Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 

Year in Review: Braden Holtby

September 1, 2020, 3:16 PM ET [3 Comments]
Brian Sickles
Washington Capitals Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Hello,

Here is the year in review for Braden Holtby:

Player Name: Braden Holtby
Position: Goalie
Age: 30
Current contract: Pending UFA. Previous Contract = $6.1million/year
2019-2020 Record: 25-14-6
2019-2020 Regular Season Stats: SV% = .897; GAA = 3.32
2019-2020 Post Season Stats: SV% = .906; GAA = 2.49

Playing in the final year of his current contract with the team, Braden Holtby was up and down. There were some highs but certainly lots of lows. The former Vezina winner can still play at an elite level but his peak years seem to be behind him. Some nights Holtby would look lights-out. Other nights, he would let in three goals on four shots. Now to be fair, our defense didn’t always leave him in a great spot either. Either way, the inconsistency was problematic all season. With the Capitals current Cap situation and current roster depth at goalie, it is highly unlikely the team can afford to bring back Holtby.

The best part of the season for Holtby was probably his streak in November. From October 21st-November 20th, Holtby went 10-0-1 in an 11-game stretch. This was the most wins in the league during that span. While he didn’t dramatically lead in any statistical categories like SV% or GAA during that stretch, Holtby was reliable in net and did enough to win competitive games.

There is no particular “worst moment of the season” for Braden. Truth be told, the entire season was a letdown. I was expecting a huge season for Braden considering it was the final year of his contract. In addition, Sergei Bobrovsky just got paid by the Florida Panthers and both Holtby and Bob have similar career numbers. Yes, the Bob contract does look bad now. Prior to this season, it wasn’t unreasonable to think Holtby could make that sort of money on the market. However, after the year he had, I think that may be a stretch. For goalies who played a minimum of 20 games, Holtby ranked 52nd out of 57 goalies with a .897 SV%. He ranked 47th out of 57 goalies with a 3.32 GAA. His SV% and GAA average was the second worst of his career. Some deeper stats reveal he had a career worst year at even strength SV% at .883. He also had a career worst SV% when the team was on the PP at .824. I believe that is more on the offensive/defensive players putting him in a bad spot with opposing breakaways. One thing I have always been hard on Holtby about is his tendency to let in a soft goal here and there. Most goalies fall victim to it but for whatever reason it seems to happen with him more than I would like to see. Just look at game one against the Islanders in the playoffs this year. If Holtby makes that save at the end of the second, I think the Caps hold on to win game one. They likely still lose the series but its amazing with confidence and momentum can do for a team in a playoff series. On the flip side, its amazing how deflating a soft goal can be.

Looking towards the future, I believe Holtby still deserves a pay raise but with his decline in play on the ice, I am not sure he deserves top dollar. When he is on, he is one of the best goalies in the league. He currently has the 7th best SV% all-time for the playoffs. He can bring a team veteran Stanley Cup experience. He is currently the 9th highest paid goalie in the league at $6.1mil per year and I believe that $6-7millon per year is about right for the soon to be 31-year-old. I think Holtby can return to Vezina-form in the right defensive system. Not that these teams actually need a goalie, but he would thrive in a system such as Columbus or New York (Islanders). Is there a team that can actually provide that for him? I am not sure.

My prediction where he ends up: Edmonton Oilers

I hate to see a franchise guy like Holtby go. He is beloved by the fans for his play on the ice but also his involvement in the community. With many glaring needs at other parts of the roster, the Caps simply cannot afford the money he will likely ask for. Even if he had won the Vezina this year, I think the team would have pulled a Barry Trotz and let him walk. Samsonov is the future and he only costs 925K per year. There is a chance Holtby may take a one-year deal with the team at a slight discount, but I still don’t see that happening. If the time comes where Holtby leaves the team, I will do another blog commemorating his very decorated career with the Franchise. We love you Holtby!

Thanks for reading
Join the Discussion: » 3 Comments » Post New Comment
More from Brian Sickles
» Ovechkin Breaks Gordie Howe's Record for Most Goals with One Team
» WSH 1, DET 3 - Ovechkin Ties Howe in Detroit
» WSH 0, DAL 2 - Caps Blanked by Oettinger and Stars
» WSH 6, NJD 3 - Washington Capitalizes on Blackwood's Off Night
» WSH 4, LAK 3 - Caps Mount Another Third Period Comeback