LHH Editor's note: Despite Evgeni Nabokov's performance hardly being to blame in the OT loss last night, Islanders goaltending has been a hot topic -- the prospects not looking otherworldly, and in fact, this weakness looking like what could separate a competitive team from a playoff berth. But the proper follow-up question to a sports complaint is, "What options are there to fix it?" Read on...
In an effort to examine what goaltending options are out there, I decided to write a different post that focused on stat comparison. This way, we can all look at a goalies track record, see what they've done and come to a decision on what we'd each like.
Some options are not going to happen, others are interesting to ponder. Let's have a look:
IN THE PIPELINE
Kevin Poulin - 126th Overall (5th Round) of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft
Height: 6'2 Age: 22
Most Islanders fans are familiar with Poulin as he is now the current backup and because of previous short stints in the NHL. He is generally regarded as a talented goaltender with some upside. According to the various scouting reports, Poulin has ideal size for an NHL goaltender, is positionally sound and quiet in his movements and plays with confidence. Poulin's weaknesses include: working on his consistency (letting in soft goals at the wrong time).
Statistics:
Year |
League |
Record |
SO |
SV% |
GAA |
2006-2007 |
QMJHL |
10-6 |
0 |
.896 |
3.34 |
2007-2008 |
QMJHL Playoffs |
18-24 2-4 |
0 0 |
.887 .846 |
3.69 5.80 |
2008-2009 |
QMJHL Playoffs |
18-19 0-4 |
1 1 |
.900 .903 |
3.17 4.34 |
2009-2010 |
QMJHL Playoffs |
35-16 10-6 |
0 0 |
.916 .918 |
2.63 2.84 |
Year |
League |
Record |
SO |
SV% |
GAA |
2010-2011 |
NHL |
4-2-1 |
0 |
.924 |
2.44 |
2010-2011 |
AHL |
10-5 |
2 |
.932 |
2.19 |
2011-2012 |
NHL |
2-4 |
0 |
.907 |
3.04 |
2011-2012 |
AHL Playoffs |
26-18-4 0-3 |
3 0 |
.912 .917 |
2.79 3.09 |
2012-2013 |
AHL |
15-14-3 |
1 |
.904 |
3.22 |
In 17 GP in the NHL, Poulin has a .915% EV Strength Save Percentage. A small sample size, but you'd like to see that number a little higher.
Anders Nilsson - 62nd Overall (3rd Round) of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft
Height: 6'6 Age: 22
Nicknamed Thor, Isles fans got a little taste of Nilsson last season; his first in North America. Via Elite Prospects: "A huge goaltender that is technically skilled. Nilsson has good hockey smarts, plays with calmness, and has good mental strength. Challenges the shooters and has been very consistent during his career, rarely having bad games. Furthermore, he is athletic and quite agile." Unfortunately, Nilsson has been ailing with an unknown injury/illness and has barely played.
Statistics:
Year |
League |
Record |
SO |
SV% |
GAA |
2007-2008 |
SuperElit |
16 GP |
2 |
.926 |
2.07 |
2008-2009 |
SuperElit Playoffs |
37 GP 6 GP |
4 1 |
.927 N/A |
2.05 2.35 |
2009-2010 |
SuperElit Elitserien |
4 GP 27 GP |
0 2 |
.899 .897 |
2.95 2.65 |
2010-2011 |
Elitserien Playoffs |
31 GP 13 GP |
6 0 |
.918 .931 |
1.92 1.96 |
2011-2012 |
NHL |
1-2 |
1 |
.911 |
2.75 |
2011-2012 |
AHL |
15-8-2 |
1 |
.921 |
2.42 |
2012-2013 |
AHL |
7-10 |
1 |
.896 |
3.14 |
Of note: In 4 NHL GP, Nilsson has a .914 EV Strength SV %. Also, in his last season in the Elitserien, Nilsson was 4th overall in SV % (of goaltenders with 30+ GP).
Mikko Koskinen - 31st overall (2nd round) of the 2009 NHL Entry draft.
Height: 6'6 Age: 24
Koskinen had a taste of the NHL in the 2010/2011 season but after disappointing in the AHL, has started in the SM-liiga the past two seasons. This year, Koskinen is doing decently well with good numbers (7th overall in SV% of goaltenders with 30+ GP).
Statistics:
Year |
League |
Record |
SO |
SV% |
GAA |
2007-2008 |
Jr. SM-liiga |
12-4 |
2 |
.907 |
2.30 |
2008-2009 |
Jr. SM-liiga |
9-0 |
2 |
.930 |
1.65 |
2008-2009 |
SM-liiga Playoffs |
17-9-7 6-8 |
1 0 |
.932 .912 |
1.91 2.59 |
2009-2010 |
AHL ECHL |
1-1 6-0 |
0 0 |
.902 .924 |
2.45 2.50 |
2010-2011 |
NHL AHL |
2-1 12-21-1 |
0 0 |
.873 .892 |
4.33 3.49 |
2011-2012 |
AHL |
0-2 |
0 |
.909 |
2.82 |
2011-2012 |
SM-liiga Playoffs |
13-5-4 3-2 |
5 2 |
.916 .889 |
2.30 2.23 |
2012-2013 |
SM-liiga |
20-14-13 |
7 |
.921 |
2.01 |
Of note: In 4 NHL GP, Koskinen had a .867% EV Strength Save %.
CURRENT NHL BACKUPS- TRADE TARGETS
Two goaltenders whose names get thrown around a lot in trade discussions are Jonathan Bernier and Ben Bishop. Both have had larger amounts of experience in the NHL than any of the Islanders prospects. Let's take an in depth look at their stats as well.
Jonathan Bernier - 11th overall (1st round) of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.
Height: 6' Age: 24 Team: Los Angeles Kings
Bernier, a 1st round selection of the Kings, has been the topic of numerous trade discussions due to Quick's incredible season last year and signing a long-term deal this past off-season (ex: Bernier was a trade target for Columbus). According to the Central Scouting report of the year he was drafted, Bernier is: "A very strong skater with excellent balance...has both quick reactions and recovery...has very quick feet and pads with excellent, controlled lateral movements...very good post-to-post...does a good job of blocking a pass from behind the net...very good angles and net coverage...challenges at the top of the crease and to the shooter...good rebound control deflecting shots out of danger with his stick and blocker...uses paddle down technique on wrap around attempts...goes behind the net well to stop the puck on dump ins and is smart at moving it...communicates well with his defense...does a very good job of reading and reacting to the play...has an excellent well balanced butterfly stance...shows excellent determination...very solid and strong in the crease...battles hard for any loose pucks and holds his ground when players cut hard to the net...very quick recovery to get set for a rebound opportunity...very aggressive and competes hard...very confident and doesn't get rattled...capable of making big saves to keep his team in the game or to hold a lead."
Statistics:
Year |
League |
Record |
SO |
SV% |
GAA |
2004-2005 |
QMJHL |
7-12-3 |
2 |
.909 |
2.97 |
2005-2006 |
QMJHL Playoffs |
27-26 2-4 |
2 1 |
.908 .914 |
2.70 2.84 |
2006 |
WJC-18 |
3-3-1 |
1 |
.942 |
1.71 |
2006-2007 |
QMJHL Playoffs |
26-10 16-1 |
2 1 |
.905 .919 |
2.58 2.34 |
2007 |
Memorial Cup |
1-3 |
0 |
.940 |
2.07 |
2007-2008 |
QMJHL Playoffs |
18-15 2-4 |
0 0 |
.908 .918 |
2.73 2.93 |
2008 |
WJC-20 |
1-1 |
0 |
.947 |
2.00 |
Year |
League |
Record |
SO |
SV% |
GAA |
2007-2008 |
NHL |
1-3 |
0 |
.864 |
4.03 |
2007-2008 |
AHL Playoffs |
1-1-1 0-3 |
0 0 |
.946 .908 |
1.63 2.76 |
2008-2009 |
AHL |
23-24-4 |
5 |
.910 |
2.40 |
2009-2010 |
NHL |
3-0 |
0 |
.957 |
1.30 |
2009-2010 |
AHL Playoffs |
30-21-6 10-6 |
9 3 |
.936 .939 |
2.03 1.81 |
2010-2011 |
NHL |
11-8-3 |
0 |
.913 |
2.48 |
2011 |
WC |
2-1 |
0 |
.917 |
2.01 |
2011-2012 |
NHL |
5-6-2-1 |
0 |
.909 |
2.36 |
2012-2013 |
NHL |
5-1 |
0 |
.916 |
1.93 |
2007-2013 |
NHL Totals |
25-18-5 |
5 |
.911 |
2.43 |
In 55 NHL GP, Bernier has a .915% EV Strength Save Percentage.
Ben Bishop - 85th Overall (3rd Round) in 2005 NHL Entry Draft
Height: 6'7 Age: 26 Team: Ottawa Senators
With Anderson's incredible NHL season and some good quality goaltending in the AHL with Lehner, Bishop has been a topic of trade talk amongst Islanders fans. With his giant frame, Bishop is considered a future starting goaltender.
Statistics:
Year |
League |
Record |
SO |
SV% |
GAA |
2004-2005 |
NAHL Playoffs |
35-8 9-2 |
5 0 |
.920 .891 |
1.93 2.73 |
2005-2006 |
University of Maine |
21-8-2 |
0 |
.908 |
2.28 |
2006-2007 |
University of Maine |
21-9-2 |
3 |
.923 |
2.14 |
2007-2008 |
University of Maine |
13-18-3 |
2 |
.920 |
2.43 |
Year |
League |
Record |
SO |
SV% |
GAA |
2007-2008 |
AHL |
2-2-1 |
0 |
.908 |
2.38 |
2008-2009 |
NHL |
1-1-1 |
0 |
.893 |
2.94 |
2008-2009 |
AHL |
15-16-1 |
1 |
.900 |
2.81 |
2009-2010 |
AHL |
23-18-4 |
0 |
.901 |
2.77 |
2010-2011 |
NHL |
3-4 |
1 |
.899 |
2.76 |
2010-2011 |
AHL |
17-14-2 |
2 |
.914 |
2.55 |
2011-2012 |
AHL |
24-14 |
6 |
.928 |
2.26 |
2011-2012 |
NHL |
3-3-2 |
0 |
.909 |
2.48 |
2011-2012 |
AHL |
2-1 |
0 |
.944 |
2.35 |
2012-2013 |
NHL |
4-4 |
0 |
.925 |
2.54 |
2008-2013 |
NHL Totals |
11-12-3 |
1 |
.910 |
2.63 |
So far in 31 NHL GP, Bishop posts a .913% Even Strength Save Percentage.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
In no particular order...
Thomas Greiss - San Jose Sharks Backup
Height: 6'1 Age: 27
Year |
League |
Record |
SO |
SV% |
GAA |
2006-2007 |
AHL Playoffs |
26-15-2 0-3 |
0 |
.912 N/A |
2.61 4.18 |
2007-2008 |
AHL |
18-21-2 |
0 |
.892 |
3.09 |
2008-2009 |
AHL Playoffs |
30-24-2 6-6 |
1 |
.910 .912 |
2.47 2.43 |
2010-2011 |
SEL |
N/A |
2 |
.901 |
2.92 |
2009-2013 |
NHL Totals |
17-15-3 |
1 |
.910 |
2.55 |
Even Strength SV % this season: .906
Anton Khudobin - Boston Bruins Backup
Height: 5'11 Age: 26
Year |
League |
Record |
SO |
SV% |
GAA |
2008-2009 |
AHL Playoffs |
3-6-1 8-8 |
0 2 |
.890 .900 |
3.04 2.70 |
2009-2010 |
AHL |
14-19-4 |
4 |
.907 |
2.43 |
2010-2011 |
AHL AHL |
19-12-1 9-4-1 |
1 1 |
.911 .920 |
2.58 2.40 |
2011-2012 |
AHL |
21-19-3 |
2 |
.919 |
2.61 |
2009-2013 |
NHL Totals |
8-2 |
1 |
.940 |
1.83 |
Even Strength Save % this season: .896%
Ray Emery - Chicago Blackhawks Starter/Backup
Height: 6'2 Age: 30
Year |
League |
Record |
SO |
SV% |
GAA |
2013 |
NHL |
10-0 |
0 |
.925 |
2.02 |
2002-2013 |
NHL Totals |
119-62-19 |
11 |
.908 |
2.66 |
Even Strength SV % this season: .937%
Jose Theodore - Florida Panthers starter, currently injured
Height: 5'11 Age: 36
Year |
League |
Record |
SO |
SV% |
GAA |
2013 |
NHL |
4-6-3 |
0 |
.892 |
3.30 |
1996-2013 |
NHL Totals |
286-254-30-58 |
33 |
.909 |
2.68 |
Even Strength SV % this season: .901%
Mike Smith - Phoenix Coyotes Starter
Height: 6'3 Age: 30
Year |
League |
Record |
SO |
SV% |
GAA |
2013 |
NHL |
9-6-2 |
3 |
.900 |
2.90 |
2006-2013 |
NHL Totals |
114-90-31 |
22 |
.913 |
2.59 |
Even Strength SV % this season : .906%
Niklas Backstrom - Minnesota Wild Starter
Height: 5'11 Age: 35
Year |
League |
Record |
SO |
SV% |
GAA |
2013 |
NHL |
9-6-2 |
0 |
.918 |
2.22 |
2006-2013 |
NHL Totals |
169-115-44 |
26 |
.917 |
2.42 |
Even Strength SV % this season: .912%
Jimmy Howard - Detroit Red Wings Starter
Height: 6' Age: 28
Year |
League |
Record |
SO |
SV% |
GAA |
2013 |
NHL |
9-7-3 |
1 |
.912 |
2.63 |
2005-2013 |
NHL Totals |
119-61-22 |
12 |
.916 |
2.43 |
Even Strength SV % this season: .933%
From this group, I showed limited stats but most importantly also showed goaltenders EV Strength SV % this season which has been a hot stat thrown around LHH recently. OF this group of goaltenders that are going to be UFAs this summer, Jimmy Howard is my favorite. Still relatively young, has proven NHL success. Niklas Backstrom, while aging could still be a solid goaltender and Mike Smith, coming off of a career year last year, could be solid in net (but is he a product of PHX system a la Bryzgalov?). I'm not interested in Theodore who has looked awful this season and is aging, nor Greiss or Khudobin who are frankly not that good.
The name that really interests me is Ray Emery. Chicago has been playing incredibly in front of him, but he's also having a career year and became the first goalie in NHL history to reach 10-0. I would not mind signing him and platooning him with Poulin next season as an option.
OVERSEAS: LEADERS IN THE ELITSERIEN AND SM-liiga
Inspired by what Fasth has done for Anaheim this season, I decided to look to the top two European leagues and check out which goaltenders have been thriving there. I took guys into account that weren't ever drafted by an NHL team or had played in North America yet (with the exception of one who played Juniors here). While it's highly unlikely we would sign any of these, it's an interesting thought after Fasth's recent success.
I apologize in advance as I wasn't able to get some statistics (Record, EV ST SV%, SOs, etc.)
Elitserien:
Christian Engstrand - 2nd in the Elitserien in SV %
Height: 6' Age: 24
Year |
League |
Record |
SO |
SV% |
GAA |
2005-2006 |
SuperElit Playoffs |
27 GP 6 GP |
N/A |
.904 .956 |
2.33 1.62 |
2006-2007 |
SuperElit Playoffs |
32 GP 5 GP |
N/A |
.926 .927 |
1.99 2.00 |
2007-2008 |
SuperElit Allsvenskan |
5 GP 20 GP |
N/A |
.850 .906 |
3.99 3.02 |
2008-2009 |
Allsvenskan |
32 GP |
N/A |
.888 |
3.33 |
2009-2010 |
Elistserien Playoffs |
13 GP 4 GP |
0 N/A |
.917 .913 |
2.56 2.66 |
2010-2011 |
SuperElit Allsvenskan Elitserien |
3 GP 6 GP 7 GP |
N/A N/A 2 |
.931 .889 .942 |
2.23 4.03 1.57 |
2011-2012 |
Allsvenskan Elitserien |
3 GP 13 GP |
N/A 1 |
.925 .914 |
2.31 2.44 |
2012-2013 |
Elitserien |
34 GP |
6 |
.936 |
1.89 |
Bernhard Starkbaum- 4th in the Elisterien in SV % (Goaltenders with 30+GP)
Height: 6'1 Age: 27
Year |
League |
Record |
SO |
SV% |
GAA |
2008-2009 |
Austria |
17 GP |
N/A |
.925 |
2.69 |
2009-2010 |
Austria |
18 GP |
N/A |
.913 |
2.85 |
2010-2011 |
Austria |
33 GP |
N/A |
.923 |
2.70 |
2011-2012 |
Austria |
48 GP |
N/A |
.936 |
2.27 |
2012-2013 |
Elitserien |
46 GP |
N/A |
.933 |
2.06 |
Julius Hudacek - 6th in the Elitserien in SV % (Goaltenders with 30+GP)
Year |
League |
Record |
SO |
SV% |
GAA |
2008-2009 |
Slovakia Playoffs Slovakia 2 |
22 GP 8 GP 5 GP |
N/A |
.922 .950 .924 |
2.40 1.59 2.75 |
2009-2010 |
Slovakia Playoffs Slovakia 2 |
27 GP 16 GP 2 GP |
N/A |
.936 .936 .969 |
2.16 2.00 1.00 |
2010-2011 |
Slovakia Playoffs |
45 GP 14 GP |
N/A |
.936 .936 |
1.79 1.25 |
2011-2012 |
Allsvenskan |
3 GP |
N/A |
.926 |
2.09 |
2012-2013 |
Elitserien |
48 GP |
N/A |
.930 |
1.89 |
SM-liiga
Antti Raanta - 1st in the SM-liiga.
Contract up after this season.
Height: 6' Age: 23
Scouting report: A small goalie with good positional play. Competitive.
Year |
League |
Record |
SO |
SV% |
GAA |
2008-2009 |
Jr. A SM-liiga Playoffs Finland 2 |
40 GP 8 GP 2 GP |
N/A |
.922 .924 .912 |
2.66 2.66 2.51 |
2009-2010 |
Jr. A SM-liiga Playoffs SM-liiga |
15 GP 4 GP 15 GP |
N/A |
.928 .957 .917 |
2.20 1.51 2.66 |
2010-2011 |
SM-liiga Playoffs |
20 GP 2 GP |
N/A |
.910 .818 |
2.37 4.28 |
2011-2012 |
SM-liiga Playoffs |
38 GP 3 GP |
N/A |
.933 .917 |
2.23 3.07 |
2012-2013 |
SM-liiga |
43 GP |
N/A |
.943 |
1.84 |
Juha Metsola - 2nd in the SM-liiga in SV%
Height: 5'10 Age: 24
Scouting report: A small, agile goalkeeper with a good movement pattern. Agile and quick reflexes.
Year |
League |
Record |
SO |
SV% |
GAA |
2007-2008 |
WHL Playoffs |
30 GP 18 GP |
N/A |
.916 .908 |
1.98 2.37 |
2008-2009 |
WHL |
53 GP |
N/A |
.907 |
2.80 |
2009-2010 |
Sm-liiga Finland 2 |
4 GP 4 GP 6 GP 3 GP |
N/A |
.871 .933 .939 .926 |
3.30 2.01 1.93 2.68 |
2010-2011 |
SM-liiga Finland 2 |
6 GP 2 GP 2 GP |
N/A |
.942 .930 .907 |
1.80 1.48 3.05 |
2011-2012 |
SM-liiga Finland 2 |
26 GP 2 GP |
N/A |
.925 .947 |
2.76 2.40 |
2012-2013 |
SM-liiga Finland 2 |
44 GP 2 GP |
N/A |
.931 .939 |
2.05 2.03 |
Well, hope you guys took the time to read this and try to make some opinions on what the Islanders could do. Unlikely anything happens, but it's fun to think about.