In an NHL career that included spells in Carolina, Washington, and Arizona, Peters appeared in 83 games and is, by all accounts, deserving of this chance.
Goaltending is under the microscope with the Ottawa Senators.
After being moved up from the team’s American Hockey League affiliate in Belleville on Monday afternoon, Justin Peters assumed his new position as the Ottawa goaltending coach as the Senators got ready to play the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday night at the Canadian Tyre Centre.
After putting the goalies through their drills during Monday’s long 57-minute skate, goalkeeper coach Zac Bierk—who has been with the team since 2021—was given the dreaded reassignment to “a scouting role.” Peters, 37, took over from Bierk.
In actuality, Bierk—who has been employed since 2021—was let go because the goaltending has been a complete and utter failure. Although it isn’t his fault that rookie Joonas Korpisalo and veteran Anton Forsberg have had difficulties, general manager Steve Staios felt compelled to take action.
Hence, the old has to go and the new has to come, but the story remained the same as the Senators gave the Avalanche a 7-4 victory.
In an NHL career that included spells in Carolina, Washington, and Arizona, Peters appeared in 83 games and is, by all accounts, deserving of this chance. He’s put in a lot of work, and it so happens that Mads Sogaard, the top prospect for the Senators, is one of his outstanding students.
“He’s assisted me in discovering my style of play,” Sogaard said to Postmedia prior to allowing six goals on 33 attempts against the Avs. He is a man I have collaborated closely with. I’ve travelled to Toronto to skate with him the last two summers. He’s a really amazing man. He has been assisting me with every aspect of being a pro.
It’s been fantastic. He deserves this call far more than anything. I have no doubts at all that he will succeed here.
Any member of the Senators’ staff you speak with will quickly tell you how well-respected Peters is. During the summer, Sogaard leaves his home in Denmark to study with Peters at the goalkeeper school he runs in Toronto with Andy Chiodo, a former NHL hopeful.
Sogaard, who stays with Peters and his wife throughout the camp, explained that it’s basically an opportunity to skate, get on the ice, and work on some elements of the game that you might not have time to do when there are so many games.
It’s merely a benefit for both of them that Sogaard was present when Peters received the call to assume leadership from Bierk.
Peters gives his work his all. We seen that firsthand the previous season when, following a puck to the head in San Jose, Bierk was hospitalised for six weeks in Ottawa while he recovered from a concussion.
“As far as preparation goes, he works just as hard as the players and is a coach that you can look to,” Sogaard remarked. He visits the rink every day. He works erratic hours, arriving late after games and rising early to ensure the film is ready and we receive the necessary drills.
“He might have all the post drills set up for me when I come in the following day after saying, ‘Hey, I want to do some post (practice) work tomorrow.'” He exerts as much effort as anyone. He’s so worthy of it; I’m not sure if everyone in Belleville saw it coming.
Peters has done a decent job developing prospects Leevi Merilainen, Kevin Mandolese, and Sogaard based on goaltender statistics in the AHL. Due to the Senators’ difficulty making crucial saves during crucial moments of games, the situation in Ottawa has been challenging and frustrating.
The Senators signed Korpisalo to a five-year, $20 million U.S. contract on July 1. He has an 8-15-0 record, a 3.70 goals-against average, and an.884 save percentage. Forsberg, on the other hand, has a 7-8-0 record, a 3.35 GAA, and an.889 save percentage.
Due to a groyne injury he sustained last Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres, Forsberg was placed on long-term injury reserve, making the situation much more challenging. The good news is that he is now mobile and was seen strolling about the rink’s hallways on Monday afternoon.
With 38 games played, Ottawa has a terrible record and is placed No. 31 in the NHL.With an 882 save percentage and a 3.67 GAA, they are ranked No. 30. The choice to start Sogaard against the Avs is the best evidence yet that this team has undergone a change in leadership.
Korpisalo is 4-3-0 in his career against Colorado, with a 3.58 goals against average and a.895 save percentage. Given his history of examining those figures, interim coach Jacques Martin decided it was prudent to give Sogaard a chance.
Martin stated before to the game, “I think we have a better chance of winning with the kid going in the net.”
That is a rather illuminating comment.
The Senators were hoped Korpisalo would help stabilise the crease with Forsberg when they signed him in the summer. That hasn’t occurred, and at the moment it’s unsettling since this team has committed to Korpisalo for five years; yet, on Thursday, he’ll probably play the Montreal Canadiens.
While Peters is unable to solve every issue facing this team on his own, he can contribute to the goalies’ rehabilitation. I’ll show you a decent coach if you show me a good goalie.
As of right now, net victories and saves would aid in resolving the Senators’ problems.
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