So here's an article from The Hockey News about goalie Braden Holtby. Don't read the article - it is thick reading, but notice how Holtby is said to have improved his play this year.
I don't think that is true.
Braden Holtby has been solid since day one in the NHL. His numbers also reflect this.
And since his numbers are better this year and the Caps are winning more this year - it has to be something about how he is playing the game, right? I mean, that is what this article suggests.
But again, it isn't true. This Caps team, built around a very true star in Alex Ovechkin, has been good for many years. No matter the goalie. But they have also been missing some key pieces. On defense, they weren't deep. And that was killing them in tight games, especially playoff games. And when it came to scoring, Ovechkin was there but not a lot else. So, again, in the playoffs it certainly made the opponent's job easier. Put out your shutdown players against Ovechkin's line and see if the rest of the lines can beat your other lines. For the Caps, it always ended in a short playoff.
Two seasons ago, this team started re-tooling their defense - Matt Niskanen D was a good pick-up. That defensive depth can only help. Niskanen is a guy I never noticed in Dallas, however, playing fantasy hockey three seasons ago got me watching him play in Pittsburgh. He is a very good skater and has good hands and vision. This helps on both ends of the ice. Brooks Orpick adds toughness and leadership - but he is injured. The other big move is letting the powerplay quarterback Mike Green go. He was good on the offense-side of things, however, I think he gave up a lot more than he gave.
The other key moves were made this year - grabbing Justin Williams and T.J. Oshie. Not only do these guys add scoring depth, they are solid two-way players. No ice time against these two can be taken lightly.
Now you add a young guy like Evgeny Kuznetsov C. This kid is the real deal. He is smooth like Jaromir Jagr out there*. He's equaled his last season points total already - halfway through this season.
Overall, this team is a ton deeper than they have been the last few seasons.
I am confident that a lot of Holtby's better numbers are due to these additions and changes more so than Holtby's training. Holtby has always been solid. Further to equate the Caps' successes to Holtby's changes is even farther from the truth...and thus I have to say Goalies are Overrated.
* I'm not saying he is a second coming of Jagr - just he reminds me of him in moments. Maybe he is at least equal to a 43yr old Jagr :)
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