When the Toronto Maple Leafs signed veteran netminder Sergei Bobrovsky to a three-year, $21 million contract, fans and pundits were right to question the move.
Much of the initial reaction called the move an overpay. And it’s hard to agree. The Leafs splurged on a 38-year-old goalie coming off one of the worst seasons in his career. Toronto not only capitulated to Bobrovsky’s demands, but also gave him a full no-movement clause.
Well, a recent study discussed by Anna Ryan of Casino Guru News now proves what everyone already knew. Bobrovsky is overpaid. But not just overpaid. The study revealed that “Bob” is the fifth-highest overpaid player in the league.
The study took Hockey Reference’s Point Shares and compared it to players’ cap hits. From there, the calculations returned the best contracts, and the worst. The data revealed that Jonathan Huberdeau of the Calgary Flames is the most overpaid player in the NHL, racking up a score of 88/100.
That shouldn’t be a surprise. And it shouldn’t be a surprise that Bobrovsky ranked fifth with a score of 73/100.
The study points to Bobrovsky surrendering 156 goals in 52 games last season as the biggest factor for the ranking. Those numbers, compared to his $7 million cap hit, put the Maple Leafs starting goalie in a tough spot.
Can Bobrovsky justify deal for Maple Leafs?
There is a simple question most fans and pundits are asking: Can Bobrovsky justify his deal for the Maple Leafs?
A quick answer is yes. The Russian goalie can prove everyone wrong by having a season more in line with his track record.
The broader answer, however, is murkier. A lot of Bobrovsky’s success this upcoming season will depend on the team in front of him. If the Leafs can resemble a solid defensive team, Bob should have no trouble in adjusting to his new team.
But if the game plan is to throw him into the fire, Bobrovsky may not be quite what everyone expected. If he falls short of expectations, things could get very dicey for the Leafs.
What happens if things go south?
Let’s assume a worst-case scenario for a moment. Let’s assume that this season proves once and for all that Bobrovsky has nothing left in the tank. Last season was just a harbinger of what’s to come. The Panthers knew it, and that’s why they let him go.
If that’s the case, the Leafs will be under enormous pressure to find a solution to the issues in the crease. Toronto won’t be able to trade Bobrovsky. After all, that was the whole point of the no-trade clause.
The backlash hitting the organization could be so bad, that John Chayka will have to pull a rabbit out of a hat in order to salvage the Maple Leafs’ season.
Let’s just hope if doesn’t get to that. The Maple Leafs only need reliable goaltending moving forward. If they can get upwards of 50 games from Bobrovsky this upcoming season, the club will be a good sport to get back into the playoff hunt. Of course, that’s assuming everything else goes according to plan.
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