Real Kyper & Bourne Vally's View: Declaring Starting Goalies
Mar 17, 2026
Steve Valiquette, former NHL goalie turned Rangers analyst and analytics CEO, breaks down team culture, goaltending decisions and analytics. He discusses where culture starts and how leaders enforce it. He weighs talent versus character during rebuilds, explains why Edmonton named a starter, and evaluates Montreal’s netminding options.
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Enforce Standards To Build Team Culture
- Set clear standards and enforce accountability to build culture, using simple rules and consequences for repeated lapses.
- Valiquette enforces punctuality in his hockey program with extra drills and pay penalties to teach responsibility and respect for the game.
Winning Can Mask Toxic Behavior
- Winning often lets high-performing but bad-behavior players get away with poor conduct, weakening culture.
- Valiquette cites the 'no a**hole rule' concept and Fortune 500 leaders showing that removing a top performer can boost group output.
Culture Starts With Player Leadership
- Culture starts with player leadership because peers enforce standards more effectively than coaches alone.
- Valiquette uses examples like Florida and Jack Eichel becoming culture carriers in new environments.
