I still think you are underestimating Vasy.
Kuch has maybe the most brutal points in early playoff games to points in elimination games ratio of any player the last few years (the same thing people rip a couple of players for) and I dont think people would see him in the same light if Vasy wasnt continually stealing the big games. (trying to remember math and I think Kucherov has had like 2 goals 6 points in his last 14 playoff elimination games or something). Im not big on hitting him too hard for this as the games tighten up and it becomes a tight-checking affair but I dont see anyone getting on him for it in quite the same way as others.
Hedman has always been a bonafide great number 1 D but was also playing behind one of the best clutch goalies in NHL history. This will help your image. I dont care if you are a 30 minute D, Vasy is out there the whole game.
Like a posted earlier with some additional context,
During Tampas 2 cup runs including playoffs:
With Vasy:
2019-2020: 53-21-3
2020-2021: 47-17-1
Total: 100-38-4
When Vasy not in net:
2019-2020: 8-7-3
2020-2021: 5-7-2
Total: 13-14-5
Heres a fun question to ask.....was Vasy so important to the team that they might have had trouble even making the playoffs without him? The very fact thats even a question shows why he was, by far, the most valuable player on the Bolts IMO.
I don't think the above facts show entirely what your trying to suggest.
The Bolts allocated 9.5M in Vasilevsky and then like 900K (league min) for a nobody backup from 2020-2022 3 finals run.
The backup for tampa was expected to give .500 hockey, which they fell 1 win short of.
Vasilevsky is Matthews/Marner for the Bolts. They paid him as such and worked him as such. He delivered but he didnt do anything alone
Tampa had a super team those 2/3 years.
When guys like Killorn, Palat, cirelli, cernak are afterthoughts you know your team is loaded
Just looking at their playoff series fir 2020 alone we see:
1. R1: CBJ - a team riding hot goaltending and known for defense, not an offensive dangerous team, so Vasilvesky didnt have to steal this series
2. R2: Bruins - President trophy team, very capable on both sides, tampa ran them through and Vasievsky was amazing.
3. R3: Isles - Defensive team with little to no offensive primary threats. Tampa outclassed them top to bottom in 6 and blew them out in games 1 and won 4-1 in game 5. He didn't have to steal this series at all
4. SCF - Stars - Defensive team, that had little to no offensive elite players that year (think Seguin led them with 50 pts in 65 games). Tampa outclassed Dallas hard again. Vasilvesky didn't have to steal anything here either
That is just 2020, the bolts had 1 high offensive series matchup here in R2 where Vasilevksy play you can say stole the series. The other 3 he was the heavy favourite and had a ton of goal supprt
2021 is similar I believe as Habs, Isles in the final two rounds were low scoring underdog teams, can give credit for Panthers R1 for sure as they were a very hot offensive team and then Canes R2 he was great against a strong Canes team
Vasilevsky having a defensive core of:
Hedman, McDonaugh, Sergachev, Cernak, Schenn, Shatternkirk, Bogo, Rutta during that window made his job so much easier
Defensive forward who played structured game and didnt cheat for offense in:
Cirelli, Palat, Gourde, Colton, Goodrow, Paul, Coleman, these guys helped limit chances of the 2nd and 3rd lines of other teams contenders, helping shut them down while L1/PP1 was able to destroy those teams offensively
