Mock Expansion Draft: Protecting A Goalie
by Travis Hughes on Sep 1, 2010 7:42 PM EDT
in Philadelphia Flyers Features
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PrintWe have to protect one goalie in the Mock Expansion Draft. Don't everybody go and jump up all at once, now.
Players who have played less than 50 games in the NHL are exempt and automatically protected, so guys like Sergei Bobrovsky, Nicola Riopel and Johan Backlund are automatically protected.
Basically, this exercise is simple: who do you want, Michael Leighton or Brian Boucher?
Compare them completely and totally. I'm not going to sit here and list the different accolades because I don't want to editorialize and sway anybody in any particular direction (although, as Geoff has learned, that doesn't work that well), but you've probably made up your mind already anyway. You have a favorite. Pick him.
Pick a goalie to keep: Brian Boucher or Michael Leighton? (It's not like the other is getting taken in the draft anyway.)
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I picked Boosh...
…Only because I’m still hurting from the last goal Leighton gave up- they don’t get any weaker than that. Overall I think these two are very close, but the team doesn’t seem to score much for Boosh when he plays. Picking between these two is like choosing between getting shot or getting stabbed. Honestly, I don’t want either, but considering some of the choices homer’s made I guess it could be worse.
Always, ALWAYS, go with shot. You don’t see it coming. With a stabbing you see the blade coming at you, you see it going into you. Not cool. That’s got to be the most terrifying half second ever. I’d never want to be stabbed. Shot? Meh. If it’s for a good cause.
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by KreiderDesigns on Sep 1, 2010 8:55 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m protecting Leighton, because quite honestly, Backlund is probably better than Boucher at this point and it would not surprise me to see Boucher waived and Backlund called up during the season.
by Down Goes Spezza on Sep 1, 2010 9:01 PM EDT reply actions
I have said this many times. I don’t think it matters who is kept (probably given their ages, it makes sense to keep Leighton). Backlund will be fine in Philly next year. He will be a solid backup in the NHL who can start 25 games. I am looking forward to seeing Bobrovsky and Riopel next season in Glens Falls.
I’m all for protecting Boosh, because neither of Mirtle and Gabe are dumb enough to beleive a goalie on a hot streak can protect their new teams net. Boosh is an excellent backup, and they will be looking for that.
Backing Backlund for 2010-2011
Mourning Gagne forever.
Also, teams have to take at least 3 goalies (pretty sure I read that somewhere). In that case, Boosh is gone.
Backing Backlund for 2010-2011
Mourning Gagne forever.
Based on what they saw at the end of last year, I think Boosh getting claimed in this draft is somewhat realistic. Mirtle was surely watching when he made that insane save in that last Toronto game, too.
by DragonGirl0583 on Sep 1, 2010 11:39 PM EDT up reply actions
That’s exactly why I voted to keep Boosh. His contract is extremely friendly and expiring. Neither would be picked as their #1, so I believe Boosh would provide far more value as your backup given his contract.
Is this the right room for an argument?
My thoughts exactly. They wouldn’t pick Leighton as a backup, but they could go after Boosh. Hence why I voted for him to protect.
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I’d protect Boosh, he’s the perfect 1-A type guy to platoon with a younger goalie on an expansion team. For all we know right now, Leighton may end up replacing Jim Carey in a few hockey goalie trivia questions.
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It’s like choosing between eating that week old pizza, and then the 8 day old pizza. You’re still going to be sick, and possibly dead after using him
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by CoburnsCuddleBuddy on Sep 2, 2010 9:02 AM EDT reply actions
I picked Boosh. I feel that most other teams will value these guys the same, and surely one will be taken. I think Boosh has a better contract, and I don’t know if a lot of teams will go after Leighton with his contract. I’d rather lose Leighton than Boosh.
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Why the Boucher love?
I’m a diehard Flyer fan, but I just don’t see or understand why you would go out of your way (cap friendly or non) to protect Boucher.
Last year he was 47th (!!!) in wins with a 9-18-3 record, 30th out of 47 (who qualified with enough games/TOI) in Goals Against Avg with a 2.76 and 43rd out of 47 (again out of qualifying goalies) in save % at .899.
Is there another Boucher you’re voting for and nhl.com’s stats don’t have him?
Btw – Niemi signing for 1 year and $2M with SJ should make all of us upset. I’d rather we ponied up $2.5 and waived Boucher outright.
It’s less about Boosh love, and more about which one would be more likely to be picked up by an expansion team.
I’d respond to your stats by linking to several of Geoff’s posts, especially the one about hard luck losses, but it’ll be better if I just let Geoff respond to you.
Is this the right room for an argument?
And if it matters, I’m not a big Boosh fan (I actually complain about his game quite a bit, especially the way he challenges shooters and when he chooses to over commit to them), yet I still voted to protect him.
Is this the right room for an argument?
which one would be more likely to be picked up
Then I’d think Leighton would be more likely to be picked, so exposing Boucher isn’t a real threat. I’m not sure I know what a “hard luck” loss is. I’m sure you can explain away some losses here and there, but the truth is he is a journeyman backup goalie, not a 1 (or 1A). Don’t take my criticism of Boucher as endorsement of Lights Out Leighton. More the crankiness of an older fan at Homer’s failure to upgrade a position that is not seen as a strength on this team.
I think CoburnsCuddleBuddy summed up the issue nicely.
Leighton hasn’t been around the league, with success in as many places as Boucher. He isn’t the roundly beloved media/locker room guy that every claims Boosh is. Also, Leighton’s contract would be an albatross on an expansion team. If you’re getting a veteran voice simply to be a veteran voice, you want him to expire quickly and cheaply.
success in as many places as Boucher
I’ve no idea how to respond to this. I think he’s had success in staying in the NHL (mostly).
I was going to say, originally, relative success, but I thought “Fuck that.” Every single team that has had him has loved him. Every fanbase from teams he’s played for wish they had him. He’s the consummate professional back-up, and even if that’s not we thought he would be in 2000, that’s success.
Plus, he holds an NHL record.
Yeah, there is another Boucher we’re voting for, and you can get his stats on Nhl.com, you just have to switch the time period to “2010 Playoffs.”
Well said, the 6th out of 9 in Save % reinforces my belief that protecting Boucher is wrong. .909 to Leighton’s .916.
Which is kinda the point of goalies, to make saves.
So you are protecting a guy with 1/3 of a season of success and half a playoff run of success at the NHL level? At least you know who you are protecting in Boosh, and why he would appeal to expansion teams. I just don’t see expansion teams picking up Leighton for 2 years at $1.55 given the current market place for NHL goalies.
Is this the right room for an argument?
I’ll reply here to this whole thread, then off to lunch. This quote from the link above:
I would say he’s a backup goalie, but this is exactly my point. He’s not a starting goalie, so why does everyone expect him to play like a starter?
Man-crushin’ on Boucher since 1999
Broad Street Hockey – Makin’ it look mean since 1967.
by Geoff Detweiler
So why would I expose the guy who is/should be my starter?
B/c neither of them are true starters/ #1’s. Leighton certainly is not, and I think you feel that way judging from:
I think CoburnsCuddleBuddy summed up the issue nicely.
Referring to:
It’s like choosing between eating that week old pizza, and then the 8 day old pizza. You’re still going to be sick, and possibly dead after using him
This team was built to not depend on goaltending. I went in to this offseason being just as okay (actually more okay b/c it would save you cap room, this is a conversation at a bar with Geoff so I can’t block quote it for you) with a Boucher/Backlund tandem versus a Leighton/Boucher tandem if the team addressed their 3rd pairing. Well the team went overboard addressing the 3rd pairing, and we currently have 2 back up caliber goalies starting the season, and in theory, that should be good enough given the D in front of them. People are voting for Boucher b/c of the two, a minority of people feel he is more likely to be plucked by the expansion teams. Yet you are ignoring the fact that you are in the majority voting wise, the people posting their opinions are doing so to defend the minority position of protecting Boosh. So there isn’t all this Boosh love, just justification of supporting the minority vote.
But keep cherry picking stats, and keep reducing opposing opinions of why people feel Boosh would be picked up while Leights would be left alone by the expansion teams to simply Boosh love. That’s fine, enjoy lunch.
Is this the right room for an argument?
Ok, but you’re cherry-picking stats. (Evidence: Nine goalies played in the playoffs? Did you even process that? You were looking at the SVP leaders, and sixth ain’t bad, fella.) I can do that, too: Boucher was 2nd in playoff GAA.
Look, we know what we have in these two players. Neither is likely to be chosen, but Boucher is more likely, and there’s no reason to give him up for free?
Well,
- If you want to use stats, wins are the worst you can look at. That was shown in the article DLJr linked to. They’re crap. You can’t judge Boucher on how the team played in front of him.
- Further, there’s a huge disparity in short-handed save percentage between Leighton and Boucher. Is some of that on the goalie? Sure. Is all of it? Not even close. Leighton had an unsustainable 0.925 SHSvP last year (Only one goalie had a higher mark when facing more than 20 shots). Boucher had an unsustainably low 0.845. Seeing as how Boucher saw a grand total of 4 fewer shots, that’s huge. Is Leighton twice as good as Boucher is while shorthanded? Not at all.
- Which is why we look at even-strength save percentage instead. Boucher’s was 0.911, just behind Niklas Backstrom (0.912), tied with Martin Biron and Steve Mason, and better than Marc-Andre Fleury (.908), Ondrej Pavelec (0.908), and… drumroll… Michael Leighton (0.904).
- If you’re going to use my quote on Boucher being nothing more than a backup, explain why that’s a bad thing. Last year was the first time Leighton had a save percentage over 0.901 since his rookie year (8 games). Neither goalie is a starter, even if Holmgren is hoping Leighton is one.
- Lastly – and this was mentioned already – but who would an expansion team want: A veteran NHL-backup on an expiring contract for cheap, or a more expensive journey-man who has never shown that he can be a backup, let alone a starter? No one remembers that Michael Leighton – just last year – lost his backup job on the lowly Hurricanes to Manny Legace.
Man-crushin' on Boucher since 1999
Broad Street Hockey - Makin' it look mean since 1967.
SB Nation Philly - Associate Editor
by Geoff Detweiler on Sep 2, 2010 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions
Damn auto format doesn’t like when I double-space paragraphs. Eff it.
Man-crushin' on Boucher since 1999
Broad Street Hockey - Makin' it look mean since 1967.
SB Nation Philly - Associate Editor
by Geoff Detweiler on Sep 2, 2010 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions
Semantics here: Wouldn’t we call Boucher a journeyman, as well? He keeps filling this role on different teams, and doing it well, but never stays in the same place long.
Touche, sir. Touche.
Man-crushin' on Boucher since 1999
Broad Street Hockey - Makin' it look mean since 1967.
SB Nation Philly - Associate Editor
by Geoff Detweiler on Sep 2, 2010 1:53 PM EDT up reply actions
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