On Friday I listed the 20 worst players in 2011/12 by goals versus threshold. The worst player in the league by that metric was Dwayne Roloson of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Last season Roloson was the oldest player in the NHL. He posted a pretty weak 3.66 GAA and .886 saves percentage. These numbers were both the worst in the league among goalies who played sufficient games to be counted among the leaders.

It isn’t clear that this made Roloson the worst player or even the worst regular in the NHL, though it is clear he was the worst goalie. Goalies are easier to evaluate in the goals versus threshold system and tend to dominate both the top and bottom of any ranking list.

Given Roloson’s age and his failure last season his career is likely over. His contract expired this summer and it is unlikely that any team will take another chance on him.

Roloson was believed to still be an NHL calibre starting goalie after helping Tampa bay make the semi-finals in 2011 but it was a mistake to go into the season without a solid backup goalie who was capable of taking over the number one duties if Roloson failed. To make matters worse, Mike Smith departed Tampa in the off-season and was the top player in the league by goals versus threshold. He was the capable backup goalie who should have been kept in Tampa if Roloson failed even if the Lightning did not expect he had the upside he showed last season.

Whenever the oldest player in the NHL has as poor a season as Dwayne Roloson did in 2011/12, it is clear that his career is likely over. Roloson was worst in the league by goals versus threshold. It is possible that he may have a comeback season as Brian Elliott showed this season (he was the 2011 worst player by goals versus threshold), but he likely won’t be given a chance given his advanced age. Tampa Bay fell significantly in the standings in 2011/12 and Roloson’s play in goal is a big part of the reason.

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