Penalty Shot: Peter In

ARTHUR:
Anaheim calling to the hockey world...

Today, the Ducks officially named Pete Peeters as the team's goaltending consultant.

This has become an important post for the Ducks. The team must choose between its two starters this coming season and pick a successor amongst a handful of mid-level prospects in the near future, while still scouting top level goaltenders each year. It is possible that Allaire's absence will be felt on every front.

Peeters served as the goalie coach for the Edmonton Oilers during the MacTavish regime, overseeing Tommy Salo, Ty Conklin, Dwayne Roloson, Mathieu Garon, Jussi Markkanen and various others. Before his time with the Oilers, he ran the netminders at the Winnipeg Jets from 1993-97, at one point serving with Randy Carlyle in Terry Simpson's staff. Notable goaltenders Nikolai Khabibulin, Tim Cheveldae and Bob Essensa played for the franchise during those years.

Peeters' ability to choose between goaltenders
While Peeters was confronted with the two-headed crease monster this year, it is difficult to gather anything from his decision, as some attribute it to a publicized conflict with Garon, involving the goalie's use of outside consultant Lyle Mast. However, Garon denied the reports of tension between the parties or extensive consultation with Mast.

If there truly was no argument between the two, Peeters' decision to go with Roloson implies he prefers the more seasoned goaltender. Though, in the case of Anaheim's two-helmeted dragon, it is difficult to say how much Allaire's presence influenced the desire of either to stay with the Ducks, and more difficult to say how receptive Peeters will be to the prospect of working with a goaltender fully developed under Allaire's system.

Peeters' ability to develop goaltenders
During his time in Winnipeg/Phoenix, Peeters was credited with the construction of the Bulin Wall, building the netminder's confidence and encouraging him to challenge more shots.

In his early years in Edmonton, Peeters worked with a post-playoff era Tommy Salo, but was able to develop backups Jussi Markkanen and Ty Conklin. The developments of prospects Devan Dubnyk and Jeff DesLauriers were on the horizon, but Dubnyk completed only his first full season in the AHL this year and DesLauriers played only his first 10 games in the NHL. However, Peeters was very optimistic about the latter.

Peeters' ability to scout goaltenders
Insomuch as Draft selections indicate SOME scouting input by the goaltending consultant, these are the goaltenders drafted during Peeters' career with Edmonton and Winnipeg/Phoenix.

1993 - (31st Overall) Scott Langkow - played 20 NHL games
1994 - (143rd Overall) Steve Vezina - played 0 NHL games
1994 - (212th Overall) Henrik Smangs - played 0 NHL games
1995 - (121st Overall) Brian Elder - played 0 NHL games
1995 - (136th Overall) Sylvain Daigle - played 0 NHL games
1996 - (139th Overall) Robert Esche - played 186 NHL games

2001 - (133rd Overall) Jussi Markkanen - played 128 NHL games
2002 - (31st Overall) Jeff DesLauriers - played 10 NHL games
2002 - (148th Overall) Glenn Fisher - played 0 NHL games
2004 - (14th Overall) Devan Dubnyk
2004 - (274th Overall) Bjorn Bjurling
2006 - (133rd Overall) Bryan Pitton
2009 - (133rd Overall) Olivier Roy

And finally, a brief bio of Peeters' career as a player
Pete Peeters had two immensely successful seasons in the NHL. In his rookie year with the Flyers, the team went 35 straight games without a loss, and Peeters contributed 22-0-5 to that record. Then, in his first season with the Bruins in 1982-83, Peeters notched a 26-0-5 streak, finishing with a 2.36 GAA, 40-11-9. The performance earned him the Vezina honor for the year, as well as runner-up in Hart Trophy voting.

Unfortunately, the '80 and '83 seasons were solid years in a statistically checkered career. Peeters' performance in Philadelphia declined, and an alleged off-ice incident may have contributed to his trade to Boston. Then, in his last full season with the Bruins, Peeters was posterized by Mario Lemieux, who pickpocketed Ray Bourque and deked Peeters onto one knee on the first shift/shot/goal of Super Mario's NHL career. This would be the second poster (following the Stanley Cup overtime game winner in 1980) to feature Peeters, and the image was emblematic of the goaltender's 19-26-4, 3.47 GAA performance that year.

Peeters played with the Capitals for four seasons before signing with the Flyers in 89 and retiring two seasons later. End Bio.