Value of: Elite Goaltenders

[Eco]

With a cap space of $81.5m being what it is, what do you think is the MAX that you'd feel comfortable offering an elite goalie?

I have attached a list of the current top 10 in the NHL, but this is a topic I've been talking about with buddies and there seems to be a wide range of ideas.

Click to read more...

 

[GermanSpitfire]

If anyone wants to take on “Elite” goalie Matt Murray. Be Ottawa’s guest.

 

[DickSmehlik]

Not a great look for elite goalies when arguably only 4 out of 10 are able to justify their elite pay.

GM's won't take heed of this though.

 

[CupInSIX]

7M max feels like the sweet spot, unless you absolutely have to keep your cup winner a la Vasi.

Basically, try to win it all with 9M or less spent on goalies.

 

[Neiler]

There isn't a goalie in the league I'd give over 7M honestly. They all seem to turn out to be a problem eventually in a cap world. Outside of a cap world I think it could go higher.

 

[Neiler]

If anyone wants to take on “Elite” goalie Matt Murray. Be Ottawa’s guest.

That contact is an embarrassment and looks even worse by being on this list.

 

[IWantSakicAsMyGM]

There are a few cautionary tales on that list, which makes it tough to justify spending a lot on someone "elite". I think if you have someone like Vasi, that's one thing, but if I'm looking for a goalie in the cap era, the sweet spot is a good backup who looks ready to be a starter that I can sign for 3-4 years at ~$3-4m. If I can have a good duo signed for under $6m, that's where I want to be.

 

[MNRube]

I’d pay Shesty & Vasi & Demko 8M if I could lock them down long term through their 20s. Having a guy who can steal games and whose down years end up around .910 SV % is a massive advantage

 

[crazyfisherman]

6-7 for me, i cant justify above 7 unless its a perennial vezina contender

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

If you could have Price where he was far and away the best goalie in the league then you could pay him 8 or maybe 9 mill per.

At the current cap, 10.5 is bad business for a goalie. Even at 8.

However, goalies aren't that important until you don't have one you can trust.

 

[Djp]

With a cap space of $81.5m being what it is, what do you think is the MAX that you'd feel comfortable offering an elite goalie?

I have attached a list of the current top 10 in the NHL, but this is a topic I've been talking about with buddies and there seems to be a wide range of ideas.

View attachment 523036

based on current cap I put the limit at around $7.5M

y cap structure is around 4/7 on 14 F and 3/7 on D/G

 

[Eco]

6-7 for me, i cant justify above 7 unless its a perennial vezina contender

This is what I'm think too honestly.

 

[TGWL]

I think it's hard to gauge value on a goalie when it comes to cap hit because some years there is such a big difference between being a top 3 goalie and a regular starting goalie in the NHL. If you go back the last few years you basically have a few goalies you consider elite and difference makers. One of the reason Vasilevskiy is making 9.5 is because he was so far above the other goalies. Ideally you would want to get him at around 7.5ish (although he's worth his price), but that means these other starting goalies would be making a lot less. I just don't see it going back like that.

 

[captainpaxil]

One of the issues is even if you build a team around an elite guy there's still plenty of games the backup has to play so there's either a crazy dropoff or too much money devoted to one position.
I wouldn't put more than 9 million into the position let alone one guy. Ideally a high end starter at 5 and a 1b guy at 3.5

 

[Bond]

Markstrom type of contract is a pretty good spot for an elite goalie

 

[Gecklund]

I don’t think it’s so much money as term for me. If the choice is say 8 years at 8M or 4 at 10M I’d pick the 4 every time. Granted I’d much rather it be a 3 year term.

 

[bambamcam4ever]

What about the value of elite goatlenders?

 

[Canadienna]

Here's what I feel isn't being addressed with everyone saying 'I wouldn't pay more than X'.

When a goalie has played well enough to expect getting 8-9m+ on the market, he's by definition the most crucial, integral piece on the entire team. What team would take that step back willingly?

Would a team really walk from Vasilevsky, or a prime Price? I think both of those guys could have genuinely squeezed their teams for even more if they were inclined.

So the answers in here of 7-9m might be reasonable considering the volatility of the position, but in reality GMs will get bent over due to the power of the position.

 

[AvStock]

All these people saying they wouldn’t pay a lick over x for a goalie are going to regret saying that when their “fairly” paid goalie starts letting in softies in the yoffs.

 

[CanadienShark]

7M max feels like the sweet spot, unless you absolutely have to keep your cup winner a la Vasi.

Basically, try to win it all with 9M or less spent on goalies.

My thoughts exactly. Goaltending shouldn't cost more than $10m combined.

 

[TMLegend]

Depends on the context. If you gave me a goalie like Lundqvist who was a virtual lock to give you .920+ goaltending every year throughout his prime I'd say that kinda value is immense. 9-10M. If it's a guy like Price or Bobrovsky whose been more up and down I'd value them significantly less. Like 6-7M.

 

[BLNY]

We've seen the Pens and Blues capitalize on flash in the pan goalies. Goalies that have either moved on and are failing where they are, or are being shopped, because it didn't take long to develop a book on them.

It's why I think goalies that have long runs of being at/near the top of their position are all the more impressive. They're also under appreciated. If someone has established themselves as one of the best at what they do, and you have the need at the position. Pay them. Few positions make or break like a goalie.

Draft better. Have a near league min third pair and fourth line. Cut costs at the positions that play 10 minutes a night. How many teams have 4th lines with guys making $3 million? If I have to choose between:

A: a fourth line with an average cap hit of $2 million, a third pair with guys making $3 million each, and a budget #1 goalie
or
B: a fourth line and third d pair with an average cap hit of $1 million and an elite goalie

I know which option I'm picking.

 

[Arthur Morgan]

I don't see Andrew Raycroft or Vesa Toskala

 

[AKL]

Nothing that starts with a 7 or higher

 

[Kupo]

If you could have Price where he was far and away the best goalie in the league then you could pay him 8 or maybe 9 mill per.

At the current cap, 10.5 is bad business for a goalie. Even at 8.

However, goalies aren't that important until you don't have one you can trust.

Far and away the best goalie? Lol. He was, in 2015. 1 season.