Ty Conklin

At 48 years old, Ty Conklin has this physical status:

Ty Curtis Conklin (born March 30, 1976) is an American former professional ice hockey goaltender.

Throughout his National Hockey League (NHL) career, he played for the Edmonton Oilers, Columbus Blue Jackets, Buffalo Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins, St. Louis Blues and two stints with the Detroit Red Wings. Born in Phoenix, Arizona, Conklin grew up in Eagle River, Alaska, and was an early recruit of the now-famed Minnesota hockey prep school Shattuck-St.

Mary's.

He later played under Don Granato for the Green Bay Gamblers of the United States Hockey League (USHL) before attending the University of New Hampshire and playing for the Wildcats under long-tenured coach Dick Umile. A self-described "late-bloomer" and "shorter kid" at age 18, while spending his draft-eligible years (to age 20) remaining off the radar of professional scouts – first as a post-graduate at Shattuck, and then in his first year in Green Bay – Conklin went unclaimed by any team in the NHL's Entry Draft. Subsequently, he went on to earn numerous goaltending awards and accolades in both the USHL and NCAA, however Conklin claims he never thought of becoming a professional until his junior year (his second playing) at University of New Hampshire.

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Professional career

Conklin spent two seasons with the Green Bay Gamblers of the United States Hockey League, followed by three seasons with the University of New Hampshire's team, the Wildcats, (before Conklin could play for the Wildcats because of NCAA rules prohibiting him from participating in Division I programs). Conklin, a University of New Hampshire graduate from high school in the spring of 2001, has signed an undrafted free agent with the Edmonton Oilers as a professional agent. He spent the bulk of his first two seasons with the Hamilton Bulldogs, the then-shared American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate for the Oilers and Montreal Canadiens, and led the Bulldogs to just one win away from winning the Calder Cup in 2003. In Game 2 of the 2003 Calder Cup Finals, he set a record for most saves in a game with 83 (in a quadruple overtime, 134:56 minute 2–1 victory over the Houston Aeros). He served as the back-up to Tommy Salo in the 2003–04 season, then as the starter after Salo was lost due to injury, and then as the joint starter with Jussi Markkanen following Salo's move to the Colorado Avalanche. He competed for Wolfsburg in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL), the German elite league, during the NHL lockout.

Conklin entered the new season as Edmonton's most awaited starting goaltender, backed by Markkanen. Given the common belief that either goaltender would perform the starting job, local television began using the term "conkkanen" to describe Edmonton's starting goaltender. However, both goaltenders were inconsistent during the 2005–06 season, with Conklin's appearance further hindered by injury and no longer considered NHL-caliber, prompting the Oilers to trade Conklin in early February and general manager Kevin Lowe to add Dwayne Roloson from the Minnesota Wild at the trade deadline.

Conklin appeared on the bench in Game 1 of the 2006 Stanley Cup Final in Raleigh against the Carolina Hurricanes despite having played just one game for the Oilers between March and June. The game was tied 4–4, but Roloson suffered what would be a series-ending knee injury in the third period, and Conklin was immediately called into play. At one point, Edmonton led by three goals before allowing Carolina to score four unanswered and take the lead before the Oilers managed to tie the game. With only over 30 seconds of regulation remaining, he tried to play the puck behind the net but gave it up and allowed Hurricanes forward Rod Brind'Amour to score the winning goal unopposed into an empty net.

Not meant as a punishment or a representation of Conklin's play, but it did not appear to be a win or a reflection of his player, not a lesson in the NBA post-season, and never give them the opportunity to get comfortable in the net. If he fails, he will continue to play. If he plays well, he will keep playing." Kelly Hrudey, the Canadian national television analyst and former NHL goaltender, was less diplomatic than MacTavish: "Not even a question," Markkanen said. I have no pleasure in claiming that."

Conklin said at the time, "Let's not turn that play into a monumental thing." However, the extremely bad timing and subsequent national spotlight on the indelible miscue did nothing to repair his image, which had already been harmed by poor regular season.

Conklin did not return to the ice as an Oiler again until the 2006–07 NHL season had been postponed. "I obviously wanted a change of scenery," he said. "I kicked myself a lot after it happened, but you can't change it," says the author, "you can't fix it, so you just have to deal with it and move forward."

Following the start of the free agency on July 1, Conklin was signed by the Columbus Blue Jackets as an unrestricted free agent (UFA). He had been scheduled to play for the Blue Jackets' back-up goaltending position, but head coach Gerard Gallant decided to go with internationally accredited Fredrik Norrena. Conklin was subsequently waived and sent to the Syracuse Crunch, the Jackets' AHL affiliate. On December 11, 2006, the team recalls Blaine Leclaire from the Blue Jackets due to a player recall.

Conklin was acquired by the Buffalo Sabres in a trade for a fifth-round pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft on February 27, 2007. In a victory over the Florida Panthers, Conklin got off to a winning start with the Sabres.

Conklin was contracted as a UFA by the Pittsburgh Penguins on July 19, 2007, extending his contract to $100,000 in the AHL, exempting him from re-entry waivers). Since being recalled by Pittsburgh on an emergency basis on September 6, goaltender Marc-André Fleury sustained a high ankle sprain, he was recalled by the AHL's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. His first appearance in Philadelphia on December 11 was praised and unprepossessing as he relieved Dany Sabourin in the third quarter of an ugly game against the Philadelphia Flyers and earned a 9.00 goals against average (GAA), allowing the final three goals an 8–2 loss.

(From ESPN.com's Weekly NHL Power Rankings) - a game between a few players (from ESPN.com Weekly).

Conklin, who was supposed to remain Sabourin's backup, became a breakout quarterback for Pittsburgh's de facto starting goaltender, winning his first nine games since December 20, with only one game remaining in the month of January. (Coincidentally, he was the first Penguin to wear #35 after franchise goaltender Tom Barrasso's 12-year stint with the team ended in 2000.)

Conklin posted career statistics (such as a 50-save win over the New York Islanders at Nassau Coliseum on February 26, 2008, leading the NHL in save percentages and well before Fleury's return as a starter on March 2, 2008.

Despite Conklin's later complaints that "he kid has way too much intelligence, athleticism, and ability to not be a good goalie" and "I had nothing to do with it," Fleury's improved play after return was partially due to the competition and mentoring his presence.

During Conklin's continued injury, the team was able to not only survive but advance their ranking in the standings, not just survive but improve their position. He was deemed by his teammates as equal to that of Hart Memorial Trophy nominee Evgeni Malkin in the 2007–08 Pittsburgh Penguins season, and was the team's nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, which is "given annually to the player who best exemplifies the attributes of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to ice hockey."

Conklin appeared in 33 games for the Penguins, finishing with a personal record of 18–8–5 and a save percentage of.923, which was second overall in the NHL, and a single-season franchise record. Despite the fact that he did not participate in any 20 of the team's playoff games, as Pittsburgh advanced to the Detroit Red Wings four games to two.

Despite Conklin's notable and memorable contribution to the team, the Penguins did not renew his contract due to the existence of the salary cap, the fact that Pittsburgh had both Fleury and Sabourin under one-way contracts for 2008–09, and the possibility that he would receive a significant increase in both playing time and salary (the 40% increase that eventually came from the Red Wings, who promised him 30 games was seen as a bargain) with his 2007–08 appearance, the Penguin

Conklin agreed to a one-year, one-way contract with the Detroit Red Wings worth $750,000 on July 1, 2008. Marián Hossa, a former Penguin, has signed a one-year deal with Detroit, joining the team that had just defeated them in the Stanley Cup Finals less than a month ago. Conklin was one of only six Red Wings to participate in the first optional skate before training camp in order to meet his new teammates and familiarize himself.

In order to relieve starter Chris Osgood, Detroit head coach Mike Babcock declared his desire to play Conklin in every third game. Conklin made his first appearance with Detroit on the road against the Carolina Hurricanes on October 13, where he made 27 saves in a 3–1 Red Wings victory and was named the first star of the game. Conklin made his debut at Joe Louis Arena against the Edmonton Oilers on November 17, 2008, marking his fifth shutout when the Red Wings defeated the Edmonton Oilers.

Conklin essentially played in a sub-par regular-season role, winning 40 games and losing 25 to Osgood's 26, his best NHL season to date, in this regard. Despite significantly outplaying Osgood for the bulk of the regular season, being praised by his fellow netminder and others for ensuring that the team's goaltending success was determined, allowing Detroit to win another Central Division championship and the second playoff seed in the Western Conference, Osgood played just 20 minutes in the playoffs, largely due to his playoff experience.

Conklin played 20 scoreless minutes in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals against the Chicago Blackhawks, where he substituted for a dehydrated Osgood in the third period and had his second taste of NHL playoff experience. In seven games, the Red Wings advanced to the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals, losing a rematch to Conklin's former team, the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Wings decided not to offer a new deal for the 2009-2010 season due to salary cap space constraints, rather than promote longtime prospect Jimmy Howard from the AHL.

Conklin signed a two-year contract with the St. Louis Blues worth an average of US$1.3 million per year on July 1, 2009, making him an immediate offer following the start of free agency at noon.

"It's a young squad, a great squad, an up-and-coming squad, and one that played as well as anyone in the second half of [2008–09] season," Conklin said. "Obviously, it's a lot better financial year, and it's up from what I've achieved in the last two years" -- I know the [Blues goaltender Chris] Mason had a great season last year." I don't think they're enforcing me to play ten games. I'm hoping for some ice time."

In the second game of NHL Premiere 2009 Stockholm, Conklin made his debut with the Blues overseas on October 3, confronting his former team, the Red Wings, at Globe Arena in Sweden. He ended with 30 saves on 33 shots as the Blues defeated 5–3, with him publicly compared to Jimmy Howard, the team's replacement on Detroit's roster at the other end.

Conklin's first North American game with the Blues (also his first victory and first shutout) came on October 17 against the Anaheim Ducks, a 5–0 triumph. Conklin was a winner in St. Louis' first victory since returning from Sweden, the game's second star of the game, and his 11th shutout in his career. Conklin did not win any of his ten games at the Scottrade Center, the home of the Blues, in 2009. Conklin was released on waivers by St. Louis on February 26, 2011.

Conklin agreed to a one-year deal worth $750,000 to return to the Detroit Red Wings as the backup to Jimmy Howard on July 20, 2011. On February 21, 2012, Detroit assigned Conklin to its AHL affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins. He re-joined the Red Wings later in his season, finishing his career with a 5–6–1 record and a 3.28 GAA.

Conklin was hired by the Blues on July 12, 2013, effectively ending his days playing professional hockey.

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