Player Discussion Tuukka Rask - VII

[Aussie Bruin]

Yep, and I believe Bobrovsky in the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season is the only time the Vezina Trophy has been won by a goalie whose team didn't make the playoffs. If the Bruins win the Presidents' and Jennings Trophies, and Rask can keep up his current pace, then he should win.

I've seen Vasilevskiy thrown out at as the favorite (he just won the NHL.com writer poll), and while he has played 10 more games than Rask, he's got a much worse SV% and GAA.

The GMs vote for the award, and if they care about advanced stats, they'd see that Vasilevskiy has actually underperformed on his expected goals against/save percentage. I'm not going to lose my mind if Rask doesn't win it, but Vasilevskiy absolutely shouldn't.

Agreed. I think Vasilevskiy is the best goalie in the league when he's in good form - when he's on he's really on - but he struggles to sustain it and he's had a very inconsistent year. He's had a couple of runs of very poor games, and you can see that in his stats, while Rask has had the odd poor game, maybe 3 or 4 in total, but never had a bad stretch.

I find the playoffs factor interesting. There's no arguing with the past winner's list, but it doesn't seem quite fair. Imagine Rask played for the Red Wings, with the exact same performance as he's shown for the Bruins this season. Detroit's pathetic win-loss record would be better as a result, but there's no way it would propel them to a playoff spot on its own. So should Rask be discounted in this scenario simply because he plays for a bad team? It happens, and you can see why, but it's not really a fair or full assessment of everything that determines a goalie's performance.

 

[Smitty93]

Agreed. I think Vasilevskiy is the best goalie in the league when he's in good form - when he's on he's really on - but he struggles to sustain it and he's had a very inconsistent year. He's had a couple of runs of very poor games, and you can see that in his stats, while Rask has had the odd poor game, maybe 3 or 4 in total, but never had a bad stretch.

I find the playoffs factor interesting. There's no arguing with the past winner's list, but it doesn't seem quite fair. Imagine Rask played for the Red Wings, with the exact same performance as he's shown for the Bruins this season. Detroit's pathetic win-loss record would be better as a result, but there's no way it would propel them to a playoff spot on its own. So should Rask be discounted in this scenario simply because he plays for a bad team? It happens, and you can see why, but it's not really a fair or full assessment of everything that determines a goalie's performance.

Playoff factor and wins make sense when you realize it's the GMs voting for the award. The underlying stats don't matter to them if their team isn't winning.

 

[Aussie Bruin]

Playoff factor and wins make sense when you realize it's the GMs voting for the award. The underlying stats don't matter to them if their team isn't winning.

But surely the GMs can't vote for their own players? So why should it matter how their team is performing?

 

[yazmybaby]

Rask has been outstanding this year for us.
He should be in the running for some MVP votes along with Pasty.
His save pct, GAA is in the top of all goalies this year.
His won loss is 24 and 7 that is remarkable and he has 4 shutouts.

 

[Smitty93]

But surely the GMs can't vote for their own players? So why should it matter how their team is performing?

Perhaps I should have used a different word than "their". I wasn't talking about GMs voting for their own players. The point was that if a team's not winning, then a GM won't really care how well the goalie is playing. For GMs, a good performance only matters if it leads to wins.

 

[Aussie Bruin]

Perhaps I should have used a different word than "their". I wasn't talking about GMs voting for their own players. The point was that if a team's not winning, then a GM won't really care how well the goalie is playing. For GMs, a good performance only matters if it leads to wins.

Ah, got you. For sure hockey is a results business. It's also rare for a top quality goalie to get stuck for too long on a poor team, although Carey Price might like to argue that one...

 

[BruinsFanMike82]

Rask's last 16 starts:
11-4-0; 1.83 GAA; .938 Sv%

After a little bit of a slump, his last 4 starts:
3-1-0; 1.25 GAA; .953 Sv%; 2 Shutouts

 

[BigBadBruins7708]

2 U's
2 K's
2 f***ing good

 

[JAD]

Some of those saves last night reminded me of Thomas during the cup year ... just wow!

 

[BruinsFanMike82]

Unglaublicher!!

 

[Bmessy]

When his positioning is on he makes saves look effortless. Can he win the Vezina with less than 35 wins? They haven't awarded the trophy to a goalie with less than 35 in like 20 years.

 

[TwineTickler]

When his positioning is on he makes saves look effortless. Can he win the Vezina with less than 35 wins? They haven't awarded the trophy to a goalie with less than 35 in like 20 years.

Was listening to some goalie expert on Sirius NHL Network earlier today, who said he's his #2 behind Hellbuyck, but that his numbers and advanced numbers are all top 3 basically. I'm assuming his games played/wins number will hurt his chances, but make no bones about it, he's been the best goalie in the NHL this year when in net.

 

[BB88]

When his positioning is on he makes saves look effortless. Can he win the Vezina with less than 35 wins? They haven't awarded the trophy to a goalie with less than 35 in like 20 years.

If he hits 50 games played there should be no issues

 

[Dr Hook]

Unglaublicher!!

Indeed, most unglaublicher

 

[neelynugs]

Rask says he could retire after contract with Bruins expires: report

this has come up often enough to think that we'll need to find a successor soon

 

[roflstomper]

Doesn't surprise me, dude always seems like he's half interested.

 

[ON3M4N]

Doesn't surprise me, dude always seems like he's half interested.

And still has some of the best numbers all-time

 

[Skelen]

I think if he wins the cup over the next 2 seasons he calls it. Maybe he tries one more year afterwards if they don't but him coming out and saying family over hockey says a lot about where he wants to be. Love the guy and have to respect his decision, he's given them so many chances and just came up short.

 

[Krupp]

Jeez, I really hope he reconsiders; but that is me being selfish.

Bruins would have to consider shelling out for a free agent NHL starter then, wouldn't they? I doubt any of the AHL kids are ready to roll in a year or two. Swayman JUST got signed, so he needs time in the pro league below.

Either way if he made the choice to retire I'd respect it. Would just be concerning; Boston's strength is in their net and in their defense.

 

[JoeIsAStud]

This is one of the reasons I believe the Bruins need to turn to Vladar as the backup next year. They need to see what they have with him, and find out whether they believe he can be a starter in the league

 

[Prince Pasta]

think fans will appreciate rask if he retires after next season?

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

He's had a few concussions of late... it wouldn't be good for the Bruins but that might be what he needs to do for him and his family.

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

think fans will appreciate rask if he retires after next season?

Yes

 

[chizzler]

I doubt he retires. It was a casual conversation. I wouldn’t look into it too much as usual.

 

[ODAAT]

think fans will appreciate rask if he retires after next season?

don`t think so and that`s a shame.
This fan however will