Speculation vs. History.
Back then, Steve Mason was the speculation... not the history.
Bob is in the exact same position as Mason.
Big, young goalie... huge season... all the upside in the world... practically pulled the team into playoffs himself.
Bob's going to get a nice contract.
For Columbus to compete for a playoff spot, he'll have to play as well as he did this year... and next year... he's going to be getting PAID for it.
If he gets $5m/year (which he could), he'll be one of the highest paid players in the lockerroom.
People don't like it when the highest paid players aren't contributing their "worth".
THAT is where the pressure and expectations can eat him up.
Look at Jaroslav Halak... what's different about Halak now vs. Halak last year. What happened?
Goalies have this magical switch in their head than can get flipped and then performance can suffer greatly.
We don't know where that switch is with Bob... it's a big risk.
We do know where Cam Ward stands. He's a very good goalie behind a very bad defense.
Throw out Ward's past season (sample size too small).
Cam Ward has put up a .915 SV% in four straight seasons.
That's all I need to see.
Ward. is. good.
The poor GAA & low W totals are more a factor of the team's defense.
Workhorse goalie that can put up .915+ SV%.
That's solid.
That's Ward.
That's why I'd go with him over Bob.
Four proven seasons of .915+ SV%.