The label “New NHL” has been in use since the lockout ended. It commonly refers to the new rules implemented by the NHL which favor an attacking brand of hockey, opening space for elite players and clamping down on hooking, holding and interference offenders. However, I’ve noticed a number of trends that could be called mutations of the new NHL. These trends seemed to have continued during the so called free agency frenzy. Having in mind the effects it could have on our Leafs, here is my take on some of these phenomena.
The first major trend seems to be that teams nowadays don’t really want to pay top dollar for goaltenders. The major feeling is that if Philadelphia and Chicago could reach the Stanley Cup Finals without having an elite netminder we can do it too. Teams are focusing on building a top blueline, speed and skill being the top requirement. Instead of having a Zdeno Chara, Chris Pronger, guys that can do it all (be it with a lack of speed) most teams elect to pay top dollar to a puck mover and also spending money for getting a solid defensive defenceman, more often even a pair of shutdown guys. Put in another puck mover, with less money and you have yourself a good defense. Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook, Niklas Hjalmarsson being the prime examples. That could stem for the fact that players of a Pronger, Weber, Chara skillset are extremely rare, but it’s also an indicator that now, more then ever, defensive depth is what wins championships. That’s why I’m glad that the Leafs stockpiled a defense with depth and wouldn’t be against Kaberle staying in Toronto. That’s highly unlikely, but even without Kaberle, I’m really happy about the group of guys patrolling the blueline. To continue with the my main point, it can be argued that a solid goaltender is required, and I would agree, but you can’t afford to pay a goaltender $7,500,000 or $5,500,000 only to have them put in a playoff performance of one Roberto Luongo or Evgeni Nabokov. Those two guys can steal games, any team would be lucky to have them, and we all saw the effect of a hot goalie when Jaroslav Halak carried the Habs to the Conference Finals on his back. That said, my view is that with a good D core, you don’t need your goaltender to steal games most nights and even a really solid goaltender like Antti Niemi, Chris Mason or Craig Anderson can win you games. Anderson’s performance throughout the season is clearly an indicator of that. He is/was getting paid $1,500,000. Chris Mason just signed a deal with the Thrashers worth $3,000,000 per season. With their performances not differing from those of elite goaltenders during the playoffs, my question is, why pay more when the result is the same? That’s the main reason high priced and quality netminders like the aforementioned Nabokov, Marty Turco are still out of a job, it’s also what puts a smile on my face when thinking about the amount of goalie depth (courtesy of excellent scouting) the Leafs have right now.
The second one is directly tied to the first. The recipe shown by Chicago, with highly skilled defencemen directly influencing attacking play by pinching in more often or frequently rushing the puck (yes Bobby Orr did it in a more perilous environment but that was Bobby Orr) made the value of a good puck moving defencemen skyrocket. That was clearly seen on July 1st, when players like Dan Hamhuis, Paul Martin, Sergei Gonchar, Toni Lydman signed lucrative multi year deals. I’m not saying they don’t deserve it, and that in the current market they aren’t worth the money, but is paying a 36 year old, oft injured Sergei Gonchar 5.5 mil. for the next 3 years a prudent move? Time will tell, but it’s funny how in a high flying hockey era defencemen seem to be reaping all the rewards. Even guys like Anton Volchenkov (I’m not bashing here, if it were me I’d give a guy like that even more dough for what he does night in and night out) and Zbynek Michalek got paid. I’m a big fan of this type of player and am really happy those guys, guys who put their body on the line every night and play against other team’s top players, got their fair value. But it left me wondering, with the current situation, what kind of price can a guy like Shea Weber negotiate? Heading into Day 3 of free agency, Kaberle’s value is bigger than ever, and I suspect Burke is weighing vastly improved offers as we speak.
Mislav “Xterratu” Jantoljak
