herman
Well-known member
bustaheims said:Zanzibar Buck-Buck McFate said:I agree with you, except the implication of the bolded -- they gave a multiyear contract to a goalie they expect to be average?
Perhaps that's not what you meant, though.
He has the 18th highest cap hit for goalies, making his contract relatively average for starting goalies. The Leafs knew what they were getting, and they certainly didn't expect him to suddenly become an elite goalie (nor did they pay him like one). They picked up a guy who they saw as a dependable, consistent option to start in net - one that won't cost you many games, but may not win you many on his own, either - who is still fairly young. The price - both in terms of assets and in terms of contract - is what those guys go for these days.
The multi-year aspect of the contract, I believe, was also in the name of stability. You can't trot out a two-year guy and hope that the team doesn't bail on him after he has a stretch of bad outings that nerfed their efforts up front.
Babcock's remarks place the responsibility for keeping the goals out in the skaters' hands, collectively. Goalie takes the shooter, everyone else makes sure there is no one to pass to. It's pretty obvious in the way we've played 2-on-1s with the exaggerated take out of the pass option.
Barring injury, Andersen's performance floor is making fair value on the 5M. He has the potential to out perform his contract.