*Disclaimer: I will only be considering goaltenders with at least 35 games played this year so to have a large enough sample size of their play
Hockey goalies play one of the hardest positions in all of sports, having to throw themselves in front of a rubber cylinder going around 85 MPH, straight at them, 30 times a night, yet they are sometimes the most criticized players on the ice. No, it may not be fair that our faithful net minders are under fire so much, but hey: as a hockey writer it’s my job to criticize them. So, here are my picks for the best and the worst goaltenders so far this year.
The best:
Tuukka Rask
When I think of this year’s elite, high-end goaltenders, Rask is the first name that comes up. Though he has had a great safety net with Jaroslav Halak as one of the best backups in the league, while also backing one of the top defensive corps, he is tops in GAA (2.12) and is second in SVP% (929%) among goaltenders that have played at least 30 games. He is also the league leader in HDSV% (high danger save percentage), meaning that he has been one of the best goaltenders against high danger shots. His GSAA (goals saved above expectation) is also at the top of the charts at 22.56, meaning he has saved 22.56 more goals than the average goaltender would have in his position. With those stats, it would be a crime to leave him off the list of best goaltenders…
Connor Hellebuyck
Simply put, he’s the only reason the Jets even have a shot at the playoffs. He’s been one of the busiest goaltenders this season, tying Carey Price for most games played by a goaltender (58), and he’s faced the most shots on net (1,976). Remarkably, he’s still managed to climb into the top of the save percentage ranks (2nd among goaltenders with at least 35 games at 922%) and maintain a respectable goals against average (6th at 2.57 among goalies with at least 35 games). He’s also second in the league in GSAA (goals saved above expectation) at +22.37 (behind only the aforementioned Tuukka Rask), so he has performed exceptionally better than the average goaltender this season. Behind a Winnipeg defence that resembles more that of a WHL team than a cup contender, Hellebuyck deserves not only some consideration for the Vezina trophy, but even for a couple Hart trophy votes as the league’s most valuable player.
Honorable mentions: Ben Bishop, Robin Lehner
The worst Martin Jones
Jones has looked like a shell of his former self this season. The 30 year old’s play has dropped off significantly these past couple years, going from an elite goaltender consistently in the Vezina conversation (though he was never an official candidate), to a subpar fringe starter. He has been replaced by the 31 year old Aaron Dell as the #1 guy in San Jose, and it’s no secret why. He has dipped below a 900% save percentage for the second year in a row, and has struggled to stay below a 3.00 goals against average for much of the last two seasons. His GSAA (goals saved above expectation) is third last in the league among goaltenders having played at least 2000 minutes at -14.88, so he has been exceptionally worse than a league average goaltender would have been in his place, and at 30 it’s no guarantee he’s bouncing back. He’s also playing in front of a defence corps featuring the likes of Erik Karlsson, Brent Burns and Marc-Edouard Vlasic, so it’s not like he’s not getting any help. If I’m Sharks coach Bob Boughner, I’m don’t want him in a backup role, much less as a starter. So, he better start earning that 5.75 million dollar paycheck, because we all know that Sharks GM Doug Wilson is known for making significant moves, so Jones could very well be the next candidate for a trade or a buyout.
Braden Holtby
Once a Vezina trophy winner, Holtby has not looked like the same guy who posted consecutive lights out campaigns, the guy who young netminders in Washington idolized and aspired to be. His save percentage has dropped below 900% this season, a career first while also posting a career worst 3.11 GAA, marking the first time he has gone above the 3.00 goal mark. Holtby’s only got himself to blame for his less than subpar season though: he has been given plenty of opportunities to play and to find his game by the powerhouse Capitals, who were tops in the Metropolitan division. Ilya Samsonov, the Capitals goaltender of the future, has had no problem coming into his first NHL season and posting sparkling numbers. His laughable -16.81 GSAA, worst among goaltenders with at least 35 games played, reflects exactly what I just explained: Holtby has been horrible this year considering the strength of his team and the quality of the shots coming at him. His name brand should still score him a deal in the 8 million dollar range, but if I’m an NHL GM right now, no matter how desperate I am for a #1 goalie, I’m not rolling the dice and wasting precious salary cap on 30 year old Holtby, who, at his age, may never return to his former self.
Honororable mentions: Sergei Bobrovsky, Pekka Rinne
As I have outlined in this blog, goaltenders are hard to predict: one year a goaltender is considered elite, and the next he’s considered a piece of Swiss cheese who doesn’t deserve an NHL job, who should head back to the beer leagues. Though they are one of the most criticized positions in all sports, they also arguably hold more power over any player on the ice on whether the team wins or loses, so one thing is for sure: if I ever get the keys to a GM office, the first thing on my mind will be who the person guarding my net will be.
But what do I know. I’m just an 12 year old aspiring GM. Be sure to comment your thoughts on the best and worst goaltenders this year and to follow @puckinaroundwithjohnny on Instagram.
Stay safe,
Johnny.