What's the problem with Hofer?

[a smell of green grass]

Clearly Army overvalued Hofer. This is nothing new. Show me a Blues player with long-term no-trade-clause contract, and I'll show you a gross underachieving anchor in the lineup. I also wish that the team had used him more before awarding him a significant contract. We have no idea how he would play in the playoffs.

However, why is Hofer Swiss Cheese all-of-a-sudden?

a) Because he just got a significant contract

b) Head problem

c) Teams have figured out his weaknesses

d) Blues defense is weaker

e) Temporary Funk

f) Other

Thoughts?

My guess is A and C.

[Zizzle1297]

I agree A and C

His weakness is he seems to more often than not let the first shot in.
Buch also stopped trying after his contract.

[swatski]

C and D and now some b. To imply he’s not trying because of a contract is bull and you know it.

[DawgDad]

There is a significant element of cheap shot in the OP. Before this meltdown some posters were saying Hofer's role should be expanded. It's my belief a significant majority of fans were quite satisfied with him and really had no issue with his contract. Many clearly viewed him as Binner's eventual successor.

It's this element of dishonesty that offends me.

So, whoever pegs the source of Hofer's problem, PLEASE contact the Blues immediately. Best have a solution in hand if you expect the time of day.

[Bluesbacker]

There is a significant element of cheap shot in the OP. Before this meltdown some posters were saying Hofer's role should be expanded. It's my belief a significant majority of fans were quite satisfied with him and really had no issue with his contract. Many clearly viewed him as Binner's eventual successor.

It's this element of dishonesty that offends me.

So, whoever pegs the source of Hofer's problem, PLEASE contact the Blues immediately. Best have a solution in hand if you expect the time of day.

Totally agree. I'm a big Hofer fan but good God I think the kid really needs a sports shrink before this gets any worse.

[a smell of green grass]

There is a significant element of cheap shot in the OP. Before this meltdown some posters were saying Hofer's role should be expanded. It's my belief a significant majority of fans were quite satisfied with him and really had no issue with his contract. Many clearly viewed him as Binner's eventual successor.

It's this element of dishonesty that offends me.

So, whoever pegs the source of Hofer's problem, PLEASE contact the Blues immediately. Best have a solution in hand if you expect the time of day.

Without a doubt, many Blues fans were quite satisfied with Hofer. Many viewed him as Binner's successor. I was hopeful about him too. I had no reason not to be. My divergence with Army was that I was a big proponent of putting Hofer into at least one playoff game.

However, what is your point about that? Blues fans have no educated opinion on Hofer. We didn't see pucks going in at practice. We don't see the film. We are not paid to differentiate a good goalie from a bad goalie.

You need to pay much closer attention to what Army does than what fans do. Army is the one driving the car, not the fans. If Hofer is not NHL material, this is another Perunovich-type failure.

- Great AHL career
- Occupying a spot on the NHL roster, and taking it away from other guys that are capable
- Army getting accolades all the while
- When player fails, the player is blamed 100%
- Army blows kisses upon exit and takes no amount of blame

[Tony Palazzolo]

Being a goalie is about 90% mental. Hofer's confidence is shot right now. Every goalie in every league goes through this. Every athlete in every sport goes through this. He'll come out of it.

Besides, while it's important his game last night wasn't as bad as it seemed. On the first two goals last night there isn't much he could've done. One was a tap in and the other was a grade A scoring chance which is about 50/50. Those are on the team. The second goal was Snuggy not covering his man in front of the net.

Of the remaining goals when his confidence is high he stops one of those with a spectacular save. The game at that point is tied and they grab a point or a overtime win.

The team simply isn't playing well right now. This is still a talented team with a great coach. They'll pull it together.

[Zizzle1297]

Being a goalie is about 90% mental. Hofer's confidence is shot right now. Every goalie in every league goes through this. Every athlete in every sport goes through this. He'll come out of it.

Besides, while it's important his game last night wasn't as bad as it seemed. On the first two goals last night there isn't much he could've done. One was a tap in and the other was a grade A scoring chance which is about 50/50. Those are on the team. The second goal was Snuggy not covering his man in front of the net.

Of the remaining goals when his confidence is high he stops one of those with a spectacular save. The game at that point is tied and they grab a point or a overtime win.

The team simply isn't playing well right now. This is still a talented team with a great coach. They'll pull it together.

Bottom line he has had serious issues for like letting goals in on the first shot or two of the game. Not just this year but going back since he came up. Hes definitely dealing with something and I think he needs to work it out in practice. I would just ride binner until the Buffalo game on November 6th.

[Section315]

What's the problem with Hofer? He logged onto Blues Talk and saw all of these crazy posts and his mind is a wreck.

[a smell of green grass]

Thanks everyone for the discussion. It's all good information.

As I read your insights, it came to mind that maybe we have all been spoiled by Binnington, and when I say "all", I mean our team too. Maybe we don't know what sort of defense is really needed in front of a goalie.

Anyway, certainly Hofer is easy to root for. Humble guy, good teammate, and hard worker. I'm pulling for the kid.

[dhsux]

Being a goalie is about 90% mental. Hofer's confidence is shot right now. Every goalie in every league goes through this. Every athlete in every sport goes through this. He'll come out of it.

Besides, while it's important his game last night wasn't as bad as it seemed. On the first two goals last night there isn't much he could've done. One was a tap in and the other was a grade A scoring chance which is about 50/50. Those are on the team. The second goal was Snuggy not covering his man in front of the net.

Of the remaining goals when his confidence is high he stops one of those with a spectacular save. The game at that point is tied and they grab a point or a overtime win.

The team simply isn't playing well right now. This is still a talented team with a great coach. They'll pull it together.

Bottom line he has had serious issues for like letting goals in on the first shot or two of the game. Not just this year but going back since he came up. Hes definitely dealing with something and I think he needs to work it out in practice. I would just ride binner until the Buffalo game on November 6th.

Part of JB's problem is lack of decent rest and Joel is not helping but rather hurting his partner and team.

[skilles]

Seems to me the bad giveaway goal got to him and it piled on from there and it was not handled well by Monty IMO although I can at least rationalize the idea of getting him right back out there to move on from it that was a bad idea. Right now we really need Binny to step it up while the kid collects himself.

We have far to many young inexperienced players playing to big of roles to start the season.

Young goalie started to many of the early games, rookie 3rd pairing, and a rookie on the top forward line....to much at least for what I thought our current expectations were.

[Boomac]

We have far to many young inexperienced players playing to big of roles to start the season.

Young goalie started to many of the early games, rookie 3rd pairing, and a rookie on the top forward line....to much at least for what I thought our current expectations were.

Agreed on this part. I think we all sometimes forget that we have some younger players still establishing the consistency of their game, too.

Hofer has been consistent in the past, he needs to eliminate the early self crushing goal, then get through a first period and he will bounce back.