Wild make Backstrom a $6-million man

I'm on the record about Wild goaltender Niklas Backstrom already, but I'm fairly sure a lot of people will be making the case that he shouldn't be paid as the fourth-best netminder in the league next season.

That's a lot of cake to tie up in a position as volatile as goaltending (especially given the cap's unlikely to go up in the next few years), and if he falters, it'll be impossible to move that deal. That said, if he can continue to post stellar numbers behind an air-tight defence, that won't matter.

It all comes down to how he performs going forward.

8 months ago James Mirtle 19 comments 0 recs |

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Here's the Hockey Wilderness take

Minnesota Wild sign Niklas Backstrom to 4 year deal.

I’m with you in thinking that the money could be better spent elsewhere, but Risebrough is betting his reputation with the Wild fans on this one.

by nathaneide on Mar 3, 2009 1:39 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I think that’s a big part of the motivation for this deal.
There’s a good chance Harding could have stepped up as the #1 and done very well, at a fraction of this price.
However Risebrough knows that he’s losing Gaborik for nothing this summer, and losing the only other superstar developed in the Wild’s system ever, would have been catastrophic.

by Habs on Mar 3, 2009 1:54 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

So is Harding getting traded now?

by Godd Till on Mar 3, 2009 2:02 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

At some point he gets moved. Either now or in the summer.

by James Mirtle on Mar 3, 2009 2:04 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Seems a good target for Toronto.

by Godd Till on Mar 3, 2009 2:06 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Absolutely it is.

by James Mirtle on Mar 3, 2009 2:09 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Any idea what his price would be?

by Godd Till on Mar 3, 2009 2:18 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

seems like a a good target for Colorado, be it by offer sheet or trade.

by thedoctor on Mar 3, 2009 2:32 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Colorado, Toronto, Washington, Philadelphia, Detroit, etc., etc. Lots of places he could theoretically wind up.

"Without good hard work, it is impossible to reach the pinnacle of success." - Anatoli Tarasov

by PRC on Mar 3, 2009 3:55 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

One thing that sets Backstrom apart from the other goalies in James’ study is winning percentage. This season is a good example: Backstrom’s 28-18-4 with .925 sv% while Harding is 2-8-1 with .931 sv%. And any Finn can tell you that winning games has been his strongest suit even when he still had more things to improve.

by Malurous on Mar 3, 2009 2:18 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

The Wild have had plenty of strong seasons under other netminders. Heck, with Backstrom as the starter this year, they’re not even currently in a playoff position.

by James Mirtle on Mar 3, 2009 2:26 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I’m not claiming anything different, and that has more to do with scoring the least goals in the conference than Backstrom’s play (I know you realize this). Heck, if Harding were getting points at the same rate, they’d be sitting fifth (I’m not taking into account the loss of points for other teams). And I’m also not claiming that he’s definitely worth this contract, as very few goalies are. I just don’t think anyone should write him off as far as elite goalies go just because he plays for the Wild, as it has seemed to me that he’s been a notch above the others. Time will tell, I guess.

by Malurous on Mar 3, 2009 2:45 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Harding’s had pretty much the worst goal support of any regular goalie in the NHL this season. I don’t think you can read anything into his win percentage compared to Backstrom’s.

by James Mirtle on Mar 3, 2009 2:48 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh, I’m definitely not blaming Harding, he’s played really well and I like the kid.

by Malurous on Mar 3, 2009 3:52 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Top Ten Cap Hits (Pre-Backstrom)

Lundqvist 6.875
Luongo 6.75
Khabibulin 6.75
Giguere 6.0
Kipper 5.833
Turco 5.7
Vokoun 5.7
Huet 5.625
Nabokov 5.375
Brodeur 5.2

(http://nhlnumbers.com/sort.php?pos=G&type=none)

"It's a great day for hockey" - BBJ

by jealous broadcaster on Mar 3, 2009 3:38 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Those are for this season. Next season’s leaders are Lundqvist, Luongo, Miller, Giguere and Backstrom. The last three are all at $6-million per. I can’t see Khabibulin getting up there again.

by James Mirtle on Mar 3, 2009 4:22 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

The reason they were so eager to tie up Backstrom at that price is not only that he is an extremely reliable goalie that provides them with a solid foundation for winning games but also because he’s a good team guy and grounded person unlike some of their other starters have been. Backstrom has also just about turned around his game in shootouts, which shows his dedication to refining his game. Nothing suggests he’s going to falter unless he starts to pick up injuries, so from that perspective the contract is unlikely to become a millstone around their cap-sensitive neck. If the cap cookie crumbles, most teams will be in trouble.

As for “air-tight defence”, the Wild is not the only team playing tight defence. A team’s systematic defensive approach would arguably reign on even strength, stats wise, so if you then look at the best penalty-killing #1 goalies by save percentage, you’ve got Rinne (35 games) at .919 leading the pack followed by Lundqvist (54) & Backstrom (51) both at .916. Naturally some teams kill penalties better than other teams (as a unit of which the goalie is a part), but penalty kill is no longer within the boundaries of the argument claiming Backstrom’s numbers to be inflated because of Lemaire’s defensive system.

by bearhunter on Mar 3, 2009 4:22 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Language Nazi

By definition, he can’t perform “going backward.” Therefore, it suffices to say: “if he can continue to post stellar numbers behind an air-tight defence,” he’ll have earned his salary.

Sorry. I hate “going forward” more than any other expression in the English language.

Well, other than “should have went,” which is a grammar issue, rather than an idiom issue.

by Dr Van Nostrum on Mar 3, 2009 5:14 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Minnesota’s defensive style makes any goalie who suits up for them less valuable, not more. Aside from the Richter/Vanbiesbrouck tandem in the ‘90s, Minnesota brought the goalie tandem into fashion with Roloson and Fernandez. They’d have been wise to continue in that mold rather than dump a ton of cap money on one guy no matter how good he may appear to be. A couple mid-level goalies would be all that team needs to get by defensively as long as they learn how to put pucks in the net on offense.

Pittsburgh Black And Gold -- So new, it still smells like paint!

by JustinM on Mar 3, 2009 6:16 PM CST reply actions 0 recs