If goalies are so great, why doesn't that show up in the free agent contracts like starting pitchers and quarterbacks in those sports?

The difference an elite goalie makes to the success of your team vs an average one isn't enough to use extra cap space on them. It comes down to average cost per position and how you allocate it.

 

The best goalie in the league isn't going to drag a crap ass team into the playoffs but a league average one can with a good enough team around him.

 

If goalies are so great, why doesn't that show up in the free agent contracts like starting pitchers and quarterbacks in those sports?

Most starting goalies in the NHL get 4-5 mill a season. Lundqvist for the Rangers is the peak at 8.5 good for the 10th highest paid player in the league.

 

Quite frankly I don't remember any recent elite goalie that made it to free agency to be honest. Most are drafted and locked into long term deals, or acquired through trade. 

1. There are more "good" goalies than bad, relative to "good" QBs, SPs in their respective market. 

2. It does (?)

3. Money's not huge in hockey, and the goalie wears a mask over his face and competes in a niche sport.

1. How is that possible if the athletic demands on goalies are higher than for quarterbacks or starting pitchers?

2. The highest paid player in the NHL is Sidney Crosby, a center, at $16.5m, almost double the highest paid goalie, Henrik Lundqvist. Of the top 10 highest paid players in the NHl none are goalies. In baseball or football, starting pitchers and QBs dominate the highest paid salaries.

3. Yes.

The difference an elite goalie makes to the success of your team vs an average one isn't enough to use extra cap space on them. It comes down to average cost per position and how you allocate it.

 

The best goalie in the league isn't going to drag a crap ass team into the playoffs but a league average one can with a good enough team around him.

I'll buy that.

 

What I won't buy is "No position in sports allows you to dominate in quite the same way as a freaky elite goalie."

 

1. How is that possible if the athletic demands on goalies are higher than for quarterbacks or starting pitchers?
2. The highest paid player in the NHL is Sidney Crosby, a center, at $16.5m, almost double the highest paid goalie, Henrik Lundqvist. Of the top 10 highest paid players in the NHl none are goalies. In baseball or football, starting pitchers and QBs dominate the highest paid salaries.
3. Yes.

Where'd you get $16.5 mill? 

http://www.spotrac.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/sidney-crosby/ 

 

1. How is that possible if the athletic demands on goalies are higher than for quarterbacks or starting pitchers?
2. The highest paid player in the NHL is Sidney Crosby, a center, at $16.5m, almost double the highest paid goalie, Henrik Lundqvist. Of the top 10 highest paid players in the NHl none are goalies. In baseball or football, starting pitchers and QBs dominate the highest paid salaries.
3. Yes.

Again, I don't necessarily think hockey goalies are top dog. Just kind of explaining why their salaries are dwarfed by that of an NFL quarterback. And, I do think there is something to number 3. 

Where'd you get $16.5 mill? 

 

http://www.spotrac.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/sidney-crosby/ 

http://sporteology.com/top-10-highest-paid-ice-hockey-players-2016/

 

Yeah I should have read better, its 12 with 4 mil off ice.

 

Point stands, although weakened a bit.

Anyway, when I really think about it, I'd have to say Olympic Volleyball.

I'll buy that.

 

What I won't buy is "No position in sports allows you to dominate in quite the same way as a freaky elite goalie."

I think it's more a matter of the difference a hot one can make in a small sample, like a playoff series.

 

I'll buy that.

What I won't buy is "No position in sports allows you to dominate in quite the same way as a freaky elite goalie."

Here's an example of how a hot, dominant goalie can carry your team. 

2012 - The Los Angeles Kings squeak into the playoffs as an 8th seed. If this is basketball, it's already over. Their goalie, Jonathan Quick, goes on a mad run during the playoffs. The team goes 16-4, he gives up 1.41 goals a game, saving 94.6% of all shots attempted. The team won the stanley cup and he won playoff MVP. 

Here's an example of how a hot, dominant goalie can carry your team. 

 

2012 - The Los Angeles Kings squeak into the playoffs as an 8th seed. If this is basketball, it's already over. Their goalie, Jonathan Quick, goes on a mad run during the playoffs. The team goes 16-4, he gives up 1.41 goals a game, saving 94.6% of all shots attempted. The team won the stanley cup and he won playoff MVP.

LOL alright I'll concede that hockey is most imbalanced of the major team sports. That doesn't make it or goaltending specifically, the most athletically demanding.

Edited August 18, 201610 yr by Willihammer

I'd say esports, but we are only scratching the surface on a person's ability to sit and play a game for days w/o rest, all while getting paid.....

Edited August 18, 201610 yr by Mike Sixel

I'd say esports, but we are only scratching the surface on a person's ability to sit and play a game for days w/o rest, all while getting paid.....

Some of the South Korean professional StarCraft players are quite the spectacle.

Jai alai?

 

 

 

 

 

 

JK, I don't even know wtf that is.

In the end, I think I will go with these folks.

 

 

In the end, I think I will go with these folks.

 

That guy and goalies?

 

Are we still talking about most athletic or most mentally incapacitated?

That guy and goalies?

 

Are we still talking about most athletic or most mentally incapacitated?

Pretty sure election coverage is a different thread.

American Ninja Warrior...

American Ninja Warrior...

Hey, man. Are you going to take this seriously or not?

have you seen the show? Great, great athletes. Seriously. 

 

edit: but no, no I'm not.

Edited August 18, 201610 yr by Mike Sixel

have you seen the show? Great, great athletes. Seriously.

 

edit: but no, no I'm not.

Well, we could really use your vote for Olympic Volleyball is all I'm sayin.'

Sixel's 'like' counts as a vote! Irrevocable! That's two.

Someone mentioned hand-eye coordination, I think.

 

Someone mentioned hand-eye coordination, I think.

 

Those lousy gypsies stole my jacket!

 

LOL alright I'll concede that hockey is most imbalanced of the major team sports. That doesn't make it or goaltending specifically, the most athletically demanding.

 

Just to be clear, I wasn't arguing it was the most athletically demanding.  Just that, in the context of team sports, they are the most capable of dominating the outcome.  It was more a tangent inspired by the goalie comments earlier.

 

I'd say my vote for most athletically demanding would be between gymnast and hockey player.

Edited August 18, 201610 yr by TheLeviathan

 

Tennis - I mean, yeah. Then we're getting into the debate between individual sports and team sports.

 

Um, doubles teams say hi.

Um, doubles teams say hi.

Well I suppose politeness, or at least sportsmanship deserves some recognition.

 

Well I suppose politeness, or at least sportsmanship deserves some recognition.

You've obviously never played real doubles tennis.

You've obviously never played real doubles tennis.

It's kind of like volleyball, right?

It's kind of like volleyball, right?

Speaking of which ... surprised you didn't say volleyball players required the most athleticism.