Blackout Dallas
Fansided

Dallas Stars’ Goaltending Decision for Expansion Draft is Complicated

By Allison Scott

Feb 28, 2017; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Stars goalie Antti Niemi (31) and goalie Kari Lehtonen (32) celebrate the win over the Pittsburgh Penguins at the American Airlines Center. The Stars defeat the Penguins 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 28, 2017; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Stars goalie Antti Niemi (31) and goalie Kari Lehtonen (32) celebrate the win over the Pittsburgh Penguins at the American Airlines Center. The Stars defeat the Penguins 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

The expansion draft is just around the corner, and the Dallas Stars have plenty of decisions left to be made. One of those is in the crease.

The month of February was atrocious for the Dallas Stars. They were falling apart in more ways than one and it might serve as the final straw in their bid for a playoff berth. However, March has had a different ring to it.

Dallas has been able to play with confidence. They have skated well and had a few quality performances in net to help boost their spirits. However, the Expansion Draft is nearing closer and closer and the Stars have to decide which Finn will be in their crease next season.

The Situation

Kari Lehtonen‘s contract expires at the end of the 2017-18 season. He currently has a cap hit of $5.9 million and there is a modified no-trade clause on his contract. However, No. 32 is still not required to be protected being that it is not a full no trade clause. Comparatively, Antti Niemi‘s contract worth $4.5 million a season and it also expires at the end of the 2017-18 season.

Dallas can only protect one goaltender and with the way the season has gone, it could be either Lehtonen or Niemi. The choice is really up in the air.

Live Feed

Toronto Maple Leafs: The Marlies Need a Goalie. But Who?
Toronto Maple Leafs: The Marlies Need a Goalie. But Who? /

Editor In Leaf

  • Pittsburgh Penguins left with few options for GoaliePens Labyrinth
  • Ice-Cold Takes Summer Tournament Final: Good dogs vs. golfingFanSided
  • Dallas Stars start free agency with a steal, sign goaltender KhudobinFanSided
  • 5 moves the Islanders can make to get back to the playoffsFanSided
  • Nashville Predators Set Franchise Record With Ninth-Straight WinPredlines

    • While the decision-making process is largely unknown in regards to how general managers determine players to protect, it can be assumed that it will largely be based on a few things. The NHL is a league centered around productivity, so the net minder Jim Nill elects to keep will likely have been the better player of the two.

    Consistency is another big influence that could determine who stays and who goes. With everything the Stars have dealt with this season, from injury to underperforming, they need a goaltender they are confident with moving forward. Despite the negative implications of this year influencing the crease as well, Dallas will need a player that can perform in net if they want to be competitive in 2017-18.

    Statistics Are Unhelpful

    Now if the performance aspect of that decision is based solely on statistics, it again depends on what is important. Niemi has a winning (11-10-4) record, but has only played in 31 games. While Lehtonen’s (16-19-6) record is through 40 games played.

    Then there’s the comparison of shots versus save percentage. Niemi has a .897 save percentage having faced 699 shots, while Lehtonen has .905 having faced 1,109. There is yet again another issue in how to determine which goaltender has been better. Although Lehtonen appears better on paper, having played more games and boasting a higher save percentage, his record is actually worse than Niemi.

    This kind of variance in the judgment of which goaltender to keep makes it so much more challenging to choose.

    Next: Win Over Caps Could Be Just What Stars Needed

    There is also the pressure of making sure the decision is right and being very aware that it could be wrong.

    When it comes to judging net minders, especially comparing them, there is a level of discretion that plays into it as well. Statistics are not everything when it comes to the crease and the Stars should avoid boiling it down to that level of simplicity.

    They have to make a decision moving forward about which Finn will be protecting the Stars’ net for at least one more season and they need to feel confident that he is the right man for the job.

    Home/Analysis