Vegas Golden Knights First Half Report Cards: Goaltenders
Almost all of the Vegas Golden Knights goaltenders were outstanding when called upon in the first half.
Well, the first half of the Vegas Golden Knights inaugural campaign is in the books. The team went 29-10-2 with 60 points in 41 games played, good enough for first in the Western Conference. Even the biggest Golden Knights optimist didn’t expect these kinds of results from their favorite hockey club.
One of the biggest reasons they’re one of the best teams in the NHL is their goaltending depth. In fact, three of their top four goaltenders went down due to injury. Goaltending coach Dave Prior has done an outstanding job with all of the Vegas goalies. He prepared them for the big stage at the NHL level, and he’s doing wonders with them skill-wise.
As we hit the halfway point in the 2017-18 regular season, I will grade each Golden Knights player accordingly. Here’s how I’ll grade: Player performance, expectations coming into the season and the role the player serves. So without further ado, here are my grades for the netminders of the Vegas Golden Knights. Dylan Ferguson gets an incomplete as a grade due to only playing nine minutes.
Maxime Lagace
If you told me before the season began that Maxime Lagace would start the most games in a Vegas Golden Knights uniform, I would say we would be in last place in the west. But as a matter of fact, the Knights were just okay when he took the crease when Fleury, Subban and Dansk all went out with injuries.
In 14 games played, his record stands at 6-6-1 with a 3.79 GAA and a save percentage of .872%. Let’s take the GAA and save percentage out of the equation and focus on the record. If you’re giving the team .500 hockey back to the number four starter on the depth chart, you’re doing the job.
His numbers aren’t flashy by any stretch of the imagination, but he most certainly did the stood his ground while he was here. The team rallied around him, and he had a bunch of success in his first-ever NHL stint. The grade I’m about to give him may feel a little slanted, but without him, the Knights would’ve been in a whole world of trouble.
Grade: B-
Oscar Dansk
When general manager George McPhee signed Oscar Dansk in the offseason, I didn’t know what to expect. I knew he had a ton of potential as a second-round pick in 2012, but his performance in the minor levels haven’t been up to par. However, in the limited playing time he got, Dansk was sensational.
In four games played, Dansk went undefeated going 3-0-0 with a 1.76 GAA, a .946 save percentage and one shutout. Dansk is a battler in net and did a fantastic job before injuring himself against the Islanders in Brooklyn. In fact, the Stockholm, Sweden native did so well, he won the NHL second star of the week ending on October 30th.
I wish I could give him a better grade, but with only four games played, it’s tough to give him a high degree. But he already has shattered his expectations this year as the Golden Knights third-string goalie.
Grade: B
Malcolm Subban
Out of all the moves McPhee made in the offseason, Malcolm Subban may look like the best one of them all. Days before the regular season started, the Vegas Golden Knights claimed goalie Malcolm Subban from the Boston Bruins. Potentially acquiring the goaltender of the future for this franchise for nothing is just another reason why George McPhee is going to win the GM of the year award.
Before this season, Subban’s only NHL experience was being pulled twice in two starts while giving up six goals in 61 minutes. Boy times have changed in a heartbeat. The script flipped as soon as Subban came to Vegas, perhaps a change of scenery was all he needed.
MALCOLM SUBBAN AGAIN IN OVERTIME! SUBBAN SLIDES ACROSS TO MAKE A TREMENDOUS SAVE TO KEEP THE GAME GOING! WOW @SubbZero30, MAKING @PKSubban1 PROUD! pic.twitter.com/pL4Vcho1se
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) December 6, 2017
In 14 games played, Subban compiled an 11-2-0 record with a 2.38 GAA and a save percentage of .918%. No one thought Subban would have an NHL job this year before Vegas picked him up. He’s been incredibly productive in the starters role and as a backup.
Waiving Calvin Pickard was necessary to allow Subban to come in as the teams backup and that move has never looked better. There’s only one grade to give the Toronto, Ontario native and he rightfully deserves it.
Grade: A
Marc-Andre Fleury
Marc-Andre Fleury missed a ton of time at the beginning of the season due to a concussion, but since then, he’s come back with a vengeance. The undisputed number one has a firm grasp on the starters position despite the success from Subban. He’s showing why he’s still one of the best goaltenders in the league and he loves playing for this team.
The Flower won the NHL’s second star of the week ending on October 9th, and he’s been on a fantastic run since. Fleury is 9-2-1 with a 1.73 GAA, owns a save percentage of .945% and two shutouts. If he didn’t get injured, he could’ve been going for his first Vezina trophy of his career.
The Sorel, Quebec native has stolen quite a few games for the Golden Knights including the first two games of the regular season against the Stars and Coyotes and most recently versus the Rangers Sunday night. The Knights need him to be sharp once again when it comes time for their push to the playoffs.
Next: Vegas Golden Knights: Gerard Gallant Named Pacific Division Head Coach At All-Star Game
With a ton of experience in the postseason, Fleury would give the team a chance to win every night. He has three Stanley Cups to his name, and he wants to lead this team to their first title in franchise history. So far, so good for the 33-year old in the first half.
Grade: A+