Imagine the Washington Capitals facing a last-minute goalie crisis – that's exactly what happened, leading to a surprising call-up! Due to an upper-body injury, the Capitals' backup goalie, Charlie Lindgren, couldn't make it to their game against the Ducks. This left them scrambling, especially since getting a goalie from their AHL affiliate in Hershey to the West Coast in time was impossible.
So, what did they do? They signed Parker Milner, a retired netminder, to a professional tryout agreement to step in as the backup for Logan Thompson.
Now, you might be wondering, who is Parker Milner? And how does a retired player end up in the NHL?
Milner isn't a complete newcomer like some of the more recent emergency backup folk heroes, such as David Ayres or Scott Foster. The NHL's Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) now requires teams to have an emergency backup goalie (EBUG) on their payroll, rather than relying on a league-appointed individual. These EBUGs can't have NHL experience or have played professional hockey in the last three years, but they often serve as extra practice goalies to stay sharp.
Milner, at 35 years old, last played in the 2019-20 season. However, he's no stranger to the Capitals organization. He spent the last four years of his career in the minor leagues, playing for Hershey and ECHL South Carolina. He even had an NHL contract in the latter half of the 2018-19 season, allowing him to be the Caps' emergency third goalie for that year's playoffs.
But here's where it gets interesting: Milner's hockey journey is quite impressive. He was a standout college goalie, boasting a .919 save percentage, a 2.23 goals-against average, and six shutouts in 93 appearances for Boston College from 2009 to 2013. He was even the backup when they won the national championship in 2010. In his junior year, he led them back to the national championship and was named tournament MVP.
And this is the part most people miss: While he never played in the NHL, Milner had a successful professional career. He was a two-time ECHL All-Star and won the league's Goalie of the Year award in 2018. He finished his pro career with a .916 save percentage, a 2.44 goals-against average, 19 shutouts, and a 143-79-17 record in 245 ECHL games. He also played 30 games in the AHL, with a .902 save percentage and a 3.02 goals-against average.
So, what do you think about this emergency call-up? Do you believe Milner has what it takes to step up if needed? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
