2024 NHL is all about parity. Capped league, league managing games, In the East hardly anything separating 10 teams in the East. About 6pts. The Curve in the East is basically that most of the clubs have the same record. Only truly bad club is Buffalo. EVERY other club in the east is at least in the curve. The skew is only Buffalo. You know what I'm saying, that little separates the clubs and degree of difficulty in NHL games has never been LESS differentiated. In the West theres basically two doormats. SJ and Chicago. Every other team is still in contention and not a whole lot separating a lot of clubs. Hell Nashville after a horrid start may actually contend for a WC spot still. Only 10pts off it as we speak.
Pickard hasn't really seen enough rubber lately for his save % to be immutable. Pickard was .909 just a season ag
f course you don't mention Pickards GAA being much better than Skinner or that essentially he's tied with Skinner in Save % and had better most of the season.
in terms of better Pickard has better mobility, better puck handling, better at reaction stops. He's quicker, beter skater. Of course the one drawback is size. He blocks appreciably less net than Skinner. But in terms of fundamentals Pickard is better than Skinner. That isn't at all obtuse to say that. Its absurd not to recognize it.
NHL is generally a poorly run and managed league. Its common for players to be disregarded and not get their chance. Decent goalies often don't get that plum spot that Skinner got. On most NHL clubs Skinner wouldn't even be getting this spot.