What's wrong with this picture?
On the ECHL's list of leading goaltenders, the Richmond Renegades' Maxime Gingras isn't among the top 20.
No.20, Pee Dee's Cory Cadden, has a goals-against average of 2.77. After eight games, Gingras checks in at a waiver-wire-waiting-to-happen 4.27. He's allowed a whopping four goals in each of his seven starts. His save percentage is a dismal .854.
This is the same M. Gingras who, two seasons ago, was the league's leading rookie and goalie. The pint-sized Canadian won 30 games, had a GAA of 2.26 and save percentage of .924. He set an ECHL record for playoff shutouts (5) as the Renegades reached the finals of the Kelly Cup.
Now, after a lost season spent mostly on the next level where he sat more than he played, Gingras is struggling to regain his former form. What's wrong with Max? Everyone wants to know.
"I know I'm not playing up to the expectations of the people, the team or me," Gingras said.
Why not?
There are many theories, starting with confidence. Perhaps it was during all that down time in Providence, Orlando and Houston last year, but somewhere along the way Gingras lost it.
"I don't think so," he said. "My goalie coach used to say, 'Confidence doesn't exist.'"
Or, it could be too much was expected of him this season. The Renegades were, after all, among the two or three teams expected to contend for the championship. The primary reason was the return of Gingras. Has he felt the weight of the world on those very narrow shoulders?
"I don't think so," he said. "The only pressure is what you put on yourself, [but] sometimes you start questioning yourself - and that's not what you want to do."
Richmond coach Mark Kaufman wishes he knew what's wrong with the player expected to be the team's meal ticket. They've talked about it some. Gingras calls his goalie coach and agent Yves DuFort after every outing.
Searching for answers, they dissect his game. For one thing, Gingras has come to the conclusion, "I haven't been that good technically. The pucks don't seem to hit me as much. I'm not playing as big."
For sure, the 1999-2000 season was a bummer for Gingras. ("Disjointed," Kaufman calls it.) By any definition, his career took a step backward - from which he hasn't recovered.
"I don't like making excuses," Gingras said, and no one is making them for him.
Magnifying his slow start is the play of rookie Rastislav Stana. They have alternated in goal so far, and Stana, a 1998 Washington Capitals' draft choice, has been outstanding except for one game in Greensboro where he was touched for three goals on 11 shots and taken out late in the second period.
Gingras also rejects the "Fat Cat Theory," which says he came back to a comfort zone where he thought everything automatically would be like it was in 1998-99 and maybe didn't prepare for the season like he should.
"I've worked as hard in practice as I always have," Gingras said.
All it takes, of course, are a couple of strong outings, starting tonight against Greensboro, to erase any doubts. One of the team's highest-paid players, Gingras says he isn't worried about being released.
"My concern is playing good enough, whether it's here or somewhere else. I want to feel good about myself," he said.
(c) 2000 Richmond Times Dispatch