Does Hextall have a chance at ROTY?

[ROOKIE745 604]

It's easy to forget Hextall in the talk for the "Rookie of the year" award, after all he's playing on a struggling Toronto Legion team that finished last in the NA conference with 73 points. The team did finish ahead in points compared to the bottom 3 teams in the EU conference, that being the Malmo Nighthawks with 71 points, Helsinki Titans with 68 points and HC Davos Dynamo with 55 points. All that being said though the Legion would have not finished with as many points if it wasn't for the stellar play of rookie Jaxx Hextall. The team doesn't have the scoring power that most other VHL teams currently have so winning games with sheer offensive power was rarely an option, and the team was lacking defensive options to so they we're going to have to relying on the rookie netminder and he didn't disappoint. The Legion finished the season with 30 wins, 29 looses and 13 overtime looses, Hextall was in net for 11 of those overtime looses. The team of course had a number of over time winners but it was safe bet that if Hextall was in net he was going to do everything possible to get the team at least a point. As for Hextall's own numbers, he went 28-25-11. Again it's amazing that Hextall was pushing for the 30 wins mark on a roster that the Legion had. When we take a look at his stats they're pretty good to. A .915 save percentage, a goals against average of 2.87 and 4 shutouts. If we compare to his rival and seemingly favorite choice for Rookie of the year award, Jacques Lafontaine. Lafontaine of course got 40 wins which is nothing to scoff at but Hextall actually finished ahead of him in save percentage, Lafontaine has a .910% while Hextall has a .915%, Hextall also got 1 more shutout than his rival. Lafontaine does have the better goals against with 2.64 compared to Hextall's 2.87 but lets also look at how many shots against each of them had to face. Lafontaine faced 1904 while Hextall faced 2132, Hextall faced over 200 more shots than his rival. Lafontaine allowed 171 goals while Hextall allowed 182, just an 11 goal difference despite Hextall facing an extra 200 shots. I've put the stats out there and I think Hextall should have a real chance at ROTY but it's to be over shadowed when your team doesn't make the playoff's. We also asked for a quote from GM peace nearing the end of the season on what he thinks of Hextall's chances of winning ROTY are.

 

"Yes I do. If the awards were tomorrow night, I'd be upset if he didn't win the award. Davis has been awesome, no doubt about that, but Hextall has risen Toronto to an above .500 hockey team this season. At the moment he's got arguably more impressive stats considering he's playing for a far weaker team, so that seals the deal in my books."

[Victor 10,942]

Best goalie on the ballot for sure.

[SlapshotWrangler 864]

27 minutes ago, Victor said:

Best goalie on the ballot for sure.

I hate to admit it but Victor is right. Congrats on the great season! @ROOKIE745

[ROOKIE745 604]

54 minutes ago, Victor said:

Best goalie on the ballot for sure.

thank you ^^