Paying younger players can work to gain value before they hit unrestricted free agency. These are just a few stories of those that exceeded projections.
Today, the spotlight focuses on the goalies and we fire it up with a value sure to impress.
The Best Long-Term Value Goalies
Andrei Vasilevskiy — Tampa Bay Lightning
Vasilevskiy brings versatility and the ability to make the easy and difficult saves alike. Tampa Bay plays at a pace where they will allow shots and quality chances in bunches. Tampa is capable of scoring nearly four goals a game most nights. The Tampa goalie holds the fort often and makes some incredulous saves.
The goalie signed a three-year, $10.5 million contract last summer – a $3.5 million AAV. This came after a solid 2016-17 season where the goaltender took over the starting position and ran with it late. His record was not great but the underlying numbers improved.
Estimating his worth is not as easy as it looks. Even Louis Domingue won 16 games in 20 starts despite a .905 save percentage and goals against of 2.99. That is mind boggling. It illustrates how excellent the Tampa Bay offense is.
Let’s add a few more numbers to the mix. He has 18 wins in 25 decisions. The .922 save percentage and highlight reel saves are very good. However, it is the penalty kill save percentage of .915 that blows minds across the league. Two years ago, Vasilevskiy was near a .900 in that category just about all season. The bottom line is the goaltender wins a ton and can play well in chaotic high-event hockey. His value his double his contract at least plus Vasilevskiy is just 24.
Matt Murray — Pittsburgh Penguins
Now, the debate amplifies several notches. Murray waltzed in and helped win two Stanley Cups in his first two seasons. That raises the bar after a hell of a start. It was known Pittsburgh would give him a nice bridge deal.
The goalie inked a three-year, $11.25 million after the Stanley Cups. Last year became quite a downturn for the goalie but he did help lead Pittsburgh to the second round where they fell to the eventual Stanley Cup Champions. Washington winning had to sting Murray a little along with Pittsburgh.
At any rate, the peripherals took a sizable dip. Then, there was the start to this season where some even questioned whether Murray was starter caliber. Injuries played a role but mentally, his confidence was not there. On the other hand, he finally got healthy and the results are more like what we have come to expect. Nine straight wins, two shutouts, and all of them quality starts to boot. Murray righted his ship and so has Pittsburgh proving his value once more.
Murray has one more year on this current deal and then it is decision time for Pittsburgh. The body of work says to extend him but to how much? Consider the cheapness of this bridge deal given the two Stanley Cups. It plays a role no matter what any pundit says.
Juuse Saros — Nashville Predators
Saros signed a three-year, $1.5 million AAV deal just before this season. It is hard to believe the goalie won 31 games in 57 starts coming into this year and yet has this team friendly of a deal. Rinne plays less and less which helps Saros gain more and more value. Saros remains on pace to play in at least 30 games. That is immense value.
Saros has seen his numbers slide a bit in the first half this year but the first two years and recent performances indicate this is temporary. Saros yielded just three goals in his previous four starts including a shutout. Nashville is in good hands with this 23-year-old goaltender.
Nashville helped themselves with several team friendly deals but the Saros one may prove to be the one short term for the Predators. Potentially, Saros could be a 1A, even starter, during the last year of this deal. It is rare to lock up a goalie of this caliber, albeit a backup, to this kind of contract. Nashville’s goalie of the future will get his dollars eventually.
Best NHL Contracts: Bang For The Buck – RFA Best Values For West Defensemen
