Usually, a 16-year-old goalie can get into 10-12 games during a season. Entering his 17-year-old season he'll either be a backup and still see 20-plus games or become a starter and play 50-something games.
However, for many of the current draft class that has not been the trajectory.
"For those players, that didn't happen," Cosentino said. "Because of the time missed to the pandemic (teams are) either going back to the guys previous to the pandemic or you're still essentially in your 16-year-old season because you're playing behind other guys and don't get that game experience. I think that's a major reason we aren't seeing a goalie here go in the first round.
"That run on goalies typically go in the second round. Once one is taken a few more fall into place after that. This year we're not going to see that. We won't see a goaltender go in the first round. It's a down year for goalies."
That doesn't mean there aren't talented goalies available. But they're development has been stunted for at least one year. So extra development time will be needed. Thus, teams may shy away in the early stages from selecting goaltenders.
"I would be surprised this year if we saw a goalie inside of the top-50. Later stages of the second round or even into the third when we see the first one go," Cosentino said. "Having said that, a lot of teams have multiple second or third rounders, they might jump so they can get what they perceive to be the best goaltender of this class."
That all being said, here are some guys Cosentino believes teams will keep an eye on:
Tyler Brennan: "He's a big guy, 6-2, 6-3. Guys tend to start at that size, 6-2, in the National Hockey League."
Reid Dyck:"Ended up playing for Canada at the under-18s. He's a guy being thought of."
Dylan Silverstein:"Played at the Under-18 Program. He was banged up a bit. He's a guy who, when it comes to goalies, is among the higher echelon of his class."
Ivan Zhigalov:"Another guy being looked at."
