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In the early stages of his second full NHL campaign, Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Jet Greaves is confronting a challenge familiar to many netminders before him: the sophomore slump. Following a standout rookie season, Greaves is learning that opposing shooters have adjusted their strategies based on more detailed scouting reports, making his second year a demanding adjustment period.
Greaves, who has dropped four consecutive decisions, including a 5-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Nov. 6, is actively working through this process. "The results aren't where I'd like them to be, and I take that responsibility on myself," the 25-year-old said on Nov. 2 at Nationwide Arena. "It'd be nice if you could sit there and say the results always go exactly the way we want, but sometimes they don't. I'm grateful that I have some [AHL and NHL] experience in the past and [can] just learn from these moments."
Although this marks Greaves' fifth season in the Blue Jackets organization, his first three years were spent primarily with the AHL's Cleveland Monsters, totaling just 21 appearances (20 starts). Last season, he started 53 games in his first full NHL experience and excelled, recording a 26-19-9 record, a 2.60 goals-against average, and a .908 save percentage. He outplayed Elvis Merzlikins and secured the Blue Jackets' No. 1 goaltending role under two veteran head coaches, Dean Evason and Rick Bowness. Among goalies with 50-plus games played, his GAA ranked sixth and his save percentage seventh, leading to a summer as a restricted free agent that included protracted negotiations before a three-year, $15 million extension was agreed upon on July 23, narrowly avoiding an arbitration hearing in Toronto.
Merzlikins underwent unexpected shoulder surgery in August and was later included in the blockbuster trade that sent Kirill Marchenko to the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Blue Jackets then signed veteran Cam Talbot, 39, as Greaves' backup on Sept. 14, two days before training camp. Nearly two months later, Talbot has surged to a 5-2-0 record in seven starts with a 2.44 GAA and .910 save percentage, while Greaves has struggled (2-6-0, 3.36 GAA, .880).
When asked to evaluate Greaves' start before the Buffalo loss, Bowness was candid. "I think he knows he can be a little bit better," Bowness said. "He hasn't been bad. Has he been as consistent as he was last year? Not yet, but he will be. The kid works his butt off, but I know there's a couple of goals that he'd like to have back, there's no question, but he's also kept us in games until we had a chance to find our game, which is a goalie's job."
One particularly painful goal came with just 0.2 seconds left in the first period of a 3-1 loss to the Dallas Stars on Oct. 31. A seemingly harmless shot by Stars defenseman Thomas Harley from the left wall outside the hash marks slipped between Greaves' right side and the left post, giving Dallas a 2-0 lead at the first intermission. Despite such setbacks, Greaves has also made spectacular saves to keep the Blue Jackets within reach, as he has in most of his starts.
That resilience, combined with a level-headed approach, is encouraging. More concerning is that Greaves, listed at just 6-foot and constantly battling the perception that he's too small, has allowed four or more goals in four of his eight starts. "Throughout the course of a season, there are so many different goals that go in," he said. "There's going to be bad goals and there's going to be things like that, which as much as you wish they'd never happen, it's part of the game. For me, it's just about responding well and keeping the same demeanor, keeping the same process, playing the same way and just trying to be consistent for the guys."
His ability to quickly reset his focus after allowing goals is one of his biggest assets. "If the game's not going well, keep them in the game, and he's done that," Bowness said. "Is there a couple he'd like to have back? For sure, but you watch him at practice, and he's ready. He prepares himself and he'll get better as the season goes on, for sure."
Key Analysis
One specific area requiring improvement is stopping shots from mid-range and longer distances along the wings and near the blue line. According to NHL EDGE stats, Greaves has allowed seven mid-range goals from between the faceoff circles and two from beyond the circles, exceeding league averages by six and two, respectively. The latest examples came in the loss to Buffalo, which turned a 2-1 lead into a 4-1 advantage on goals by Josh Norris from the left circle and Rasmus Dahlin from 52 feet above the right circle. Norris' shot from 23 feet beat Greaves between the pads, while Dahlin's 93 mph one-timer went over his glove after clipping Cole Sillinger's stick. Both can be attributed to gaining experience. "For me, I feel like I still have so much to learn and have so much room to grow," Greaves said. "I've played so many games in different seasons [at lower levels], but this is just my second full year in this league. Regardless, though, for as long as I play, I hope I'm learning the whole time."
Originally reported by yahoo.