Ranking the Most Disappointing Goaltenders in the NHL in 2013-14
NHL goalies are the last line of defense, so when they're struggling, it can be devastating to a team. Several clubs are trying to recover from bad starts, and a lot of the problems can be traced to goaltending.
For some goalies, it's a matter of bad luck or overwork, and for others, this might signal the beginning of the end for their NHL career. The good thing for all of them is there's still time.
Here are the 10 most disappointing goaltenders in the NHL this season.
10. Niklas Backstrom, Minnesota Wild
1 of 10
The Expectation
The Minnesota Wild expected more from their franchise goaltender this year. Niklas Backstrom is 35 years old and certainly on the back side of his career, but the Wild projected him as their starter for 2013-14.
What's Being Delivered
Backstrom suffered a concussion and has taken a long time to get back to previous levels. His current statistics (12 games played, 2.93 goals-against average and .900 save percentage) are well off the mark, and the club has been using Josh Harding (25 games played, 1.52 goals-against average and .938 save percentage) as its starter and having great success.
2013-14 Outlook
Backstrom is signed to a reasonable contract through the summer of 2016, and Minnesota is hoping he'll correct this start and flourish this season. The early-season performance is cause for concern, and his falling numbers over many seasons suggest this may be his final NHL contract.
9. Vitkor Fasth, Anaheim Ducks
2 of 10
The Expectation
After outplaying incumbent Jonas Hiller head-to-head last season, the expectation of Viktor Fasth involved a step up and possibly filling the starting role for the rest of the decade.
What's Being Delivered
Fasth has been ineffective (five games played, 2.95 goals-against average and .885 save percentage) and is now on the injured list with muscle inflammation.
2013-14 Outlook
The Anaheim Ducks have all kinds of options for their future in goal, but Fasth looked very good in his NHL debut, and they will no doubt give him every opportunity to regain his previous form. He should return to action after Christmas and get a chance to win back the starting job in Anaheim.
8. Craig Anderson, Ottawa Senators
3 of 10
The Expectation
The Ottawa Senators expected another stellar season of elite goaltending. The only question mark surrounding Craig Anderson entering the season was health. His play since coming to Ottawa has been exemplary, and he was in the conversation for the U.S. Olympic team entering the season.
What's Being Delivered
Anderson has struggled a great deal this season and is one of the reasons why the Senators are outside the playoffs currently. His numbers (22 games played, 3.36 goals-against average and .898 save percentage) are shocking compared to his previous Ottawa seasons.
2013-14 Outlook
The Senators have been very patient with him and clearly want him to be their starter, but they do have a legitimate option in Robin Lehner, who is outplaying Anderson this year. This could be a period of transition for Ottawa, and Lehner is poised to take the No. 1 job soon.
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7. Sergei Bobrovsky, Columbus Blue Jackets
4 of 10
The Expectation
No one expected Sergei Bobrovsky to repeat his Vezina Trophy season of 2012-13, but the Columbus Blue Jackets badly needed league-average or better goaltending from the Russian.
What's Being Delivered
Bobrovsky is off the pace (23 games played, 2.72 goals-against average and .909 save percentage), and the Blue Jackets are outside the playoffs. Their move to the Eastern Conference was supposed to make things easier, but so far, it hasn't worked out that way.
2013-14 Outlook
Bobrovsky doesn't have to return to last season's eye-popping totals, but it's important that he deliver a quality second half for Columbus. At this point, that short two-year deal the Jackets signed with him looks like a wise decision. The Blue Jackets are a team poised to move to the next level and will need a strong starting goaltender to make it happen.
6. Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles Kings
5 of 10
The Expectation
The Los Angeles Kings have enjoyed strong goaltending from Jonathan Quick since he arrived as the starter, but his regular season in 2012-13 was average. Although he rebounded with a strong playoffs in the spring, the Kings needed him to return to previous levels.
What's Being Delivered
Quick has battled injuries and hasn't been good enough (16 games played, 2.35 goals-against average and .905 save percentage) so far this year. Added to his 2012-13 season, there's some cause for concern, although the acquisition of Ben Scrivens and the emergence of Martin Jones leave the Kings less vulnerable.
2013-14 Outlook
Quick is the franchise goalie. Los Angeles isn't going to step away from him. However, the presence of Scrivens and Jones means there's internal options should things continue. He was recently moved to long-term injured reserve but should be ready for the Olympics. After that, the Kings will place him in the starting role and give Quick plenty of time to get things right before the playoffs.
5. Jacob Markstrom, Florida Panthers
6 of 10
The Expectation
The Florida Panthers regarded Jacob Markstrom as their potential starter for years to come, even after a poor 2012-13 season. Most observers thought he would be the starting goaltender for Florida in 2013-14.
What's Being Delivered
The late signing of Tim Thomas, a demotion to the minors to get his confidence back and a disappointing NHL performance so far (11 games played, 3.36 goals-against average and .877 save percentage) have the entire hockey world wondering if Markstrom will ever deliver on the early promise.
2013-14 Outlook
There are a precious few prospects who develop in a straight line, and most have ups and downs along the way. However, Markstrom has been a high-calibre prospect for some time now and isn't delivering. The rest of this season will be very important to his Florida future.
4. Cam Ward, Carolina Hurricanes
7 of 10
The Expectation
The Carolina Hurricanes expected Cam Ward to rebound from the 2012-13 season when he played in only 17 of 48 games. He has played most of the Hurricanes' games going back several seasons.
What's Being Delivered
Ward's season is well-below league average (16 games played, 3.04 goals-against average and .901 save percentage) and pales in comparison to teammate Justin Peters (16 games played, 2.23 goals-against average and .925 save percentage), who appears to be taking over the starting job.
2013-14 Outlook
The Hurricanes and Ward have a lot invested in each other, and both sides will no doubt want to get things back on the right track. The pressure is mounting, as Carolina is in the playoff hunt and victories have been in short supply when Ward starts (five wins in 15 results).
3. Evgeni Nabokov, New York Islanders
8 of 10
The Expectation
Evgeni Nabokov played in 41 of 48 games for the New York Islanders in 2012-13, finishing among the league leaders in total games and minutes. The Islanders were counting on him to supply solid goaltending this season while taking on a similar workload.
What's Being Delivered
This has been a subpar season by his own standards. Nabokov's save percentage is .892 currently, his worst performance since 2005-06. He has suffered neck and groin injuries, and at 38 years old, this might be the end of the line.
2013-14 Outlook
Nabokov is lucky because the Islanders don't have an established option to replace him and seem hesitant to make a trade for immediate help. When he's healthy and ready to perform, chances are the Islanders will give him the job in the hopes he grabs it and flourishes as he did last season.
2. Devan Dubnyk, Edmonton Oilers
9 of 10
The Expectation
General manager Craig MacTavish stated before training camp that Devan Dubnyk was the No. 1 goalie for the season, but there were still some questions about him. This season would be devoted to finding out if Dubnyk would be the goaltender for the run-and-gun Edmonton Oilers for the rest of the decade.
What's Being Delivered
The results are in, and they are not good. Dubnyk has played in 27 games this season, with a 3.39 goals-against average and an .891 save percentage. The early-season derailment of the Oilers' playoff chances can be directly linked to several weak performances by Dubnyk.
2013-14 Outlook
It's difficult to create a scenario in which Dubnyk plays well enough to restore his reputation with Oilers management. They invested this season in him. It's doubtful they'll do it again.
1. Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils
10 of 10
The Expectation
Martin Brodeur has been below-average as an NHL goalie for some time now, and with the acquisition of Cory Schneider in the offseason, there was an expectation that Brodeur would see his workload decrease.
What's Being Delivered
Brodeur's skills continue to erode, but he inexplicably remains the starting goalie for the New Jersey Devils. His numbers (19 games played, 2.44 goals-against and .898 save percentage) are inferior to Schneider's (16 games played, 1.97 goals-against average and .917 save percentage) in all ways. Considering the Devils are in a tight race for a playoff spot, this is curious behavior by them.
2013-14 Outlook
The Devils are a good hockey club by any measure—certainly better than their current record. They will reduce Brodeur's playing time and give it to Schneider as the season rolls along. Barring injury, it's clear the better goalie is Schneider, and he gives the Devils their best chance at victory.
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