|
Cory Schneider Among NHL's Best Players In 2014-15 |
|
|
|
|
|
Follow me on Twitter @ToddCordell
Cory Schneider had a spectacular season for the Devils in 2014-15, and it goes well beyond standard stats.
Though Schneider's .925 save percentage in 69 games has garnered him a lot of praise - Carey Price was the only goaltender with a higher SV% in 60+ starts - many would argue he still wasn't worthy of a Vezina nomination (as evident by him not being a finalist).
That's not necessarily true, though.
Not only was Schneider one of the best goaltenders in hockey last year, but he was among the best players in the NHL.
According to War-On-Ice.com's Goals Above Replacement (GAR) stat - GAR factors in a bunch of numbers and estimates how many more/less goals a player accounted for or prevented relative to a replacement level player - there were just two players better than Schneider last season.
As you can see, only Carey Price and Joe Pavelski had higher GAR numbers than Schneider, and Schneider is right there with Pavelski.
Schneider is also ahead of Pekka Rinne and Devan Dubnyk, two of the three Vezina candidates, as well as Alex Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin, and almost all of the NHL's biggest stars.
He didn't get the recognition he deserved, but Schneider has developed into one of the best goaltenders in hockey, and he should continue to be moving forward.
The Devils have to be quite pleased with him signed long-term at just $6 million per.
Recent posts
Shero, Devils enter off-season with plenty of money to spend
Is Eric Gelinas off the market?
Are the Devils preparing for a rebuild?
Devils eyeing another Penguin as next head coach
On Jordin Tootoo's extension in New Jersey
Did Shero pour cold water on the possibility of trading the 6th overall pick?
On the hiring of Ray Shero
Damon Severson is really, really good
New Jersey Devils Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»