One team boasts one of the best goaltending tandems in the NHL. At least, it should on paper.
The Dallas Stars’ duo of Kari Lehtonen and Antti Niemi, both aged 32, should have fared better during the playoffs after the team finished second overall in the league with a 50-23-9 regular season record.
Unfortunately, Lehtonen (.899 SV% in 11 games) and Niemi (.865 SV% in 5 postseason appearances) essentially cost the Stars their championship chances.
Alex Goglioski begged to differ. He told NBC Sports:
“It’s breakdowns, all kinds of things”
Buying out either of the netminders is not a possibility and general manager Jim Nill cited their age and combined $10.4 million salary cap hit as the reason.
Both will certainly need to perform better next season either way.