Alex Stalock may be the backup goaltender for the Minnesota Wild and may not have seen many outings, but that’s not stopping him from leading the league’s goaltenders in assists.
His two assists this season in seven games is a better return than Minnesota Wild defenseman, Greg Pateryn who has just one assist in twenty-three games. Alex Stalock certainly proves useful for his ability to play a puck up ice.
There’s not many goaltenders in the league that are able to not only play the puck, but play it accurately and in a way that opens up an opposition team.
Time and again, Alex Stalock has done this for the Minnesota Wild and whilst they don’t all amount to goals or assists, it’s a skill-set that is a real asset in a backup goaltender.
Backup goaltenders need to be able to differentiate themselves. Starting goalies are rare; backups are, for the most part, easily available via the waiver wire or via trades of lower draft picks. There’s not a huge marketplace for them.
Being slightly different though adds value for the Minnesota Wild should they decide to promote Kaapo Kahkonen for more than just the one night next time, or should they want to bring Andrew Hammond to the fore and see what value there is on the trade market for a goalie that notches assists.
Most of all, beyond being able to tally assists, Alex Stalock does provide the Minnesota Wild with stable goaltending when Devan Dubnyk is down and out with illness or simply needs the night off.
It’d be nicer actually if Bruce Boudreau was willing to give Stalock a few more chances, rather than wait for Dubnyk to burn out.
With Stalock being a hometown boy on a minimum salary contract, the Minnesota Wild have a real asset on their hands.
He may not be a young guy anymore, but he’s still got a good few more years in him and the Wild would be wise to keep him there all the time Kahkonen is still learning the ropes.
His goaltending is solid, the assists are an awesome bonus! Now I just want to see him score a goal, empty netter or otherwise, this season!