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This week I had the opportunity to speak with Matt O’Connor’s goaltending coach at Boston University – Mike Geragosian. A week after his former starting netminder inked an entry level deal with the Ottawa Senators, Geragosian spoke about O’Connor’s strengths, comparable NHL goalies, training for a goalie of tremendous height, and areas where O’Connor must grow to succeed at the pro level.

On May 9th, Matt O’Connor signed with the Ottawa Senators. He was hotly pursued by a number of NHL clubs, settling on the Senators because they offered the best opportunity for development.

Geragosian, a veteran coach with 30 years experience, including 17 years affiliated with the Boston University Terriers, has worked with a host of quality NHL starters including Tom Barrasso and Cory Schneider.

Could O’Connor join the list of stars that Geragosian has helped to develop?

Sean Tierney: Mike, you’ve helped to develop NHL stars like Tom Barrasso, Dwayne Roloson, Rick DiPietro, and Cory Schneider. How does Matt O’Connor’s overall skill set today compare with those high-level goaltenders during their early development?

Mike Geragosian: Matt is at about the same skill development stage as Cory and Dwayne. Tom and Rick were more physically developed at the same stage. But, it’s worth noting that Matt is closing in on their tactical and technical ability – the ability levels of a potential NHL goalie.

ST: Is there anything unique about your training and prep work with O’Connor given his size and athleticism?

MG: Yes. Matt has worked very hard with me on leg strength and skating to help him arrive to spots early. Also, finding core balance and staying semi-flexed with compact movement has been key to his development.

ST: What is the one part of O’Connor’s game that stands out as exceptional to you?

MG: His quick reaction ability for his size. Matt has a mastery of weight transfer. That has helped him with his control and balance – these are especially important for a large goaltender.

ST: Some observers have compared O’Connor to Tampa Bay’s Ben Bishop and Vancouver’s Jacob Markstrom, in part because of each goalie’s height. Which NHL goalie do you feel O’Connor most resembles?

MG: I feel that Matt resembles Ben Bishop and Carey Price very much in his size, skating ability, and game reads to block and extend to pucks. Although, those goaltenders have refined their style to a pro game.

ST: Matt O’Connor went undrafted. Despite solid college season in 2012-13 and 2013-14, it wasn’t until thi season that NHL teams began to show serious interest in signing him. What was the biggest change in O’Connor’s game this season that led to his breakout performance and all of the NHL attention?

MG: The biggest change has been O’Connor’s ability to get to spots. He has also improved his leg strength, balance, and his understanding of opponents and his own teammates. These have helped him to develop his tactical and technical game. He now makes strong game reads and has stronger reactive balance in his game.

ST: Like any young goalie, O’Connor will need to continue developing to reach the NHL. What area or areas of his game must O’Connor improve on before he’s ready to challenge for an NHL job?

MG: The pace of the AHL and NHL game is much faster than in college. In the pro game, every line O’Connor faces will feature quicker puck movement – not just a few lines of higher-skilled players as in college. Matt will have to adjust his positioning and add to his knowledge of situational reads at that level.

Obviously, O’Connor’s puck handling has to be decisive but it must also be simplified by (Senators’ NHL goalie coach) Rick Wamsley and his staff.

Of all the C’s of goaltending – capable, consistent, challenging, concentration, competitive, and compact – Matt has to continue to improve on being consistent at the pro level. Overall, Matt, like most tall goalies, will continue to get physically and mentally stronger as he approaches full physical and mental development. This usually happens around 26-years-old.

For Sens fans, Mike Geragosian’s words offer a lot of hope. O’Connor is a big goalie (6’5, 204 lbs.) who has already shown great reflexes in the net. Geragosian called Ben Bishop (maybe a sore spot still for Sens fans…) and Carey Price as projections for O’Connor’s long-term development. High praise.

With the addition of O’Connor to their system, the Senators now boast a handful of goalies vying for the NHL and AHL rosters. If Andrew Hammond is re-signed, something the Senators seem intent on doing, GM Bryan Murray has made it clear that either Robin Lehner or Craig Anderson would be traded. Expect developing, young talent Lehner to be the odd man out.

In that case, expect the Sens’ goaltending depth chart to look like this at the beginning of the 2015-16 NHL season:

NHL AHL Starter Anderson O’Connor Backup Hammond Chris Driedger

One way or the other, count on the Boston University Terriers prospect Matt O’Connor to get a chance to develop in the AHL next season, facing the types of professional shots he’ll need to claim an NHL job one day.

For more on Mike Geragosian, please check out his BU Terriers bio page or his write-up on his website for All American Goalie Camps here.