Oh, hell yes. Today we get to review the season of that Brodeur-tyin’, Lindsay-finalizin’, Vezina-prolly-winnin’, all-star-playin’, world-cup-team-makin’, playoff-save-percentage-dominatin’, franchise-record-holdin’ bad ass Braden Holtby.
By the Numbers
| 66 | games played |
| .922 | save percentage, all situations |
| 2.20 | goals against average |
| .931 | save percentage during 5v5 |
| .982 | low-danger save percentage during 5v5 |
| .923 | medium-danger save percentage during 5v5 |
| .849 | high-danger save percentage during 5v5 |
Visualization by Hockeyviz
Peter’s Take
Wow, Braden Holtby. This season he tied Martin Brodeur’s record for most wins in a single season. He was a Ted Lindsay finalist. He’ll probably win the Vezina for the league’s best goalie.
And yet, there is still room for improvement.
Not in November or December: Holtby was virtually unbeatable then. But that pace didn’t last. By February and March, Holtby kept racking up wins despite curiously mortal performances.
But once the postseason arrived, Holtby was at his zenith again, saving 342 of 363 for an inhuman .942 all-situation save percentage, continuing a four-year streak of sublime playoff work. As far as the numbers can tell us, there is no better playoff goalie since we’ve been keeping track.
And yet Holtby’s playoff win-loss record is a sub-.500 22-24.
If we are to dismiss that stat as a reflection of Holtby’s performance, and we freaking should, then we should also dismiss Holtby’s ridiculous 48-9-7 record in the regular season. Win percentage is a team statistic that we filter by player; it doesn’t tell us anything particularly insightful about the player except how many times he got hugged after the final buzzer.
And yet, Holtby will probably win the the trophy for being the league’s best goalie this season. Was he?
No. He was not. (If you can’t find him, he’s dead center.)
It’s not like Holtby is egregiously undeserving, and his season wasn’t bad by a damn sight, but I want to make sure we calibrate this correctly, and I only do so in service of one important reason:
Because he could be even better next year.
Bring it on. 2016-17 will be the year Braden Holtby scores a goal. Take it to #thebank.
Holtbeast on RMNB
- I want to start with the moment above: the Caps embracing Holtby as he ties Martin Brodeur’s record for most wins in a season (48).
- For his part, Holtby was having none of it. Guy’s just not into back-pats. “Streaks or anything like that really make zero difference in the end,” Holtby said in January.
- Yet he had the sportsmanship to congratulate his defeated foe, his strongest competition yet. And that makes all the difference in the world.
- I remember in March I wrote a piece about how the Caps weren’t playing like a Cup caliber team anymore. People got so cranky about that post, especially on Facebook. And then Holtby said the same thing, and — wouldn’t you know it — fans hushed up pretty quick.
- Shut up and check out this pass.
- I will now tell a story in three parts.
- It’s like a gosh darn Greek tragedy. All three stories by NYT’s Chris Gordon btw. Meanwhile Ian and I were writing these two:
- ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
- Hey, how about this here save right here, ya hear?
- Hey, that was a special moment when Martin Brodeur dropped the puck for Holtby and Schneider.
- Like I said above, Holtby’s percentages dropped off a bunch after the new year. Roundabout when Holtby pulled himself out of a game for a dehydration-related, vision-impairing migraine. Woof.
- ^ That time Holtby took his mask off (during a break in play) to sing some sweet indie rock tunes.
- That is the only time Holtby is allowed to have his mask come off and I freaking mean it.
- “Biscuit Hidesby“
- Finally, and most importantly, Holtby is a good dude. The look on this kid’s face. I get it.
Your Turn
Will Holtby ever reach the top of his game? Who, if anyone, is more zen af than Braden Holtby?
And, for real, how many games should Holtby play next season? If the answer is over 62, please try again.
Read more: Japers Rink
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