The NHL’s Metropolitan Division is loaded with goaltending talent from top to bottom.
More often than not, a team will rise and fall with the play of their starting goaltender. Each division has a unique blend of goaltenders, with some divisions having large disparities in their netminders’ talent, while others are evenly matched.
At the pause of the 2019-20 season, the Metropolitan Division featured seven teams in playoff contention. The Washington Capitals were the cream of the crop with 90 points, while the seventh-seeded New York Rangers sat just two points back of the final wild-card spot. A large reason for the divisional depth was the goaltending depth that each team possessed.
Ranking the Metropolitan Division’s goaltenders is not an easy task. No matter the list I put together, I will be slighting a goalie who would likely be higher had they played in a different division. To assist my decision making, I am utilizing these statistical categories as well as the eye test.
- GAA (Goals Against Average)
- SV% (Save Percentage)
- QS% (Quality Start Percentage)
- GSAA (Goals Saved Above Average)
- RBS (Really Bad Starts)
- HDSV% (High Danger Save Percentage)
- HDGAA (High Danger Goals Against Average)
With the parameters being set, let’s get to it.
Petr Mrazek’s numbers will never dazzle you, but he has given the Hurricanes reliable goaltending, especially when they need it the most. The 28-year old posted a 21-16-2 record last season with a GAA of 2.69 and a .905 SV%. Those numbers, albeit not terrible, were by far the most lackluster out of the Metro’s goaltending crop.
Mrazek had a 50 QS%, seven RBS, and an abysmal -5.35 GSAA. Basically, the Hurricanes netminder was not stealing games for his squad last season, something Carolina hopes to see him do more in 2021.
His high danger numbers were steady, posting an HDGAA of 1.50 and an HDSV% of .820. Despite that, Mrazek still has a lot of work to do to move up this list, but the Hurricanes are loaded, so he will have plenty of help in doing so.