. "But I think Al has made up for the lost time. Plus we play him the lion's share when he's healthy."
Despite all the games that Montoya has missed, Schoenfeld isn't inclined to throw him under the bus.
"I think he's becoming a more consistent performer as the season wears on," he said. "He has a better recognition of the game, when to freeze the puck and when to move the puck. That comes through experience and examining the situation.
"You talk about being a great goaltender. Goaltender's have to be good hockey players, too, in the sense of knowing the game … knowing when it's important to hold the puck for a whistle and when it's important to move it up to your defensemen, or move it far up the ice for a breakaway opportunity."
Featured in MLN Sports Zone’s December 17th issue in “Viva Montoya!” Al is on the verge of becoming the first Cuban-American to play in the NHL. He was recalled on Oct. 12 when Kevin Weekes strained a groin muscle. After sitting the bench for two games, Montoya was reassigned to Hartford when Weekes was activated.
"I want to do what I can to reach out to Hispanics,” said Montoya, “to show how it's possible to put on skates and be successful regardless of where you come from."
Even though we expect to see Al join us for part or all of the 2006-2007 AHL season, sources and our balloting lead us to believe that he ranks just below Fluery as one of the top goaltenders at the AAA level. Making the jump to the NHL is most likely a “when” rather than an “if” for reasons both in terms of talent and a larger NHL need… fans.
Beyond his growing abilities, Al is also one of the new ranks of Hispanic, African-American, and Asian players that are slowly breaking through the White Wall of hockey. At a time when the NHL is rebuilding its core audience for the next decade, bet heavily that players with talent and outreach into communities that the NHL has traditionally underserved will hit the fast track.
- Mike Scandura
For the full story on Al, see our full feature on him:
"Viva Montoya" from the December 2005 issue of MLN Sports Zone.
