Al Montoya

[Fast Tony DeNiro]

I was hoping to get some input on this guy. Former 6th overall pick who's had only so-so numbers in the AHL, but when he's had the opportunity to play in the NHL he tends to impress. Obviously DiPietro is the starter on Long Island for now but it's looking like Montoya will be backing him up for sure.

I'm not necessarily looking for a projection since DiPi is a total guessing game....Montoya could play 20 games or 60 games this season no one knows. But maybe if someone has seen him actually play, is he a legit NHL goalie? I like where the Islanders are going and I'm wondering just how big a part Montoya will play in that going forward.

[VincentVega]

I think he is a legitimate starter. He played very well last year after the injuries to DiPietro and Poulin. Let's see, 21 GP, 9 W, 2.39 GAA, .921 SV%, pretty solid numbers but a very small sample space. The Islanders gave him a what I call "probation" contract for next year. He'll get the opportunity to prove himself when (not if) DiPietro goes down. Worth taking a flyer on him. But there is also Kevin Poulin in the mix so Montoya has a tough hill to climb. Nabokov is in the mix right now too but I don't see him staying for too long.

[finnys_fanatsy]

Montoya has me second-guessing everyday i look at my lineup. i know he will start once DP goes down, but how many will he start? he's been on my radar for a couple of years, and i WW'd him last year when DP went down so i got my money out of him .

hes a tough call for sure. NYI will ride DP as long as he is healthy, maybe this is the year he pulls out of his injury funk?
is he a better goalie than Poulin? tough to say because he's only had a handful of games.

[roenick27]

Hmmm..tough one. I think he has NHL ability but the questions will be consistency and opportunity.
IMO this will be a mix of Poulin/Koskinen/Nilsen, with an emphasis on Poulin. I guess Montoya could be in the mix as well, but I see Poulin and Koskinen pretty much being ready in 2 years, along with Strome, Nino, potentially Kabanov, De Haan, Petrov etc...This on top of Hamonic, JT, Okposo, Bailey really hitting their stride = a very dangerous team in 2 years. I just see them going with their young "franchise" type G's rather than Montoya