We can agree that we all want to get quicker. We all want to stay one step ahead of the play. I have found when I am in position earlier, I feel in control the speed of play isn't so overwhelming. Improving our physical quickness is something that takes time (growth, strength training, etc). In the interim, we can improve our fundamental quickness by improving our save-making process. We do this through changing our stance to maximize all our goaltending resources. Part of that maximization is finding the shortest distance between two points.

Let's contrast two goalie stances moving into a routine butterfly save. Stance #1 has a more upright, stand-up style stance (Me, Adam Hauser, back when I was at the University of Minnesota). Picture Stance #2 kind of like Nikolai Khabibulin (when he won the Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning), with the knees real bent, ready for the butterfly save. Each stance has two points from which we will measure; Point A is the knees standing up, and Point B is knees on the ice surface. Mathmatically we have the expression:

SPEED = DISTANCE/TIME (Speed is equal to the distance covered divided by the amount of time taken.)

Everyone's measureable Speed is different, and cannot be improved instantly. However, our theoretical Speed is the same (as fast as we are able to go, or our best effort). Distance is the measured length from our ready stance into the saving position. Time is equal to how long it takes for the shooter to propel the puck from the stick to the goalie. As goaltenders, We think of it as how long it takes us to react. Time is what we don't have control of and becomes our unkown. This changes our equation to:

TIME = DISTANCE/SPEED (Time is equal to the Distance covered divided by our best effort)

Remember, we are using 2 different stances for the same goalie. For this equation, Speed is a constant; same goalie, same best effort. The amount of Speed generated will be the same in both stances, and becomes a non-factor. Our mathmatical expression to solve Time now becomes a relationship with Distance. Meaning, if we increase our Distance from Point A to B (Stance #1), we will increase the amount of time taken to make the save. Conversely, decrease our Point A to B Distance (Stance #2), we decrease the time needed to make the save.

The puck is always going to have the ability to move faster than we do. However, we can improve our quickness if we can shrink the distance we need to cover to make a save. It might look crazy when Khabibulin has his ankles far apart with knees tremendously bent. But, it's all for good reason. At the pro level, the shots are coming 90 - 100 mph. He has to find every possible way to improve his quickness. Since his reflexes probably can't get any quicker, he has to adjust his stance and style to keep up with the pace of play. If it's good enough for a Stanley Cup Champion, it's good enough for me.