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Stanley Cup Final Proves You Don’t Need Top Goaltending

By Patrick Helper

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The NHL Stanley Cup Final is shaping up the way I thought it would. We are seeing close scoring games with the Tampa Bay Lightning sneaking out a 2- series led. One major thing I believe we are learning this year is having a top tier goaltender is not a must. Both the Lightning and Blackhawks have only above average goaltending and in the case of Tampa we may really be looking at an average goaltender in Ben Bishop.

It’s a bit unfair to compare Corey Crawford to Bishop based on supporting cast but the conversation remains the same. Neither starting goaltender is outstanding or considered an elite star. In Crawford’s case his .916 save percentage and 2.59 GAA is only average by today’s NHL standards. While his Stanley Cup Final counterpart is only

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slightly better in the GAA department (2.19). If it wasn’t for scoring power and strong defensemen on both rosters these teams would be watching the Stanley Cup Final for the local country club bar.

With rosters full of offensive talent and a steady blueline the Lightning and Blackhawks are proving to the NHL that paying a goaltender $6 million a year is not only uncalled for its stupid. While Crawford is getting that $6 million and had a modified no trade clause his back up is making $587,500 and has a playoff record of 3-1 with numbers that blow Crawford’s out of the water (.936 SV%, 2.21 GAA). There is a lot to be said for experience and confidence when it comes to playoff hockey, but number do not lie.

The Lightning are paying Bishop just under that $6 million threshold; he is making $5,950,000, and again for what he is bringing to the table he is over paid. Last night’s 36 save performance set aside; goaltenders get hot. It happens. Tampa’s issue is they have no viable backup. Putting Andrei Vasilevskiy in net regardless of what he makes is and needs to be a last ditch effort.

When you look at this year’s NHL Playoff team’s high paid goaltender only get you so far.

NHL Goaltender Playoff Standing (SV%) Only two goaltenders on this list have contracts over the $6 million mark.

  1.  Craig Anderson– .972
  2. Braden Holtby– .949
  3. Scott Darling– .936
  4. Henrik Lundqvist– .928
  5. Marc-Andre Fleury– .927
  6. Jaroslav Halak– .926
  7. Petr Mrazek– .925
  8. Carey Price– .920
  9. Ben Bishop- .919
  10. Jonas Hiller– .919

It seems clear, spend your money elsewhere. To win in the NHL and more importantly to win in the Stanley Cup Final you need to spend money on skating players, not in net. It’s a little like a running back in the NFL. You can find someone to get the job done; you do not need the top paid player. This year’s Stanley Cup winning team will have some of the best goal scorers, not the best goaltenders.

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