HabsWorld.net -- 

The Habs currently have five goaltenders in their system, all playing in different leagues from the AHL, ECHL, Slovakia, Sweden, and Finland. Here’s how each has started off the new season.

AHL

Jean-Francois Damphousee-G. A free agent pickup this summer, Damphousse currently plays for the Hamilton Bulldogs. The former 1^st round pick of the New Jersey Devils has appeared in 4 games so far this season. In those starts he has looked good at times, and not so good at others. But the Bulldogs are a team loaded with young inexperienced players that have a new coach, so everyone is just learning what they are expected to do on the ice.

ECHL

Olivier Michaud-G. Another free agent pickup from the 2001 season, Michaud has graduated from the QMJHL, a league well known for producing a large number of quality goalies, where he has made his professional hockey debut in the ECHL for the Columbus Cottonmouths. After being named the runner up for back stopper of the week in the opening week of the season, Michaud has had some problems stopping the puck of late.

Slovakia

Jaroslav Halak-G. Halak was acquired in the recent draft this summer, taken in the 9^th round, 271^st overall, after being named the top goalie in the U-18 world junior tournament, as he lead Team Slovakia to the silver. Halak is playing in the Slovak junior league, but he is playing very well, and is listed as the top goalie in that league.

Sweden

Christopher Heino-Lindberg-G. Lindberg was also acquired in the recent draft this summer, taken in the 6^th round, 177^th overall. Lindberg at the time of the draft had played for Hammerby which is in the tier-2 league, but after recovering from an injury over the summer, he was loaned to Vallentuna of the same tier-2 league. The team is the worst in the league, and Lindberg is often left facing a ton of shots each night, with little defensive help.

Finland

Joni Puurula-G. Puurula was acquired in the 2000 draft, taken in the 9^th round, 234rd overall. After being named the starter last year for HPK in the sm-liiga, the top league in Finland, Puurula put up some decent numbers, and helped his team to the bronze in the league playoffs. This year was a different story though. A veteran goalie from North America was brought over and Puurula lost his starting job. To make matters worse, he was injured on the first save of the game in the first game he played this season. He has recently returned from injury, but will find playing time harder to come by, with a hot goalie in front of him.