Quoting: The_Rocket
Thatcher Demko was 3rd in the NHL in 5v5 save percentage last year plying behind the Canucks defence. This year he has been injured most of the season.
The idea that his contract is “risky” is insane. He is a quality starter and a good cap hit. Zaitsev is an AHL defenseman making 4.5 million
Not comparable in the slightest
https://moneypuck.com/goalies.htm
Demko was 17th in GSAx
Hopefully I won't have to explain why advanced stats and what does it means but this is the adjustment for QoT and QoC and a wide variety of factors to evaluate shot against quality.
Forsberg was 14th and Matt Murray was 18th. Having Demko wouldn't have changed anything for Ottawa last season.
This season, they could have had Gustavsson (4th) and Forsberg (9th) but Dorion gonna Dorion so he traded the 24 y/o goalie for a less talented 35 y/o UFA-to-be goalie
I am ready to take a chance on Demko based on his frame and talent level but his contract is much riskier than Zaitsev, no idea how you could think otherwise. I am goalie and I can certify that injuries are a big factor. We have no idea what the future holds for Demko
If Anton Forsberg had a 3 years at 5.0 AAV, you would say that it's a dump contract but in the reality, Forsberg has easily been better than Demko the last 2 seasons overall. He's also (knock on wood) fully healthy
I am ready to give you more insight and explanation if needed.
Quoting: athrin
much like all fans who think they will get Mcdavids and Makars for their p[layers your delusional if you think Demko is going to return anything close to what you think he is worth, G are worth the least in the NHL for the simple reason that one year they can the vezina and then suddenly be AHL quality for the remainder of their careers, nucks will be lucky to even get a first for him
The reason why goalies don't have as much value on the market as skaters is because there's only 32 starting jobs to fill. The need for a quality back-up is getting higher but still, supply and demand, exactly like the rest of the world works
The exception for goalies would be the elite ones that teams are zero interested in trading like Vasi, Sorokin or Shesterkin.