Goalies are Overrated: Is it a great save if every goalie does it?

Across the board NHL goalies are all making the same saves.

Over and over there are three basic "Great Saves" and in every case, the responsibility of the shooter is ignored.

1. Skater A makes a nice pass to Skater B. Skater B has a wide open net. Goalie facing Skater A slides with pad across ice toward the post. Skater B shoots the puck on the ice toward the open net. The puck hits the pad. GREAT SAVE.

2. Skater A has time. Goalie comes out to face Skater A, pads in semi butterfly, stick and blocker ready to cover 5-hole or post and the glove wide open low above the leg pad. Skater A shoots the puck for glove side - right into the glove. Goalie slings glove in air as though he made the dazzling catch (thank Patrick Roy). GREAT SAVE.

3. Skater A has time with the puck. Goalie comes out square to Skater A. Skater A slides a pass over to Skater B. Skater B shoots ice level (and a lot of times right at the middle of the net). The Goalie slides over with his stick on the ice to block the poorly shot puck. GREAT SAVE.

I guess, no two saves are the exact same but you can group a lot of the GREAT SAVEs into these three types.

Why do I have a problem with this? The shooter's responsibility is ignored. Why is it that goalies, all goalies, make these same moves in these same situations and many times the save isn't made? Because the shooter puts the puck 10 to 12 inches high and near the post. Or even better, when a guy like Patrick Kane roofs it under the post.

Every Skater is trying to do this. Not all are as proficient. And not all Skaters are getting a clean pass and not all Skaters have the same space. There are many factors outside the goalie's control that determine whether the shot is placed well. These factors are usually ignored. And that is why I have to say Goalies are Overrated.

Twitter this guy: @GregBalloch
He does 6 saves a night maybe. Notice where the puck goes. Notice how all the goalies are making the same moves as described above.

A shooter's skill is the prime thing determining goals. And every skater takes better shots when they have time. And the shots come off with better accuracy when the passer makes a nice pass. And the defensive system and how it is executed by the players is what impacts the shooter's ability to get a shot off cleanly and a passer's ability to make a clean pass. None of this has anything to do with the goalie. But every GREAT SAVE ignores these facts and, again, that is why I have to say Goalies are Overrated.