Minnesota State goaltender Dryden McKay didn’t take home the Mike Richter Award for the best goaltender in college hockey on Friday (Northeastern’s Devon Levi, a Buffalo prospect, got the nod there as well as the Tim Taylor Award for Rookie of the Year). However, he earned an even bigger award as the NCAA announced (Twitter link) that the netminder has won the Hobey Baker Award which is presented annually to the most outstanding men’s college hockey player in the United States. He beat out Minnesota center Ben Meyers and Denver winger Bobby Brink (a Philadelphia prospect) for the honor.
McKay actually was a finalist for the award last season that went to then-Wisconsin winger Cole Caufield. This season, the 24-year-old has had yet another dominant campaign with the Mavericks, posting a 1.27 GAA along with a .934 SV% in 42 games (where he has a 38-4 record with 10 shutouts). Of course, they have one more game to go as they will take on Denver for the national championship on Saturday.
After that game, several NHL teams are expected to try to sign McKay. His numbers throughout his four-year college career have been nothing short of stellar (a 1.45 GAA, a .932 SV%, and 34 shutouts in 139 games). While he’s a bit small compared to a lot of goalies nowadays as teams tend to prefer taller netminders – McKay stands 6’0 – this is a player that many should be willing to make an exception for.
not even the best goalie but okay then
Who do you think is better?
Levi, as is more or less the consensus
Levi missed nearly 3 weeks during the season while at the Olympics. McKay didn’t. He played more & was the best player on a team that was #1 for much of the season. That matters.
But if you’re voted as the best player in the league, then logic says that you’re also the best player at your position.
Dear NJ Devils
Please go sign him
Signed
ALL Devils Fans
Levi plays for Northeastern, not Providence
exactly – at least update the damn post. NORTHEASTERN!!
Go Northeastern Huskies!
But that being said, who gives a damn about how tall McKay is? I really don’t get this Goalies Have To Be Huge!!! fetish. The team doesn’t win the game by having the biggest goalie. The team wins the game by having the goalie who keeps the most pucks out of his net.
Hoping McKay will sign with the Wings
McKay and Ned tandem and then Cossa in the wings!