Niemi vs. Lehtonen

[ericdaoust]

Lehtonen is risky with his injury history but Niemi is even more risky with himself and the Sharks' older core both on thin ice.

[metaldude26]

I'm not overly confident about either of these two. Lehtonen seems to miss some time each year and Niemi now has competition. Niemi is still money during the regular season. I'd keep Niemi, bank the wins, keep ear to ground (Stalock) and look to draft KL. Keeping both is not a bad idea either. Which skaters would you consider dropping?

That whole Lehtonen is a bandaid boy needs to be put to bed. He's made 227 of 294 starts since arriving in Dallas, good for 77% of all starts, which is good for 60+ every 82-game season. He's also one of just seven goalies to have skated over 10,000 minutes in that four year span. http://stats.hockeyanalysis.com/rati...p&sortdir=DESC

[Savvy1982]

That whole Lehtonen is a bandaid boy needs to be put to bed. He's made 227 of 294 starts since arriving in Dallas, good for 77% of all starts, which is good for 60+ every 82-game season. He's also one of just seven goalies to have skated over 10,000 minutes in that four year span. http://stats.hockeyanalysis.com/rati...p&sortdir=DESC

Beat me to it.

Is there any way to get people off that list?

Or is it like a fantasy hockey sex offender registry?

[MarmotKing]

Is there any way to get people off that list?

People usually get off that list after they prove they can play full seasons for a couple years I believe.

Great insight so far guys.

[STLblues]

Lehtonen all the way here for me. I believe Niemi has always had an unspectacular 5-5 save percentage.

[petegreg21]

Lehtonen all the way here for me. I believe Niemi has always had an unspectacular 5-5 save percentage.

2013-2014 - .919
.930
.926
.931
2009-2010 - .914

First and last season are below average. The other three are good.

Just figured I'd get the numbers.

I still pick Kari!

[STLblues]

2013-2014 - .919
.930
.926
.931
2009-2010 - .914

First and last season are below average. The other three are good.

Just figured I'd get the numbers.

I still pick Kari!

Thank you good sir.....man I'm lazy sometimes....looks like I was not exactly correct though! I still vote kari though

[Big Baby]

I go with Niemi.

Every year he's undervalued and he ends up proving everybody wrong.

In a contract year and with all the scrutiny, I see him having a huge season.

Lehtonen will be solid, dont get me wrong, but i think Niemi will be better.

[petegreg21]

Thank you good sir.....man I'm lazy sometimes....looks like I was not exactly correct though! I still vote kari though

Haha I felt it was worth it to look it up myself as ES Sv% is something I look at a lot when picking my goalies. It's one of the reasons I'm not down on Holtby from last year (.928 ES Sv% if you were curious )

So I figured if I was gonna look it up for myself anyways I might as well share!

[vitun-tyhmä]

That whole Lehtonen is a bandaid boy needs to be put to bed. He's made 227 of 294 starts since arriving in Dallas, good for 77% of all starts, which is good for 60+ every 82-game season. He's also one of just seven goalies to have skated over 10,000 minutes in that four year span. http://stats.hockeyanalysis.com/rati...p&sortdir=DESC

It's remarkably persistent though, I noticed it immediately in the goalie discussions on these forums, that is the perception of him. All I can think is that a lot of people got burned by him early on and swore him off forever

[MarmotKing]

Seems like most of you likes Lehtonen... might not be a hard decision after all when I have to set my keepers... Thanks!

[Millhouse]

I go with Niemi.

Every year he's undervalued and he ends up proving everybody wrong.

In a contract year and with all the scrutiny, I see him having a huge season.

Lehtonen will be solid, dont get me wrong, but i think Niemi will be better.

I agree with your comments. Every time Niemi gets pushed, the backup can't get the job done. Griess was in the same position and is now on what his 2nd team. Until Stalock can prove he is a number one for any length of time it is Niemi's to lose. I actually do like Stalock as the future number one SJ goalie and see him taking over in 2015-16 with Niemi leaving as a UFA. And I like the UFA status as well for Niemi

[islefan31]

I think Lehtonen has become what Niemi was, a late pick solid goalie that puts up very good across the board #'s. Not a sexy name, but if you can pass on a bigger name goalie to grab a top scorer and pick him later in a draft it's a steal. If he can stay a little healthier he's a diamond in the rough. I think in your situation he's your man.

[chuckcouples]

I would go with Niemi. I am not buying all of this talk of Stalock taking over the starting role in San Jose any time soon. Stalock only started 4 of San Jose's last 19 games last year with all but one of those games being part of 2 games in 2 nights. Stalock also had the least amount of starts among all back up goaltenders last season even while he was putting up terrific numbers. Niemi is also pure gold in a wins + shutouts only league. He would have been the #1 goalie in 2013 and the #3 goalie last season.

[islefan31]

One thing to consider if your leaning towards Niemi is the media and rumor mongers tend to make more out of goalie controversy than there really is. Nearly every team will rest there #1 whenever possible unless they're being pushed for a playoff run.