Will A 56-Game Season Be Enough For Carter Hart To Still Break The NHL's Record For Most Shutouts In A Season? Experts Say Yes
So some good news today as it sounds like the NHL and NHLPA are close to finally getting the 2021 season underway. A 56-game season starting on January 13th. Is it perfect? Of course not. Obviously everybody would prefer to be 2 months into the season already and get a full 82 in. But the World Juniors get going on Christmas, that'll take us until January 5, and then a week later we get the start of the NHL season?
Things were certainly getting dicey there for a while but I think we all knew eventually the two sides were going to come to an agreement. Not that anything is set in stone yet but when you've got Dreger and LeBrun confident enough to put that January 13 start date out there, then you better clear your schedule for January 13th. And now just think about how much ass the next month is about to kick. We've earned this.
The only potential issue I'm seeing here is the off chance that back-to-back shortened seasons are going to fuck with Carter Hart's destiny to become the greatest goaltender to ever strap up a pair of leg pads. I mean it was bad enough that he had to wait until Ron Hextall got fired before he could make his NHL debut in the 2018-19 season. Then last year he comes in to play his first full season in the NHL and gets his first career shutout. A pandemic brings the world to a halt in the middle of the season, the league hits the pause button for a few months, he comes back to get his first taste of Stanley Cup Playoff action, and he puts up back-to-back shutouts in the first round.
He is the Chosen One, but the world is attempting to do everything possible to stand in his way.
The devil may work hard, but Carter Hart works harder. And the good news is 56 games is still more than enough time for Carter Hart to stay on his path of destiny. You look at the most shutouts in an NHL season and the top 4 are all from seasons which had under 56 games.
Granted, those were all from an era before stick blades were curved and guys could lift the puck off the ice. But if George Hainsworth can put up 22 shutouts in 44 games with a pair of couch cushions on his legs and oven mitts for gloves…
Well then I think 25 in 56 games is a reasonable expectation for young Carter.
Quick sidenote: 22 wins on the year, 22 shutouts for Hainsworth in 1928-29. How much do you think he hated the rest of his team that year? Anytime buddy gave up a goal, it was either going to be a loss or a tie. Swept out of the playoffs in 3 straight games by the Boston Bruins that year and look at this playoff production from the boys.
Just 2 goals the whole series. Vezina trophy winner in net, puts up the most shutouts in an NHL season, gets nothing at all from the offense. A goddamn shame.
Fortunately that won't be the case for Carter Hart this year. 56 games will be more than enough time for the boys to get themselves buzzing again. Year 2 for Hayes. Oskar Lindblom hopefully coming back fully healthy. Nolan Patrick hopefully coming back fully healthy. Couturier coming off a Selke year. Konecny coming off an All-Star year. And Provorov clearly looking to get all sorts of saucy out there this season.
Destiny awaits on January 13. Hope you're all ready.