What is with John Dean?


By
February 23, 2020

Soo Greyhounds could quite possibly miss the Ontario Hockey League playoffs this season for the first time since the 2011-2012 campaign. And if that happens, a good chunk of the blame should fall on second-year head coach John Dean.

In a move that has angered and bewildered many Greyhound fans, Dean has, over the past several weeks, opted to give the lions share of the playing time in goal to unproven rookie Nick Malik over proven veteran Bailey Brkin, who simply put, had put the Greyhounds in a playoff position as a winning workhorse after arriving in town in November via Western Hockey League waivers.

To be frank and honest, Malik has not up to the task since arriving in the Soo in mid January and basically being handed the Greyhounds starting job by Dean.

Malik’s win-loss record is awful. Brkin’s win-loss record is good. Yet Dean has played Malik over Brkin in the majority of the games since the rookie arrived here from the Czech Republic.

Want the overall statistics? They do not lie.

Malik has a downright shabby record of 3-10-0 and a 4.12 goals against average while Brkin has a very good record of 15-7-3 and a 3.46 goals against average.

Even the Greyhounds third-string goalie Ethan Taylor, with a record of 3-5-0, and Christian Propp (who was traded to the Kingston Frontenacs to make room for Brkin) had a record of 4-7-1 while with the Soo — numbers that are better than Malik’s.

So, what is Dean’s love affair with Malik, especially at this critical stage of the season? No one is quite sure.

But I am sure of this: if the Greyhounds do miss the playoffs, a lot of the blame goes on Dean for what I — and many others — see as him totally mishandling the Greyhound goalie situation over a critical five-and-a-half-week period.

By totally messing with the goalie situation, Dean has clearly put the Greyhounds behind the eight ball.

Following today’s loss to the last-place Sarnia Sting — with Malik between the pipes for his 10th defeat in 13 decisions — the Greyhounds are five points behind Erie for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference with the Otters holding a game in hand.

The Hounds now have only 10 games to play in the regular season — a season that could well be lost because Dean just would not leave well enough alone with a goalie situation that was already in good hands with Brkin.

PHOTO: Soo Greyhounds coach John Dean.


What you think about “What is with John Dean?”

  1. Randy I am willing to bet that The front office is lying and that they promised Mailks agent the starting role for him to come over at 17… He will be a solid goalie in the Future but not right now, learn the league and process, this would have red flags all over it if im a NHL team looking to maybe draft Mailk maybe daddy cant stay out of the affairs NHL veteran or not.

    This smells just tell the truth Managment you promised the net to Mailk, a very bush move that should have never been made in the OHL…. you earn your time.

  2. Can’t totally disagree with that assessment. But I think the guy in the GM’s chair has something to do with it as well.
    Promises were made to get Malik here at the deadline.
    There’s no doubt in my mind this team plays better with Brkin in goal. I would love to poll the room because I think it’s polarized the team.

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