Andrei Vasilevskiy's insane season

[These Are The Days]

Is it true that he was considered as a prospect to have the potential to be the Russian equal of Carey Price?

Yikes not that much. He was just regarded as the #1 goalie prospect in the world at the time and it was generally accepted that he would retain that title for what was an indeterminable amount of time until someone else came along. Carey Price talk would've been taking it way too far. We Lightning fans just wanted him to not totally suck.

He was just regarded as a franchise goalie with a very high probability of reaching his ceiling

 

[Lshap]

I still want to see Vasilevskiy maintain this level of play through the season and, most of all, into the playoffs. Even so, I admit he's been much better than I expected. Sure, he has a good team in front of him, but as we saw last year with Tampa (and most teams), without solid goaltending even a good team won't win. It's not a coincidence that most of the top teams also have the top goalies. Vasilevskiy is a big reason Tampa's doing so well.

 

[Holymakinaw]

Vasilevsky has been amazing. I wish I had kept him in my fantasy hockey pool. I went with Jake Allen who has been good, but Vas has been better.

 

[OurlordAndSaviorKuch]

You Lightning haters need to stop with these praise threads. We are gonna get killed! We are never gonna stop being gonna get killed.

We. Are. Lousy!

Now stop these reverse jinx attempts because it's NEVER gonna work

This. Stop with the Jinx threads the first fifty didn't work.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I read somewhere Quick only faced 35+ Shots 16 times between 2014 and 2017.

People still do not get it how little quality chances the Kings have been giving up the last years. Top 3 every season since 2010 in shots against per game. His extremely low GAA is a result of that but it also affects his SV%.

I just do not get it why people keep refering to his SV% as being low. There is more to the picture. Brodeur had + .920% only three times in his career. Kings and those Devils teams played very similar.

I think Crawford deserves some praise. Never thought I would say this.

Totally agree, he's really shining, showing people why he's thought highly of rather than just being an expendable part on a near-dynasty team.

Frankly I don't think there's much separation in the top-5ish right now but I'd think for the Vezina right now it has to be Vas, Quick, Crawford. I think Quick deserves a shout out for facing so many high danger shots/chances too.

 

[SladeWilson23]

Totally agree, he's really shining, showing people why he's thought highly of rather than just being an expendable part on a near-dynasty team.

Frankly I don't think there's much separation in the top-5ish right now but I'd think for the Vezina right now it has to be Vas, Quick, Crawford. I think Quick deserves a shout out for facing so many high danger shots/chances too.

As I said, all teams both generate and allow between 9 and 13 HD chances per 60 minutes. All 31 teams are separated by only 4 HD chances per 60 minutes.

What typically separates the strong defensive teams from weaker ones isn't the quality, but the quantity. This year this really hasn't been the case as all teams are allowing 29 shots or more per game, but in years past the strongest defensive teams would allow 25-26 shots per game.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

As I said, all teams both generate and allow between 9 and 13 HD chances per 60 minutes. All 31 teams are separated by only 4 HD chances per 60 minutes.

What typically separates the strong defensive teams from weaker ones isn't the quality, but the quantity. This year this really hasn't been the case as all teams are allowing 29 shots or more per game, but in years past the strongest defensive teams would allow 25-26 shots per game.

I don't really disagree, I've been on board with you that the proportions of CA to high danger rarely get considered. I'm just pointing out--because I've seen the 'system goalie' thing a few times this year--that Chicago and LA are at 318 and 310 HDCA, near the bottom of the league. If anything, that supports what you're saying--the workload has gone up and so have Crawford and Quick's stats (rather than crumbling as has long been the suggestion).

 

[Melkor]

This opinion wont be popular but I liked Vasy way more in his junior years. He seems less aggressive and slower than he was back then. Thats just the matter of hockey taste, i believe but that the impression i get from him these days. He was quicker with the glove and more Hasek-like overall.

 

[SladeWilson23]

I don't really disagree, I've been on board with you that the proportions of CA to high danger rarely get considered. I'm just pointing out--because I've seen the 'system goalie' thing a few times this year--that Chicago and LA are at 318 and 310 HDCA, near the bottom of the league. If anything, that supports what you're saying--the workload has gone up and so have Crawford and Quick's stats (rather than crumbling as has long been the suggestion).

I wasn't trying to argue, I was just trying to add on to your point. What really grinds my gears though is when people say that shot mapping isn't the same as determining HD chances. Yes it can be true that a shot in close is not a high quality scoring chance. However it is imo never a good idea to ever let an opposing player shoot from in close no matter how well you have it defended.

 

[Beville]

Why has he got two different last names that what interests me right now...

 

[Frankie Blueberries]

Vasilevsky has been amazing. I wish I had kept him in my fantasy hockey pool. I went with Jake Allen who has been good, but Vas has been better.

I was in the same boat, except I chose Murray. God, that has not panned out so far.

 

[The Macho King]

This opinion wont be popular but I liked Vasy way more in his junior years. He seems less aggressive and slower than he was back then. Thats just the matter of hockey taste, i believe but that the impression i get from him these days. He was quicker with the glove and more Hasek-like overall.

That's just him getting better positionally. Fewer reflex saves but he's still got the athleticism when a play breaks down.

And it really shows in shootouts.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Yikes not that much. He was just regarded as the #1 goalie prospect in the world at the time and it was generally accepted that he would retain that title for what was an indeterminable amount of time until someone else came along. Carey Price talk would've been taking it way too far. We Lightning fans just wanted him to not totally suck.

He was just regarded as a franchise goalie with a very high probability of reaching his ceiling

He didn't have the hype of Price, but certainly the talent.

 

[Hint1k]

Why has he got two different last names that what interests me right now...

I am not sure to which name you made a reference, but his actual last name is Vasilevsky. That's how I spell his last name in English. While his first name is Andrey. Also he has a patronymic as all Russians do - Andreevich. Basically it means that his father first name is Andrey too.

 

[CuriousGeorge]

He's only 23 (2012 drafted like Matt Murray), which is very young for a starting goaltender. And he's currently leading the league in save %, and wins. Since last season I believe amongst all young goaltenders that he's the best, or at least tied with Matt Murray.

He's also got the pedigree of an elite goaltender
- .950 stellar WJC u20 performance
- drafted in the 1st round
- World Championships gold medal
- World Championships best goaltender
- consistent career elite #s

Do you see him beating out someone like Bobrovsky and winning the award?

Oh yeah, Peter Budaj's #s in Tampa is .867 and 3.75 GAA (almost 2 more). Far cry from his LAK .917 and 2.12 GAA

Why is your title in Russian? This is English-only forum.

 

[Ainec]

Why is your title in Russian? This is English-only forum.

not me, it was the russian bots

 

[CuriousGeorge]

not me, it was the russian bots

Do not lie to me.

 

[Beville]

I am not sure to which name you made a reference, but his actual last name is Vasilevsky. That's how I spell his last name in English. While his first name is Andrey. Also he has a patronymic as all Russians do - Andreevich. Basically it means that his father first name is Andrey too.

Well, to me, Vasilevsky isn’t like Vezinevskiy at all is it just translation?

 

[RegularSznAllStars]

That's just him getting better positionally. Fewer reflex saves but he's still got the athleticism when a play breaks down.

And it really shows in shootouts.

Visually, freaky athleticism vasy was fun to watch. As a bolts fan, it was not enjoyable. He is looking more positional, which isn’t as fun to watch, but it is him becoming a more complete goalie. He can’t just be the freak athlete with crazy reflexes to be the best in the world. He still pulls it out when he needs to be bailed out, but it is way less common these days.

 

[Vasilevskiy]

This opinion wont be popular but I liked Vasy way more in his junior years. He seems less aggressive and slower than he was back then. Thats just the matter of hockey taste, i believe but that the impression i get from him these days. He was quicker with the glove and more Hasek-like overall.

He is as quick, flexible, etc as before... Just has gotten incredibly good with his positioning and does not need to flop half of the chances as before. But will do so if needed. Not sure we will see another Hasek soon the way the Game is played.

 

[Ainec]

fixed OP and title

era and position adjusted, 19 yrs old

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

He's got all the tools and apparently the mental game as well, and on top of that he's on an elite team. I can see amazing things and wouldn't put it past him to be a generational guy; but he's still gotta get there. In this era, you need more than a stellar year or two to be considered generational, the goaltending pool is insanely deep. Only guy that's really separated himself right now in my eyes is Lundqvist (maybe Luongo too?) and that's due to longevity more than it is peak.

 

[Ainec]

He's got all the tools and apparently the mental game as well, and on top of that he's on an elite team. I can see amazing things and wouldn't put it past him to be a generational guy; but he's still gotta get there. In this era, you need more than a stellar year or two to be considered generational, the goaltending pool is insanely deep. Only guy that's really separated himself right now in my eyes is Lundqvist (maybe Luongo too?) and that's due to longevity more than it is peak.

Lundqvist would be my poster boy for best goaltender too. He has dropped off since 2 seasons ago though but even without a cup he's a hall of famer

Price had one of the most dominant seasons with his Hart victory

 

[haveandare]

I wouldn't call any goalie generational based on any one season, especially if wins is the main stat that stands out as wins is really a team stat.

Having said that, he's having an incredible season and it's worth noticing and pointing that out.

 

[JoVel]

His stats are generationally unsustainable AINEC.