NHL goalie "win-costs"

$562,500.00

That's how much each of Nikolai Khabibulin's 12 precious Blackhawk wins have "cost" the his this year.  Contrast this with Alexander Auld, who is delivering huge value to the Canucks.  Auld's 21 wins have been a bargain at $24,428.57 each.

HockeyDirt has caluculated the "win-cost" for each of the 38 NHL goalies with twenty or more appearances.  Win-cost is determined by dividing the player's salary (as reported on NHLPA.com) by their total wins.  The average win-cost across the league is $123,545.58.

Not surprisingly, the best value is being delivered by youngsters like Auld, Antero Nittymaki in Philadelphia and Ryan Miller in Buffalo, who are establishing themselves among the next wave of elite goalies in the league.

Nikolai Khabibulin's Chicago blues have been widely reported.  The former Jet, Coyote, Lightning goalkeeper signed a 4-year deal with the Blackhawks on the heels of his Stanley Cup win in Tampa.  The $27.5 million deal made the "Bulin Wall" the highest paid goalie in the league.  GM Dale Tallon must be wondering why he gave Khabibulin the richest contract in club history because Khabibulin's been a bust in the Windy City.  In 33 games he has recorded 12 wins along with a 3.32 GAA and a porous .883 save percentage. 

While Tallon is suffering with his Khabibulin signing, his counterparts in Phoenix (Michael Barnett) and Ottawa (John Muckler) are being rewarded for taking risks on ageing veterans Curtis Joseph and Dominik Hasek. Both are ranked in the top ten in win-cost.

    "Win-Cost" for NHL Goalies*

1. ALEXANDER AULD (VAN) $24,428.57
2. ANTERO NIITTYMAKI (PHI) $25,000.00
3. RYAN MILLER (BUF) $33,440.00
4. HENRIK LUNDQVIST (NYR) $38,904.76
5. MARTIN GERBER (CAR) $42,560.00
6. CURTIS JOSEPH (PHX) $42,857.14
7. ILJA BRYZGALOV (ANA) $50,666.67
8. JUSSI MARKKANEN (EDM) $56,666.67
9. MATHIEU GARON (LAK) $57,904.76
10. DOMINIK HASEK (OTT) $58,461.54
11. JOHN GRAHAME (TBL) $61,200.00
12. MANNY LEGACE (DET) $61,200.00
13. CAM WARD (CAR) $62,181.82
14. CHRIS OSGOOD (DET) $69,230.77
15. JASON LABARBERA (LAK) $77,777.78
16. ROBERT ESCHE (PHI) $83,333.33
17. MANNY FERNANDEZ (MIN) $83,600.00
18. HANNU TOIVONEN (BOS) $90,988.89
19. TOMAS VOKOUN (NSH) $91,200.00
20. DAVID AEBISCHER (COL) $100,000.00
21. MIIKKA KIPRUSOFF (CGY) $107,407.41
22. CURTIS SANFORD (STL) $112,000.00
23. MARTY TURCO (DAL) $121,607.50
24. PASCAL LECLAIRE (CBJ) $125,400.00
25. MARC DENIS (CBJ) $139,333.33
26. MARTIN BIRON BUF $141,866.67
27. RICK DIPIETRO (NYI) $156,250.00
28. MARC-ANDRE FLEURY (PIT) $157,066.67
29. ROBERTO LUONGO (FLA) $160,000.00
30. ANDREW RAYCROFT (BOS) $192,857.14
31. MARTIN BRODEUR (NJD) $218,218.25
32. ED BELFOUR (TOR) $253,333.33
33. EVGENI NABOKOV (SJS) $258,692.31
34. JOSE THEODORE (MTL) $264,705.88
35. J GIGUERE (ANA) $285,000.00
36. DWAYNE ROLOSON (MIN) $334,400.00
37. OLAF KOLZIG (WSH) $352,857.14
38. NIKOLAI KHABIBULIN (CHI) $562,500.00

*Minimum 20 appearances.  Does not include Michael Garrett, who has made 23 starts for the Atlanta Thrashers.  Garrett is now back in the minors and his salary is not reported on NHLPA.com.

Comments

[J&A]

Thanks, MT. Rather exciting to know that the Canucks are #1 at something. Anything. We're easy.