Goalie coaches connect during pause to increase professional development

Bill Ranford is a lot more focused on the computer screen in his home office these days than the awards, trophies and memorabilia from a 15-year NHL career.

Like many coaches, Ranford has stayed home working on professional development since the NHL season paused March 12 due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus.

"This has given me an opportunity to dig deeper into my craft," he said.

The 53-year-old, who lives in Burnaby, British Columbia, won the Stanley Cup four times, twice as a goalie with the Edmonton Oilers, including 1990, when he won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and two more times since becoming the goaltending coach for the Los Angeles Kings in 2006. He was named MVP while winning the Canada Cup in 1991 and the IIHF World Championship in 1994.

Ranford is using this rare time off the ice to coordinate with his peers and expand their position-specific connections and knowledge base. Like a young goalie eager to try new techniques and equipment, Ranford hasn't left many stones unturned in his quest for position-specific knowledge during the past 10 weeks.

Every two weeks, he has separate calls with each goalie in the Kings system, including prospects. He has also been reconnecting with former goalies who are playing elsewhere, including Jonathan Bernier of the Detroit Red Wings and Darcy Kuemper of the Arizona Coyotes.

Ranford has listened to podcasts dedicated to the position, tuned into a webinar about a new equipment line that is different from what his NHL goalies currently wear but are worn by Kings prospects, talked to other goaltending coaches he's worked with in the past, and reached out to new ones.

"I've said many a time that when you think you know it all, that's the time to get out," Ranford said. "We like to pick each other's brains, and that's how you get better in this position. I really don't get many opportunities where I get this amount of time that I can start digging deeper into the position and into coaching. It's been a great opportunity to learn."

Other goaltending coaches have embraced it with similar enthusiasm.

Andy Chiodo, the Pittsburgh Penguins goaltending development coach, took part in regular calls with Paul Schonfelder, who has the same role with the Carolina Hurricanes, and Fred Brathwaite, who played 254 NHL games in nine seasons with the Oilers, Calgary Flames, St. Louis Blues and Columbus Blue Jackets. He was also the New York Islanders goaltending coach in 2017-18.

"These last two months have presented a unique opportunity to grow and develop in so many areas by connecting with different players, goaltenders and coaches with purposeful meetings and intentional subject matter geared toward growing and improving our work," said Chiodo, whose offseason coaching clients usually include Jordan Binnington of the Blues and Malcolm Subban of the Chicago Blackhawks.

"As we learn and add to our skill sets as coaches, our athletes benefit almost instantaneously. Self-development and growth is a powerful thing, then sharing that knowledge with our athletes is where the passion and value exists."

Using video and online meeting and screen-sharing tools, goaltending coaches have been able to further their own development while also helping goalies in their organizations and even goalies outside each organization by taking part in position-focused presentations.

Oilers goaltending coach Dustin Schwartz is helping organize an online goaltending symposium in conjunction with the Western Hockey League and Hockey Canada.

Schwartz is also midway through a virtual development camp with Oilers goalie prospects, knowing that an in-person camp is unlikely this summer. The group has met weekly online, using video to review reads, situational play and each goalie's strengths and weaknesses. Assistant coaches from the organization have joined as guest speakers. Projects, almost like homework, have been assigned.

"The goal is self-evaluation and holding themselves accountable to some different topics and themes," said Schwartz, who has also given online presentations to goalie schools. "It was an opportunity to connect with them, see where they're at, and give them feedback and some ideas on where they can kind of look to enhance their game once we get back onto the ice. And as a coach, development requires you to extend beyond your level of comfort, so when you have time to do it, those are your best opportunities to get better too."

Schonfelder has used video calls with Carolina prospects and said that process has been beneficial to him.

"As a coach, I get a lot of confidence from being on the ice," said Schonfelder, who said he talks to Hurricanes goaltending coach Jason Muzzatti three times a week. "That interaction of making adjustments in practice and looking for things, having that live communication, it makes me feel sharp and in the moment, so talking and having those conversations keeps me mentally sharp and also continuing to learn. That's been a challenge for me not being on the ice."

For a lot of NHL goaltending coaches, it's a challenge they've met by trying to learn more, and by leaning on peers in the goaltending fraternity to do so.