Razor's Edge
Andrew Raycroft and Ray Emery both share the same nickname – RAZOR – and it’s become obvious that who deserves this knickname will be earned on the ice.
They were both drafted in the mid-rounds, both played in the OHL for 3 seasons, AHL and had breakout rookie campaigns – Raycroft winning ROY, Emery winning player on the month honours and setting a Sens record for winning streak.
Raycroft has 3 years seniority on Emery, but Emery has won a playoff round – both went into the playoffs on division winning teams, so to settle the score before the season starts – let’s look at the stats from the OHL, AHL and NHL and see who deserves the ultimate nickname – RAZOR.Raycroft has played 8 seasons of hockey having a winning record in 4 of them. Emery has played 7 season, having a winning record in 5 of them.
Andrew Raycroft, 6’1′ – 195 pounds- drafted 1998, 135 overall by Boston.
Raycroft hasn’t had a stellar career. The first thing that jumps out at you when you look at his stats is that since entering the OHL in 1997-98, Raycroft has played a total of 21 playoff games in 9 full OHL, AHL and NHL seasons, never winning a round for his team in that time – that’s a daunting stat. In his 21 playoff games, Raycroft is 5-14.
CAREER NUMBERS
OHL — 139 games, 58-58-14 (1 shutout)
AHL — 121 games, 56-48-13 ( 6 shutouts)
NHL — 108 games, 43-46-12 (3 shutouts)
Career — 308 games, 157-152-40
Raycrofts ROY campaign was his best ever statistical season at any level, with a 2.05 GAA and .930% – his next best season was 2.57 GAA and .920% in the AHL. The only level Raycroft has a winning record at is the NHL level, with a terrific Bruins team in 2003, he went 29-18-9, his best statistical season by far at any level.
Because of his previous lack of success at the OHL and AHL levels, entering the 2003 campaign, the Bruins hadn’t slotted Raycroft into the #1, and he surprised team officials with his stellar play. He developed a reputation of not being 100% dedicated, having a sloppy work ethic and not being able to focus for an entire season, often getting distracted or tired, and letting his play and conditioning slip. ( was it just me, or did Andrew look a little chubby in his press conference).
For this reason, I believe the Bruins found him expendable to the other Bruins goalies in the system, and were able to get a top goalie prospect from Toronto in the trade (a trade in my opinion which will be one of the worst in recent history since the Berard for Potvin trade).
Ray Emery, 6,3, – 205b pounds – drafted 2001, 99 overall by Ottawa.
Emery has won a playoff round at the OHL, AHL and NHL levels, and surpassed Raycrofts 21 total playoff games in his first 2 OHL season when he played 21 playoff games, going 10-11, and winning 2 rounds for his team. Emery knocked out the Stanley Cup winning Tampa Bay Lighting in his first NHL playoff series. Emery has 47 total playoff games at the OHL, AHL and NHL levels, going 23-22 in that time.
CAREER NUMBERS
OHL — 127 games, 61-49-12 (6 shutouts)
AHL — 154 games, 76-58-18 (10 shutouts)
NHL — 45 games, 26-11-4 (3 shutouts)
Career — 326 games, 163-118- 34
Emery’s stats coming into last season have remained relatively stable. Unlike Raycroft – Emery didn’t come in and have 1 stellar season at the NHL level to make his NHL stats look impressive – he’s won at every level he’s been at, and has been pegged by the Sens as their goalie of the future. He has an incredible work-out and fitness routine, his dedication as a teammate has never been questioned by the organization like the Bruins questioned Raycroft’s, as an example Emery played injured for the last 1/4 of the regular season. Emery is super competitive, almost to a fault.
Looking at their career stats, Emery beats Raycroft in every category in their young careers, and at 3 years younger, Emery has done more then Raycroft has at this stage in their careers. Until Raycroft wins a playoff series, Emery deserves the RAZOR nickname – it simply comes down to that.