An Idea About Vitek Vanecek

I've heard WSH fans saying they'd want an exempt RD prospect plus 2nd rounder for Vanecek in return. Think a RD prospect, two seconds and a third is a hefty price for a first rounder. Think you could cut down one of the picks WSH is giving up or potentially EDM has to add something.

That being said, Vanecek to EDM as an idea is solid. Vanecek-Smith sounds like a good tandem.

1. Many appealling exposed Dman in Washington
2. Vanecek track record is too small and his potential limited.
3. Allen will be a far better option for a backup goalie.

All this to say that I dont think Washington should be stressed of loosing him. IMO they would even be happy, since a backup is way easier to replace than a roster player.

Value wise, goalies usually fetch a midround first. I would get rid of the 2nd to make it fair.

But he's not a backup goalie; that's the whole point. He was 9th in the league in starts but 7th in wins (which means he played above expectations), 18th in save percentage (0.908) and 15th in GAA (2.69); those stats are better than more than half of the starting goalies in the league. Now if you want to argue that one year is too small a sample to make a final determination on his future, fine; but characterizing him as only a backup is both premature and contra-factual.

To be fair he would've been a backup had Samsonov been healthy. He wasn't even a NHL goalie before this year, he was the 4th goalie behind Samsonov, Lundqvist and Copley in WSH. He made it to a starter with a stroke of luck in a sense.

I see lots of similarities in between Vanecek in 2020-21 and Peter Budaj in 2016-17. He didn't play many, if any games in the season(s) before that, but with injuries LA had no choice but to use him, and to everyone's surprise he played extremely well. But that didn't make Budaj a starter. He was traded to a contender afterwards, which ultimately lead his career to an end.

Not saying that Vanecek shares the same value as he's definitely younger than Budaj was and carries more potential and a better contract. But I would say it's premature to call him a starting goalie. Solid 2G with extremely desirable contract, but an established starter...wouldn't buy him as one just yet.

Fair points. But I wouldn't call Sebastian Cossa a starter yet, either, and he won't see the NHL until 2023-2024 at the earliest.