Leighton vs Boucher: why is that 'bad'?

by Hawerchuk on Mar 21, 2010 2:21 PM EDT

From the ESPN trade rumors, on the subject of Philadelphia acquiring Tim Thomas:

"The Flyers lost Ray Emery to a potentially career-threatening injury and, now, they're without Michael Leighton for the season. So it's Brian Boucher all the way. That's bad."

Really? Is Michael Leighton *that* much better than Brian Boucher?

Leighton	SH	SV	SV%
Pre-Lockout	1228	1108	902
Post-Lockout	1586	1430	902

Boucher	SH	SV	SV%
Pre-Lockout	4766	4293	901
Post-Lockout	2017	1807	896

Let's assume that their respective save percentages since the lockout are accurate reflections of their true talent. Then the difference between them is one goal every five games or so, or approximately one win every 30. The difference in skill between the two goalies is so small that it will be swamped by luck, and Boucher could very well rattle off a .917 save percentage like he did last year. Let's not overstate the difference between two below-average goaltenders.

Tweet Comment 9 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Leighton also has pretty good numbers from the AHL that have to count for something, but yeah, you’re basically correct, it’s so close to a wash as to be meaningless.

by Tom Awad on Mar 21, 2010 7:49 PM EDT reply actions

You’re right; but, still, I bet Philly wish they went out and got a goalie now.

by Leajjes on Mar 21, 2010 8:48 PM EDT reply actions

Well, and let’s be reasonable on another point…Leighton and Boucher are really not much worse than Emery.

Bettman's Nightmare: A Blog Where Hockey Aficionados Dismantle That Mighty Empire, One Balsillie at a Time

http://bettmansnightmare.blogspot.com/

by Bettman's Nightmare on Mar 21, 2010 10:01 PM EDT reply actions

Probably 2 wins

by Hawerchuk on Mar 21, 2010 11:33 PM EDT up reply actions

To be fair, the comparison was “Leighton+Boucher vs Boucher” and you were comparing “Leighton vs Boucher”.

Having Leighton instead of Boucher may be 1 win in 30 games, but if you have both and one is struggling you can switch to the other. Now it’s Boucher or not, struggles or no.

by Rob Vollman on Mar 22, 2010 10:20 AM EDT reply actions

But what’s an AHL goalie’s skill level? .890? Leighton and Boucher are both pretty bad; the gap between them is small; and the gap between them and replacement isn’t much bigger. Plus, Boucher is just as likely as any other goalie to get “hot”

by Hawerchuk on Mar 22, 2010 12:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Well, right now their backup is an ECHL goalie, not an AHL one, so it really is Leighton and Boucher vs. just Boucher. It’s generally good practice to have better options at your disposal. Boucher is just as likely to get ‘hot’ as any other goalie, but is Jeremy Duchesne or Johan Backlund?

Maybe Backlund does, he was an Elitseren starter for several years and probably comparable to career NHL backups like Boucher and Leighton. But even he’s injured right now from what I understand.

Hockey blogging can't get any flatter.

by saskhab on Mar 22, 2010 1:47 PM EDT up reply actions

It completely astounds me that Philly hasn’t come close to addressing their hole in goal for as long as I can remember.

The New Improved Avalanche. Now with Real Coaches!
Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time

by Jibblescribbits on Mar 22, 2010 11:04 AM EDT reply actions

Perhaps the Flyers should attempt the “Surprise Rookie Goaltender” if they make the playoffs. It’d get the entire Flyers management fired if it didn’t work, but who says that’d be a bad thing?

Bettman's Nightmare: A Blog Where Hockey Aficionados Dismantle That Mighty Empire, One Balsillie at a Time

http://bettmansnightmare.blogspot.com/

by Bettman's Nightmare on Mar 22, 2010 3:05 PM EDT reply actions