Oshawa Generals starting netminder Jacob Oster has had a phenomenal season, potentially the best among all goaltenders in the OHL.
There is no doubt that Jacob Oster has had a phenomenal season in the crease for the Oshawa Generals, but could he be named OHL Goaltender of the Year?
The race for the league's top goaltender is really down to two names: Jacob Oster & Michael Simpson.
London Knights overage goaltender Michael Simpson is the reigning OHL playoff MVP from last season, and has been stellar for the London Knights. He has a save percentage of .904% along with 31 wins this season playing behind a strong Knights' defence core.
On the other hand, Jacob Oster has those exact same numbers with a much weaker defence core in front of him.
The London Knights defence core has names like Oliver Bonk, Isaiah George, and Jackson Edward — all NHL drafted prospects. Not to mention Sam Dickinson and Henry Brzustewicz — two of the better defencemen of the future.
In the first half of this season in Oshawa, Oster had no NHL-affiliated defenders in front of him. At the deadline, the Generals picked up Connor Punnett — Dallas Stars signee — as Punnett becomes the one and only NHL prospect on their blue line.
Other than Punnett, Oster is playing behind some very young, inexperienced defenders. Oster also faces a lot of shots in Oshawa, as he has three games with 40+ saves this season.
Jacob Oster is never down-and-out of a play. He always finds a way to keep fighting and has the ability to make game-saving stops with his compete in the cage. He has outstanding athleticism in the net, and he has a pro-like 6-foot-3 frame.
Before he played in Oshawa, Oster played with the Guelph Storm, who were a very poor team while Oster was there. He was a young goaltender playing a lot of games and getting a lot of goals scored on him. Now, he has developed into a goaltender that can handle a lot of shots each night in major junior and still put up great numbers for his team.
The Generals have defied expectations this season, as they currently sit in first place in the Eastern Conference. Originally, they were projected as a middle-of-the-pack team at best. Now, they are a serious contender in the postseason.
A lot of this credit is due to their netminder Jacob Oster. The 2004-born goaltender will likely be a popular name on the major junior free agent market for NHL teams this summer, and don't be surprised if he signs that pro deal before next season.