Do people still believe Halak isn't a world class goalie?

[Kronwalled8*]

Remember when he was traded to Buffalo last deadline, then Washington, people were saying that hes just an average starter and isnt that great anyways. Oh, hes not good enough of a goalie for the Blues anyways, hes incapable taking a team deep into the playoffs. Well hes finally proving all critics wrong. This guy is a world class goalie and is showing it now. Hes always been underrated in his career.

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[GOAT AINEC]

So how exactly has he proven he can take a team deep in the playoffs?

 

[tarheelhockey]

Is an average NHL starter not the same thing as "world class"?

 

[Islander Prophet]

So how exactly has he proven he can take a team deep in the playoffs?

He did it with Montreal back when he had virtually zero experience...

 

[Swervin81]

He was a world class goalie about 15 years ago in Buffalo.

 

[IntangiBo]

Is an average NHL starter not the same thing as "world class"?

That's what I was thinking. The guy who finishes last in the 100M at the Olympics is still a world class sprinter.

 

[Analyzer*]

2.41 GAA and .910 save percentage.

Save percentage puts him 43rd with about 10-12 people who've played few games. (under 15)

His GAA puts him 30th. With about 13 ahead of him playing 15, or less games. So, he sits 17th.

Neither are world class.

He has 4 shutouts. which is good.

 

[Lebowski]

He's an average "starter" that has yet to prove he's able to actually handle a starter work load.

Hardly world class. He gets the job done, though.

 

[penguins2946*]

He isn't a world class goalie, he's an average starter.

 

[Kronwalled8*]

Is an average NHL starter not the same thing as "world class"?

Hes far above just average. I would put him in the tier 2 of starters with the likes of Hiller, F. Anderson, Crawford, etc.

MAF is a very average goalie, but yet he gets 100 times the attention simply cause he plays for the Pens.

 

[Islanderfan17]

I think he's a beast, and quite frankly that's all that matters to me as an Isles fan. Could care less if he gets the recognition he deserves, he's been kicking ass for us and I'm happy as **** with him.

 

[haveandare]

To me, he hasn't shown anything that he's failed to show before. I think of him the same as I always have - he's a good NHL starter who can get hot and be unbeatable for periods. He was a monster in the playoffs that one year, and he hasn't got much of a chance to show his stuff in the postseason again since then. The only real knock on him is the lack of playoff experience outside that one year, but that can't be blamed squarely on him.

 

[InglewoodJack]

I mean, he's a really good goalie that's gonna have a decade long career year. And when he's retired and gone, people will fondly remember him. But he'll never be in the discussion for the top goalies in the league, nor will he ever be that consistently great goalie like Rinne, Price, Lundqvist, etc. He gives any team he's on a plausible chance to win the game, which is what you need from a goalie.

 

[eklunds source]

Halak is, IMO, somewhere between 11th and 15th in the NHL, and that puts him pretty comfortably in the top-20 of 7+ billion people in the world.

So, yeah, he is world class I guess.

 

[salsa man]

He was a world class goalie about 15 years ago in Buffalo.

Did he change his name or something?

 

[BLONG7]

Remember when he was traded to Buffalo last deadline, then Washington, people were saying that hes just an average starter and isnt that great anyways. Oh, hes not good enough of a goalie for the Blues anyways, hes incapable taking a team deep into the playoffs. Well hes finally proving all critics wrong. This guy is a world class goalie and is showing it now. Hes always been underrated in his career.

Good goalie, but still hasn't proved he can handle 60+ games, and then run with it into the playoffs...he is giving the Isles some hope though...let's see what happens this playoff year...

 

[JetsHomer]

Career .917 and .910 on the year is far from world class. Really he's average at best

 

[Kronwalled8*]

I mean, he's a really good goalie that's gonna have a decade long career year. And when he's retired and gone, people will fondly remember him. But he'll never be in the discussion for the top goalies in the league, nor will he ever be that consistently great goalie like Rinne, Price, Lundqvist, etc. He gives any team he's on a plausible chance to win the game, which is what you need from a goalie.

Exactly, hes not an elite goalie but far above just average. So hes in the tier 2 of goalies.

 

[ohnoeszz]

Halakdown was the best goaltending performance I have ever seen.

 

[Mischa]

Hes far above just average. I would put him in the tier 2 of starters with the likes of Hiller, F. Anderson, Crawford, etc.

MAF is a very average goalie, but yet he gets 100 times the attention simply cause he plays for the Pens.

tier 1 must be very large if hiller is in tier 2


(and for fleury this year he's been the pens' MVP so at least this year he earned his positive attention)

sounds like your knowledge of some goalies is from a few years ago (and more recent from the ones you actually watch)

 

[Carey Chant]

He's injury prone and can't handle the heavy workload of a world class goalie. Also, he's a smaller goalie. In his mega playoff run with the Habs he had some unbelievable games but followed some of them with stinkers (some soft goals etc).

I think the Isles haven't had a good goalie in a while. If Halak is healthy, he can make the big stops in the playoffs and win a round or two for his team. Will he have enough gas in the tank to go all the way (he ran out of it against the Flyers in the playoffs). Will have to see.

 

[journeyman79]

uh...the past four years of disappointing play with the Blues say otherwise. Listen if the guy can turn his career around with the Isles, that's great but it's only been half a season. Half a REGULAR season.

This thread is way premature.

 

[Hivemind]

We all know he can show stretches of terrific play, but Halak has also lost the starting job everywhere he's played previously.

 

[Darth Milbury]

So how exactly has he proven he can take a team deep in the playoffs?

Er, Montreal in 2009?


Halak's a very good goalie. There are quite a few goalies I'd take before him though. He is certainly not "world class..."

 

[The Macho King]

He's streaky.