Saturday, January 27, 2007

Martin Brodeur – Vezina Trophy Winner

Martin Brodeur won his first Vezina trophy in 2003. There was generally described in the media as well-deserved and “long overdue”. In 2004, he won again for the second straight year.

Alan Ryder of Hockey Analytics did an interesting and in-depth study on goaltending performance from those two seasons. His conclusion: "He [Brodeur] still plays behind the league's best defense and he still doesn't deserve the Vezina."

In 2002-03, Florida gave up the 2nd most shots in the league, and according to Ryder also allowed the most dangerous scoring chances of any team. Luongo stopped 91.8% of the shots he faced to rank among the best goalies in the league.

In startling contrast, New Jersey gave up the fewest shots and least dangerous chances. Despite facing fewer and easier shots, Brodeur's save percentage (91.4%) was worse than Luongo's. After being adjusted for difficulty, his performance was ranked by Ryder as essentially league-average. Nevertheless, this average performance was good enough for recognition as the most outstanding goaltender of 2002-03.

In 2003-04, Roberto Luongo had one of the best goaltending seasons ever, despite Florida being the worst team in the NHL by far in shots against. Ryder measures his performance as being worth 35 points in the standings to Florida, which nevertheless was so bad that the team missed the playoffs. Luongo’s save percentage, after being adjusted for shot difficulty, was .931.

New Jersey allowed the fewest shots and the least dangerous scoring chances in the league, despite their slightly above league average goaltending. Brodeur’s shot-quality neutral save percentage was .909, which failed to crack the top 15 in the NHL.

Luongo was blamed for his defence’s shortcomings (and Florida's lack of offence), while Brodeur got all the credit for his team’s excellence. The Vezina, yet again, went to Martin Brodeur.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Martin Brodeur had one of the greatest goaltending seasons in NHL history in 2006-2007. He broke the single season NHL win record, naturally leading the league in wins in the process. He was also tops in shutouts, total saves, games played and total ice time.

He ranked in the top 3 in every major goaltending category: wins, shots faced, saves, Goals Against Average, Save Percentage and shutouts. His total ice time and games started (78 Regular season and 11 playoffs) is an undeniable indication of his remarkable durability at age 35.

Say whatever you want about the past, but this season he rightfully earned the Vezina Trophy as the league's top netminder. Deservedly, he was officially named the Vezina trophy award winner for the third time in his career.

You can continue to sit behind the wheel of this abrogating website while Marty continues to move up the record books.

Anonymous said...

brodeur definately deserved it, the team sucked this year, and his defenseman are definately not as good as years past (stevens, niedermayer).

Anonymous said...

First of all, very interesting websites. Before I start to write I'd like to say that I'm a fan of Roy and think he's the best ever. I acknowledge Brodeur is a top goalie. Living in Finland, Kipper is obviously my fav goalie currently.

I would like to quote the Anonymous: "He was also tops in shutouts, total saves, games played and total ice time." I personally feel that shutouts, total saves, games played and total ice teams means jack shit when deciding the _best_ goalie. GAA and Save% are the important statistics here. I would also like Winning% so we could forget the not so important 'games won'. One should also take into account the team and division a goalie plays.

As for the Vezina winner. It definitely should have gone to Luongo. Brodeur winning again is so tired. One should expect him to win shutouts, total saves, games played and total ice time if he was to play ~80 games. If you look at Vancouver with and without Luongo, they improved dramatically, winning their division. This had more than anything to do with Luongo. And Luongo's stats back this up (2.29, .921). Brodeur also benefitted from the fact that Eastern conference is weaker than the Western - like it or not.

Anonymous said...

In response to the last poster who said Luongo was more deserving than Brodeur. Your exact words were "GAA and Save% are the important statistic here."

If that's how you want to look at it, then Brodeur still deserves it over Luongo, because Marty had a GAA of 2.18 while Luongo had a GAA of 2.28. Brodeur also had a better save% than Luongo. Marty's was .922 and Luongo's was .921.

So basically, you contradicted yourself. Based off the stat categories you called "important," Brodeur was more deserving.

Keep trying though....

Anonymous said...

He also stated that Brodeur was in a FAR easier conference than Luongo if you had read his entire statement.

Anonymous said...

hey,anonymous ever use something called google? and if you do in 2005 they said that brodeur was overrated and luongo had way more fans than the "so called" best goalie,brodeur.Also look at this season. luongo already has 5 shutouta and brodeur only has i think 1 so shut up.

Anonymous said...

Brodeur is going to be the all time wins and shutout leader for career passing roy so stop trying to say anything stupid brodeur is the best!!!!!

Anonymous said...

To the anonymous person who is trying, but sadly failing, to defend Brodeur... Luongo is obviously better than Brodeur. If you actually listed to what everyone here was saying, you'd realize that they were right about everything. Did you not see that game... Luongo vs Brodeur where Luongo shutout Brodeur 5-0? You know that they're right that Luongo plays in a way harder conference and Brodeur plays with way better defence, actually a way better team. Have Brodeur and Luongo switch teams and Luongo's stats would be even more amazing then they already are, while Brodeur's would suffer a lot.

Anonymous said...

I meant to say listened*

Anonymous said...

It's funny how he can back up what he's saying, but all you have to say is "shut up you ass" mhmm real mature, people are sure going to take you serious. Plus, Brodeur's defence aren't near as bad as Luongo's. Try playing with AHL players. I agree that Luongo has not been playing his normal amazing self, but you have to take into account a lot of things, like all the injuries, he has AHL defence players, plus not just stuff on the ice, but probably his family situation right now. His wife had complications with her pregnancy so she moved down to Florida. He's only seen his wife during the all star break and the game right after the all star break. Plus just the excitement of having his first kid. Look at him tonight with his 49 saves, I think he's getting back to normal.

uncle kurtis said...

awww, luongo has had some family trouble? that's some really tragic stuff.
anyone remember when brodeur went through a divorce, then won the STANLEY CUP?. to use knocking someone up as an excuse for not playing up to par is a little pathetic.
when you look at the big picture, it's stats like stanley cups (brodeur had 2 by the time he was luongo's age), vezinas, wins, and even olympic medals that account for a goalies greatness. luongo actually has none of the above. you can blame his team/division/family all you want, but anyone who really knows hockey just isn't going to take excuses like that.

Anonymous said...

NJ hasent employeed the trap since the Lemaire days, Brodeurs defensemen arent what they used to be. Brodeur is the best goalie ever, PERIOD. Get over it.

Anonymous said...

Well, well, well! Gee who won the Vezina (again!) this year?? Only the best goalie in the NHL. Say what you want about Luongo, he just wasn't up to the standard of Brodeur this year. With an aging defence, Brodeur almost single-handedly dragged the Devils into the playoffs. Stats and history will say that Brodeur is currently and will be the best ever. Roy is the greates, Brodeur is wel and trunly his equal!!!

Anonymous said...

This has to be the dumbest blogspot i've ever had the misfortune to stumble upon. A BUNCH OF Luongo whiners, and Roy fanatics aboard? Here's a shutout total for Roberto: 3. That's the number Brodeur put up...in a single Stanley Cup series. He has as many Stanley Cup Championships as Roy does, has played at a consistently high level for well over a decade, and is a generally good all around guy to boot. Wtf has Luongo done? Collected fans who make excuses for this clown's repeated epic failures to win uh, anything? When this guy can sniff regular playoff contention, let's talk. Oh, btw, if you're going to use Roy as some kind of defense, he didn't exactly play on scrub squads either on the way to the top.

Anonymous said...

Im superpissedoff that Brodeur won the Vezina-trophy in 2008, when Nabokov clearly should have been the winner.

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