McKenna: It's time for NHL taxi squad goalies instead of EBUG system

By: Mike McKenna

It’s time for the NHL to formally introduce the taxi squad goaltender.

That’s right. Not an emergency backup. Not a prospect. A full-time, paid No. 3 that would travel, practice, and be ready for every game when called upon.

In recent history, we’ve all become enamored with the whimsical stories of David Ayres and Scott Foster, two regular dudes who happened to end up getting tossed into an NHL game by circumstance. Both were emergency back-ups (EBUG for short), and neither received a dime in compensation because they signed amateur try-out agreements (ATOs) in order to dress.

Was it a dream come true for them? Absolutely! They were both victorious and have since become folk heroes in hockey circles. What other sport has people coming out of the stands to actively participate in a professional game? None that I can think of. And we can all probably thank Jean-Claude Van Damme for doing it so well when he replaced an ailing Brad Tolliver (former Pen Jay Caufield playing a Tom Barrasso lookalike goalie) in the 1995 thriller Sudden Death.

But in the era of COVID-19 and the protocols surrounding it, teams are in a really tough position should they need a goaltender on short notice. Last season saw the advent of taxi squads, which assured teams of a talent pool to draw from – goalies included – should one of the main roster players test positive for the virus. Teams had to choose: should they place their prospect goaltender on the taxi squad, where he likely won’t face any game action, or in the AHL where he can continue to hone his craft during regular play?

There were benefits to being on the taxi squad for a goalie. They got to see NHL shots and work with the team’s goaltending coach on a daily basis. But it was also a limited role: most action took place before or after practice. It was tedious work without much light at the end of the tunnel in regards to playing time.

Some teams got around the playing time conundrum by shuttling goalies back and forth between the taxi squad and their AHL franchise. It worked in the abbreviated 2020-21 season for some teams. Others not so much. Some AHL teams didn’t play, while others had a very limited schedule. This year, with a full slate of games on deck for both the NHL and AHL, you can expect NHL teams to want the best path of development for their goaltending prospects.

That’s where the goaltender taxi squad comes in. According to Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli, NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly hinted that some NHL GMs are nervous about third goalie availability in case of injury or illness. The most obvious answer is to take a goaltender already under contract and place them on the goalie taxi squad. A taxi squad of one player. Which is kind of funny when you think about it.

But anyway.

With travel and vaccination restrictions varying between states, provinces, municipalities, countries, villages, towns, counties, asteroids, planets, etc…calling up a goalie on short notice could prove extremely difficult. And you don’t want your hot shot prospect sitting on the taxi squad eating shots after practice but not seeing any game action.

So here’s my solution. Re-work the CBA to include a provision that allows teams to carry a third goaltender that can only enter the game in emergency situations. I’d suggest it allows teams to spend up to $250k on a capable, full-time third goalie that would travel and practice with the team. Their contract wouldn’t count against the current limit of 50 per organization. Whether the actual dollar figure goes against the cap or not is for the board of governors and NHLPA to decide.

Why pick $250k as the cap? Cost certainty. If the market is unregulated, some teams would inevitably throw around big money to have insurance. Remember, this would be a full-time job. And in order to find suitable in-season housing, a taxi squad goalie in New York, Seattle, LA, or Toronto would need to be compensated at a much higher rate than one in Columbus or St. Louis.

So who would take the job? Cancel your hopes of goaltending legends like Martin Brodeur or Roberto Luongo coming out of retirement for a bullpen catcher-esque victory lap. But last season I had this exact conversation with a veteran NHL goaltender – one with a very good career – who would be interested at the right price. Would $250k do it? I’m not sure. But it would be worth the conversation.

A more realistic option exists with career NHL/AHL bubble goalies that are looking for a smooth transition from their playing career. The same could be said for full-time AHL and ECHL goalies, who are totally capable of fulfilling a #3 role for an NHL team and coming out of the bullpen when necessary.

Basically what I’m saying is…guys like me! When I finished two seasons ago, if a team had offered me $150k (plus per diem) to eat pucks, stay at the Ritz, and fly charter around North America eating filet mignon I would have signed in a heartbeat. I don’t think I would have done it for more than a season or two, but it would have been a great way to wind down my career without having to deal with the performance anxiety associated with regular starts.

Imagine being an ECHL goalie your entire career. Maybe, if you were really good, you got up to $900 a week plus housing and healthcare. Your career is winding down and you’re ready to give up on the dream and retire. And then your hometown team comes calling and offers you $75k-$100k to be their taxi squad goaltender. You wouldn’t be able to sign fast enough! It would be good for the team and the player.

Call it whatever you want. The Ayres Rule. The Van Damme rule. Pitch a sponsorship package to Target for it. But this is a logical way to relieve the stress of NHL teams when it comes to having a quality netminder on call in case of emergency.