Player Discussion Anton Forsberg

[aragorn]

Team save % this season is .904 good for 13th in the league.

Team save % last season was .888 good for dead last in the league.

It’s a pretty big difference. With the amount of shots we allowed so far this season that’s about a 20 goal difference. Meaning that we would’ve allowed an extra goal against every other game. We would be far out if that was the case.

We also allow less shots on goal than last year and overall much much better defensively so I would assume that also has an impact.

That also includes 18 games of Forsberg giving us .894 goaltending. There’s still room for improvement but still above league average.

What do you think they do with Forsberg at the end of the season & Merilainen for that matter? My guess is that they find a vet backup for around $1 mil & they let Merilainen & Sogaard remain in Belleville. Sogaard needs to either get his game back or they move him out in a package & Merilainen is only 22 yrs old & could use a little more seasoning until he takes that backup job permanently in a yr or two. Should be interesting.

 

[HoweHullOrr]

Team save % this season is .904 good for 13th in the league.

Team save % last season was .888 good for dead last in the league.

It’s a pretty big difference. With the amount of shots we allowed so far this season that’s about a 20 goal difference. Meaning that we would’ve allowed an extra goal against every other game. We would be far out if that was the case.

We also allow less shots on goal than last year and overall much much better defensively so I would assume that also has an impact.

That also includes 18 games of Forsberg giving us .894 goaltending. There’s still room for improvement but still above league average.

Thought I’d take a look at Boston goalie stats. What I found was interesting.

Swayman: .898 sv%, 2.95 GAA, 2 Shutouts

Korpisalo: .899 sv%, 2.70 GAA, 3 Shutouts

 

[Boud]

What do you think they do with Forsberg at the end of the season & Merilainen for that matter? My guess is that they find a vet backup for around $1 mil & they let Merilainen & Sogaard remain in Belleville. Sogaard needs to either get his game back or they move him out in a package & Merilainen is only 22 yrs old & could use a little more seasoning until he takes that backup job permanently in a yr or two. Should be interesting.

It’s a good question because Merilainen seems ready but also you need to consider having enough depth. I think they’ll want Merilainen to play as much as possible so I would agree with you.

I think they sign a backup at 1-2M and Merilainen should get enough NHL games regardless with the amount of injuries teams go through every year.

 

[armani]

For a deep playoff run (and frankly to make the playoffs with Ullmark out), this teams needs all three goalies playing and hitting the mark. Merilainen provides the necessary depth and looks to be the main option to play as Ullmark’s backup next year.

Very glad to see the way Forsberg has performed lately. When Ullmark is back, he can be the backup while Merilainen plays starter minutes in Belleville to get that dark squad call in the post season (or a call earlier in case of injuries or roster decisions).

 

[aragorn]

It’s a good question because Merilainen seems ready but also you need to consider having enough depth. I think they’ll want Merilainen to play as much as possible so I would agree with you.

I think they sign a backup at 1-2M and Merilainen should get enough NHL games regardless with the amount of injuries teams go through every year.

Agreed, I think they sign a cheap vet in the off season to replace Forsberg & let Merilainen play another season in Belleville. That would be my guess but every time I see Merilainen he just looks ready to me & maybe they sign a vet to play in Belleville & be a callup like Hogberg.

 

[thinkwild]

So we have to ride Forsberg for the rest of the season and then let him walk? Or trade him for Cory Conacher and a 4th at the deadline? Or maybe with an increased cap he begins to look like a cheap, trade-able, veteran next year?