The goaltenders that will be showing up for Minnesota Swarm Training Camp on December 5th in Oakville, Ontario will get a lot of work. Considering there are only two as far as we know going to be attendance, lots of work is guaranteed. With only two in camp, it seems a pretty safe bet that both will make the final 20-man roster on December 18th, but one can't say with much certainity who will get the majority of time.
The Swarm's first move this offseaon was a deal that featured exchanging goaltenders with the Edmonton Rush. The team sent Tyler Carlson, who had platooned for the past three seasons, for Brodie MacDonald, who had sat nearly all the last three last years. With 2014 first rounders also exchanged in that deal including the first overall which the Swarm sent away, it shows how much they think MacDonald can become the franchise game-in, game-out starting goaltender. The 6' 7" goaltender is considered to be one of the top young goaltenders in the league and the prevailing thought is that this is finally his chance to show what he has.
With Carlson traded, that leaves Zach Higgins from last season's goaltender rotation. In his rookie season, Higgins shared duties with Carlson and had his moments, good and bad. He has proved he can play in the NLL but maybe not as a full-time starter in the Swarm's eyes for now. Even though he was a rookie last season, Higgins already has more NLL starts and minutes than MacDonald so at least at this level, Higgins has shown a bit more than MacDonald.
Most teams like to go with one guy, but ever since Joe Sullivan became Head Coach in February 2012, he has not settled on one goaltender. 2012 and 2013 saw Carlson and Evan Kirk rotate regularly and last year the same with Carlson and Higgins. Maybe MacDonald changes that but based on history, don't be surprised to see Sullivan take his time with a quick hook here and there before he gets comfortable with either one. Both will have a game and half each over three pre-season games to try to at the least get the starting nod on January 3rd at Ho-Chunk Nation Field at The Hive against Colorado. That's a reasonable goal for both right now because each basically will be at Sullivan's fickle goaltending whims for a while into the season.
