It's more than just the Wild system

There has been speculation that maybe one reason the Wild hasn't yet re-signed Niklas Backstrom is because the team can't justify spending $5 million to $6 million per year on a goalie when most goalies have been interchangeable in the Wild's defense-oriented system.

Doug Risebrough hasn't been that direct.

But the general manager did allude to the assertion last week when he said, "We're in the lowest goals against in the league -- consistently. No goalie can take on the barrage of all kinds of shots. I think our goalies realize they're going to have to make a big save, but they also know they're not going to have to make a ton of them."

The Wild has been blessed with great goaltending since its inception.

In Bob Mason's first five years as goalie coach, the Wild finished in the top five in save percentage and top eight in goals-against average every season. In three of his first four years, the Wild led the league in save percentage.

The Wild plucked Dwayne Roloson out of the minors, and he led the NHL in save percentage his third season at age 34. The Wild brought Backstrom over from Finland at age 28, and he led the league in goals-against average. Manny Fernandez was sensational at times during his Wild tenure, so much so that he earned a three-year extension that pushed Roloson out the door.

But if you think the Wild can just grab any goalie from a local beer league, stick him between the pipes and have him be successful, coach Jacques Lemaire's got news for you: "Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. Not quite."

Roloson, who now plays with tonight's opponent, the Edmonton Oilers, doesn't think it's that simple either.

"I don't think it's an easy job to play goal anywhere in this league," Roloson said. "Jacques does try to play a little bit more of a defensive style than a lot of teams, but at the same time, you still got to make the saves.

"I give Niklas a lot of credit. He's played well ever since he got here. ... But I can't say it's a lot easier to play here. He's doing his job, and he gives his team a chance to win day in and day out."

Backstrom never has worn the uniform of another NHL team, so he doesn't know if it would be more difficult anywhere else. But he freely admits that when the Wild's on top of its game, and that means playing tight in its own zone and limiting odd-man rushes, his job is easier.

"The big reason this franchise has been doing good the last eight years is the system," Backstrom said. "It's a good system. When everybody plays within it, it's a good system, and it's tough to play against us.

"So for sure, as a goalie, you know you have to make a couple saves and you know guys will be helping you a lot. On the other hand, it's tough to score here, so as a goalie, you can't really make any mistakes, so on the mental side, it's probably tougher here, too."

Mason says "it's a two-way street."

"If we're on our game, it's hard to make plays," Mason said. "But if we're off, they'll make plays. ... I'd say we've had some good goalies here. Backs has skill. Fernandez, Roloson, [Josh] Harding -- these guys have skill."

Oilers coach Craig MacTavish has seen the best of Backstrom. He's 9-0 all-time against the Oilers -- 7-0 at home with a 1.14 goals-against average and .953 save percentage.

Asked of the perception that anybody can play goal in the Wild's system, MacTavish, knowing Backstrom can be a free agent after this season, jokingly asked, "What can I say to further that perception?"

"I think everybody knows you need a good goaltender, and he's a good, solid goaltender," MacTavish said. "The bottom line is they've had good goaltending here for a long time, so maybe that enhances the perception that anybody can do it. But they've all been pretty good through here.

"Yeah, the system helps, and they know where the shots are going to come from -- largely on the outside. Still, there's going to be some good quality looks, and trust me, he's a pretty good goalie."