David Aebischer

Last updated

BIOGRAPHY

BORN: Fribourg, Switzerland, February 7, 1978.
HOME:
HEIGHT: 6'1".
WEIGHT: 185 lbs.
UNIFORM #: 1 (Colorado, Switzerland), 40 (Switzerland 2005, 2006, 2007), 30 (Montreal), 31 (San Antonio).
CATCHES: Left

STYLE:
STRENGTHS: David is a large goaltender, and covers much of the net. Has very good reflexes. Handles pressure well.
WEAKNESSES: Can be beaten low, and sometimes has trouble getting back up as fast as smaller goaltenders.
Name pronounced AH-bih-shuhr.

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING:

"Was spectacular for bronze medal Swiss in World Junior. How much further can he take his game?" (Adrian Dater, The Hockey News Future Watch 1998)

"Where did this kid come from? Taken as something of an afterthought in the 1997 draft, Aebischer has quickly climbed the ladder. There may not be any place for him with the Avs in the near future, but he is an excellent asset. Aebsicher, a Swiss native, has impressed scouts with his poise. He has quick reflexes and an eagerness to learn and get better." (Adrian Dater, The Hockey News Future Watch 1999)

"He's very unfortunate to be in the position he's in - a brilliant young goalie playing in the wings of another future NHLer in Denis. Aebischer has great reflexes and covers the net very well. He's a good on-ice leader, but is still inexperienced at the AHL level, despite a good season in 1998-99." (The Sports Forecaster 1999-2000, p. 180)

"The tall 22-year-old is a solid prospect and scouts like his poise and range in net, but he could be taken in the NHL expansion draft. "This is a kid who should make it in the NHL some day," [Colorado coach Bob] Hartley said. "We've really liked him from the start." Still, with Patrick Roy and Marc Denis around, finding ice time for him at the top level could be difficult in the next couple of years. It's possible he could be used as trade bait, or lost outright to either Columbus or Minnesota this summer." (Adrian Dater, The Hockey News Future Watch 2000)

"Touted as the Avalanche's goaltender of the future now that Marc Denis is out of the picture. Coming off an excellent regular season and playoff drive with the Hershey Bears. With Patrick Roy nearing the end of his career, this big goalie with quick reflexes looks to have a bright future in Denver." (The Sports Forecaster 2000-01, p. 172)

"Has the inside track on filling the role of backup goaltender for the Avalanche, apparentice to legend Patrick Roy...has been touted as the Avalanche's goalie of the future. That's enormous pressure for any young goaltender, but magnified that much more when you're next in line to a legend such as Roy. He will be well advised to learn as much as he can from the old pro." (The Sports Forecaster Online, 2000-01)

"The Swiss netminder proved his mettle last season, finishing eighth in the league with a 2.24 goals-against average. Aebischer has above-average size and reflexes, which give the Avs hope that he can develop into a future No. 1 goaltender. More experience and improved agility will help him tremendously down the road, but Aebischer should toil for a few more years before he's asked to be the main man. The 23-year-old will continue to ply his trade as a backup this upcoming season." (The Sports Forecaster 2001-02, p. 178)

"In two seasons as the Colorado backup, Aebischer has proven his ability to provide the club with solid minutes when Patrick Roy is rested. Now, the Swiss goalkeeper could use more playoing time in order to see if he can make it as a starter. Extremely agile, Aebischer doesn't give up on a play and has some of Roy's desire between the pipes. At this point, he is making the Avs look good in their decision to deal Marc Denis two years ago. Aebischer will likely play only 20-25 games once again but his numbers will be among the very best in the game." (The Sports Forecaster 2002-03, p. 172)

""Abby" didn't make anyone forget Patrick Roy in his first season as the starter, but he played well enough to maintain the role for the time being. Aebischer's mild-mannered temperament has come into question, but his statistics suggest he's a puck-stopper on the rise. Next up? Playoff success?" (The Sports Forecaster 2005-06, p. 98)

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SEASON RECORDS:

REGULAR SEASON
Year  Team                        GP    Min   W   L   T   OL    GA    GAA   Shots    Sv%   ShO   G   A   PiM     S/60    PERS     3STARS
96-97 Fribourg-Gotteron SWITZ     10    577                     34   3.54                        0   0     0
97-98 Fribourg-Gotteron SWITZ      1     60                      1   1.00                    0   0   0     0
      Hershey Bears AHL            2     80   0   0   1          5   3.75      34   .853     0   0   1     0    25.50  895.44
      Chesapeake Icebreakers ECHL 17    930   5   7   2         52   3.35     503   .897     0   0   1    10    32.45  950.71
      Wheeling Nailers ECHL       10    564   5   3   1         30   3.19     212   .858     1   0   0     2    22.55  896.08
98-99 Hershey Bears AHL           38   1932  17  10   5         79   2.45     991   .920     2   0   1     0    30.78  971.58
      Switzerland WORLD            4    173                     13   4.49      78   .833     1
99-00 Hershey Bears AHL           58   3259  29  23   2        180   3.31    1833   .902     1   0   1     0    33.74  958.04
00-01 Colorado Avalanche NHL      26   1393  12   7   3         52   2.24     590   .903     3   0   1     0    23.17  941.97   2-1-3 (16)
01-02 Colorado Avalanche NHL      21   1184  13   6   0         37   1.88     538   .931     2   0   0     4    27.26  976.67
      Switzerland OLYMPICS         2     81   0   1   1          6   4.43      31   .806     0   0   0     0    22.87  844.57
02-03 Colorado Avalanche NHL      22   1235   7  12   0         50   2.43     593   .916     1   0   0     4
03-04 Colorado Avalanche NHL      62   3703  32  19   9        129   2.09    1703   .924     4   0   1     4
04-05 Lugano SWITZERLAND          18   1019  13   2   3         41   2.41                    0   0   2     8
      Switzerland WORLD            1     60   0   0   1          3   3.00      31   .903     0   0   0     0
05-06 Colorado Avalanche NHL      43   2477  25  14        2   123   2.98    1233   .900     3   0   3    16
      Montreal Canadiens NHL       7    418   4   3        0    26   3.73     240   .892     0   0   0     0
06-07 Montreal Canadiens NHL      32   1760  13  12        3    93   3.17     929   .900     0   0   0     2
SIX (6) NHL SEASONS              213  12170 106  73  12    5   510   2.51    5774  0.912    13   0   5    30

POST-SEASON
Year  Team                        GP    Min   W   L   GA    GAA   Shots    Sv%   ShO   G   A   PiM     S/60    PERS     3STARS
96-97 Fribourg-Gotteron SWITZ      3    184           13   4.24
97-98 Fribourg-Gotteron SWITZ      4    240           17   4.25
98-99 Hershey Bears AHL            3    152   1   2    6   2.37                    0
99-00 Hershey Bears AHL           14    788   7   6   40   3.05     482   .917     2
00-01 Colorado Avalanche NHL       1      1   0   0    0   0.00       0    ---     0   0   0     0     0.00     ---   0-0-0  (0)
01-02 Colorado Avalanche NHL       1     34   0   0    1   1.76      14   .929     0   0   0     2    24.71  969.75
03-04 Colorado Avalanche NHL      11    662   6   5   23   2.08     295   .922     1   0   0     2
04-05 Lugano SWITZERLAND           5                                                   0   0     0
THREE (3) NHL POSTSEASONS         13    697   6   5   24   2.07     309  0.922     1   0   0     2

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