The goalie market, like seemingly every other market this year, is really static: not a lot of teams are looking to add, though swaps are frequent within the year. What might be an interesting idea is signing Alexandar Georgiev to a 1-year deal.
Hear me out (STOP LAUGHING 😭)
The value proposition is this: in my opinion, Georgiev is probably the most underlyingly talented goalies among the set of goalies that really sucked last year. His main issue is that his style is based a lot on “feel”. If you track his stance height (how tall he is on his feet) over the course of the play, maybe only Sergei Bobrovsky comes close in terms of variation. The issue with him is that there’s not a lot of repeatability to his game. That’s something that distinguishes him from the elite Russosphere goalies — Vasilevskiy, Bobrovsky, and Shesterkin — despite having similar stylistic characteristics.
Nevertheless, from my perspective at least, there’s value in betting on this guy — not even returning to his 2022-23 or 2023-24 forms, where he posted positive GSAx’s across 60+ games — simply being better. If he is merely better, he’s a passable NHL backup.
Now, what if he’s worse? He’s waiver eligible. That’s fine (from my outsider’s perspective), because if he’s somehow just as bad or worse next season, who’s going to snap him up. He will have cemented his reputation as non-NHL quality. Now, the issue might be that you call up Greeves and he’s bad too, and Merzlinkis isn’t playing in a way where you can just bury either of them on the bench. In that case, the reality is you probably weren’t making the playoffs anyways. But if Georgiev is marginal NHL-quality, he has trade value (compare Vanecek, last season); if he can get you 30ish games of -0.1 GSAx/60, that’s worth something.
I have limited capacity to evaluate goalies so I am here for it. I am surprised that Waddell seemed so insistent on a waivers-exempt goalie over just getting a veteran that isn't that good. Seems logically fine to me, if a team wanted one of these players they probably would have signed him, no? Can't see how Blue Jackets really get pinched, I'd imagine there are some goalies moving through waivers by the time you have an appropriate sample to decide that Merzlikins and Greaves are both absolutely not working.
He really just seems to avoid the "worst-case scenario" as hard as he possibly can which is why I assume Georgiev's reputation will be avoided. Or maybe Nick Backstrom sees the same as you and thinks he can bring some calm!
The line builder tool looks like fun to play with! I first read Lafreniere as Lafferiere... was confused a few seconds. I think Seattle is happy w Kaapo Kakko. I think Kyrou was mentioned for a trade prior to his trade protection kicking in but it has now kicked in... I haven't double checkdd that . I think Doug Armstrong said in an interview weeks ago that he didn't think there'd be a lot of trades bc of teams having extra cap now. What about LDBB? I hope he gets a chance once the injuries start. I don't see you mentioning him taking any steps. Do you think he won't get called up at all? I know he'll play alot in the AHL.
Haha sorry, forgot to add the accents too which usually help me differentiate!
Kyrou keeps popping up, insiders keep saying there's going to be a ton of trades but I wonder if it's just GMs sharing information and trying to make judgements rather than a predictor of activity. Who knows.
I'm not much of a believer in LDBB. Not that I don't think he's skilled, he definitely is, but that i find it hard to believe an NHL coach is going to be eager to play him. He's not a great skater and he's not particularly strong. To me he's like a skinnier JvR without all of the experience. With more development maybe, maybe more strength? But mostly I suspect he’ll have to find an opportunity on a team that isn't trying to make the playoffs. Injuries, like you said, definitely should give him a chance and maybe he can take it and run.
The goalie market, like seemingly every other market this year, is really static: not a lot of teams are looking to add, though swaps are frequent within the year. What might be an interesting idea is signing Alexandar Georgiev to a 1-year deal.
Hear me out (STOP LAUGHING 😭)
The value proposition is this: in my opinion, Georgiev is probably the most underlyingly talented goalies among the set of goalies that really sucked last year. His main issue is that his style is based a lot on “feel”. If you track his stance height (how tall he is on his feet) over the course of the play, maybe only Sergei Bobrovsky comes close in terms of variation. The issue with him is that there’s not a lot of repeatability to his game. That’s something that distinguishes him from the elite Russosphere goalies — Vasilevskiy, Bobrovsky, and Shesterkin — despite having similar stylistic characteristics.
Nevertheless, from my perspective at least, there’s value in betting on this guy — not even returning to his 2022-23 or 2023-24 forms, where he posted positive GSAx’s across 60+ games — simply being better. If he is merely better, he’s a passable NHL backup.
Now, what if he’s worse? He’s waiver eligible. That’s fine (from my outsider’s perspective), because if he’s somehow just as bad or worse next season, who’s going to snap him up. He will have cemented his reputation as non-NHL quality. Now, the issue might be that you call up Greeves and he’s bad too, and Merzlinkis isn’t playing in a way where you can just bury either of them on the bench. In that case, the reality is you probably weren’t making the playoffs anyways. But if Georgiev is marginal NHL-quality, he has trade value (compare Vanecek, last season); if he can get you 30ish games of -0.1 GSAx/60, that’s worth something.
Just a thought.
I have limited capacity to evaluate goalies so I am here for it. I am surprised that Waddell seemed so insistent on a waivers-exempt goalie over just getting a veteran that isn't that good. Seems logically fine to me, if a team wanted one of these players they probably would have signed him, no? Can't see how Blue Jackets really get pinched, I'd imagine there are some goalies moving through waivers by the time you have an appropriate sample to decide that Merzlikins and Greaves are both absolutely not working.
He really just seems to avoid the "worst-case scenario" as hard as he possibly can which is why I assume Georgiev's reputation will be avoided. Or maybe Nick Backstrom sees the same as you and thinks he can bring some calm!
He scores a lot though and we might need goals to win games
The line builder tool looks like fun to play with! I first read Lafreniere as Lafferiere... was confused a few seconds. I think Seattle is happy w Kaapo Kakko. I think Kyrou was mentioned for a trade prior to his trade protection kicking in but it has now kicked in... I haven't double checkdd that . I think Doug Armstrong said in an interview weeks ago that he didn't think there'd be a lot of trades bc of teams having extra cap now. What about LDBB? I hope he gets a chance once the injuries start. I don't see you mentioning him taking any steps. Do you think he won't get called up at all? I know he'll play alot in the AHL.
Haha sorry, forgot to add the accents too which usually help me differentiate!
Kyrou keeps popping up, insiders keep saying there's going to be a ton of trades but I wonder if it's just GMs sharing information and trying to make judgements rather than a predictor of activity. Who knows.
I'm not much of a believer in LDBB. Not that I don't think he's skilled, he definitely is, but that i find it hard to believe an NHL coach is going to be eager to play him. He's not a great skater and he's not particularly strong. To me he's like a skinnier JvR without all of the experience. With more development maybe, maybe more strength? But mostly I suspect he’ll have to find an opportunity on a team that isn't trying to make the playoffs. Injuries, like you said, definitely should give him a chance and maybe he can take it and run.