Analyzing Previous Goalie Trades That Haven’t Worked Out
Summary
Feb 10, 2015; Buffalo, NY, USA; Ottawa Senators goalie Robin Lehner (40) during the game against the Buffalo Sabres at First Niagara Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
There have certainly been many teams in history that have regretted trading their goaltender, especially if the return was less than optimal. There have also been teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs who traded their promising young goalie (Tuukka Rask) for a more proven one (Andrew Raycroft). Lehner may end up being what Rask is to the Leafs, which would be infuriating. He clearly has the potential to be very good too.
I’d say that Bobrovsky is a close comparable to Lehner though, in that both of them weren’t proven starters before they were on the trading block but they were up and comers. If that is the kind of trade that Ottawa will make to get rid of Lehner then no thanks. This has happened time and time again where a young goalie is shipped off to a new team and becomes the next big thing.
Trading young goaltenders that have potential never seems to work out
For Anderson’s case, he will get Ottawa a bigger package compared to Lehner. But I’m not so sure it will be a large return, considering Ottawa didn’t get much for their first line centre last year. Goalies simply don’t get much in trades, and the only one I can think of that worked out pretty well was Buffalo trading Ryan Miller. There aren’t many good examples of older above average goalies like Anderson getting traded besides Miller. Even with a good comparable like him, I don’t think Ottawa will get as much as Buffalo did.
There have been a few good trades made by GM’s with goalies obviously, but more often than not it’s the team receiving the goalie that gets the better end of the deal.
I would like to see Anderson be traded, but at the same time I know that whatever Ottawa gets it will probably be a bit less than I expected. I like to dream that they could trade for a young up and coming defenseman, but that probably is unrealistic. The common theme though is that trading young goaltenders that have potential never seems to work out. The Senators should know that better than anyone after giving up Bishop. Even trading more proven goaltenders won’t give your team much of a boost either it seems.