(Almost) all big $$$ goalies suck

[HockeyWooot]

$$$ are a rare breed, there are fewer big money goalies compared to top line C, W or D for a reason.

The ones that have performed at elite level consistently get paid in-line with the scarcity of their abilities.

 

[MoneyManny]

Maybe it's not the goalies that are terrible but your metrics for judging their performance.

 

[Martin Skoula]

For cup winning big $ goalies, were they the reason you won or did they just not get in the way of you winning? It’s obviously possible to win with an average B-tier goalie, I don’t know that we’ve seen an A+ tier goalie carry a team that didn’t deserve it outside Price during the Covid season.

 

[majormajor]

Helle aside, the best goalies can be very up and down.

But those ups can win you the cup, so yeah why wouldn't you want them even if it costs a lot? I would love to have Sorokin or Shesterkin on my team heading into the playoffs. I don't care if they had a .900 in the regular season, because I know I have a shot at winning the cup any year I have them in net.

 

[Regal]

Helle aside, the best goalies can be very up and down.

But those ups can win you the cup, so yeah why wouldn't you want them even if it costs a lot? I would love to have Sorokin or Shesterkin on my team heading into the playoffs. I don't care if they had a .900 in the regular season, because I know I have a shot at winning the cup any year I have them in net.

Yea, I think a lot of people underrate goaltenders because of the variance in the position, but they focus too much on the one hit wonders and the big name guys having mediocre seasons, and ignore that the one hit wonders aren’t predictable and when you rely on lesser talents, there’s a lot more chance of them tanking the season. Like sure, you might call up a Binnington and he wins you the cup, but it’s still a hell of a lot more likely that a big money guy does it. And even if the random goalie is a success, you eventually have to pay him too. Investing in goalies isn’t about guaranteeing great goaltending anymore, it’s about risk management. You’re paying to have more potential for a big year and less potential for a sunk season.

 

[majormajor]

You’re paying to have more potential for a big year and less potential for a sunk season.

In a 32 team league I'll pay for the big seasons even if there are sunk seasons as well. No one is going to have a very big chance of winning anymore. Does any team have a greater than 20% chance of winning the cup in a year?

 

[LightningStrikes]

Vasilevskiy is second in the league in GSAA to Hellebucyk

2024-25 NHL Goalie Statistics | Hockey-Reference.com

Check out the Goalie Statistics for the 2024-25 NHL season on Hockey-Reference.com

www.hockey-reference.com

This. Also:
1st in GP
2nd in wins
3rd in SV%
5th in GAA
6th in SO
He is a good reason why Tampa is 3rd in the league with a goal differential of +50 and 6th in GA despite lackluster depth.

Beyond that he has obviously won 2 Cups, a Conn Smythe and a Vezina and is considered one of the best if not the best goaltender of his generation.

Tampa is getting their money worth with him. And all that after he missed a good chunk of the last off-season and regular season due to his back surgery and subsequent recovery and adjustment phase.

 

[JianYang]

Goalies these days are generally inconsistent, and others seem to break down.

On the breaking down standpoint, I'll add another name who was slated for a massive payday except injuries have put questions all over him now. Thatcher Demko.

 

[Warden of the North]

Its a massive risk to spend that much on a goalie IMO.

You can't hide them if the performance drops off. But if they hit, you win.

 

[Thallis]

Yeah Shesterkin's 2.93 and .906 looking great, 8 years at 11.5 doesn't even kick in until NEXT season when he will be turning 30. (Shitting the bed is extreme on OPs part but the gist of it is big contract goalies underperforming).

Vasilevskiy is pretty much unanimously considered the best goalie of his era/generation and most people in and around the game still consider him #1. 522 regular season games, 319 playoffs (edit: I am dumb) and here he is in 2025 competing for the Vezina again, following a year where he came off major surgery. Let's see how Igor and his contract look at that point.

These are team stats. We are aware the Rangers are hot garbage this season.

 

[Toby91ca]

It's almost like defense impacts goaltending....

Then why pay a goalie so much money?

 

[ShootIt]

Vassy got paid because he played like a God during Tbay's runs.

Same thing with Shesty in the Rangers playoff runs.

Bob won a cup, so at the end of the day that's all you can ask for really.

Price took the Habs to a cup finals which again is a pretty great result, not perfect but great still.

Not to mention on Bob, he played a big part in their cup runs.

Wasn't like he was Fourgoalsky and it was the offense that won the games. He stole a handful of series the past two years.
And when he had off games, the team could rally, but he was definitely a top 3 player on those runs.

 

[MoneyManny]

Then why pay a goalie so much money?

Team sport, players on the ice affect each other's performances. I know, shocking.