Fantasy hockey goaltending: Preview
With the National Hockey League season ready to begin in October fantasy leagues around North American and the world are beginning to start their drafts. It is important to enter into your fantasy draft with a specific game plan and players in mind who will help you to achieve your goals.
Goaltenders are the most important position on any fantasy roster. With likely only three spots up for grabs and several categories to fill, strong goaltending can shoot you to the top of your fantasy league. Moreover, an extra solid goaltender often proves to be the best trade bait.
Upper echelon
Ryan Millar – Buffalo Sabres
Last year’s Vezina winner for best goaltender was an absolute machine throughout the regular season, posting 41 win, a goals-against-average (GAA) of 2.22 and a save-percentage (SV%) of .929. Expect Miller to be the first goaltender to go in your draft and therefore you will likely need to part with a second round pick for him.
Ilya Bryzgalov – Phoenix Coyotes
If it were not for Miller, Bryzgalov would have earned his first Vezina Trophy last year. Playing in a tight defensive system, Bryzgalov is given a great deal of protection. This helped to allow the 30-year-old to register 42 wins at a GAA of 2.29 and a SV% of .920. If the Coyotes are able to pick up where they left off last season, Bryzgalov will have another impressive year.
Middle of the road
Jaroslav Halak – St. Louis Blues
With Halak’s breathtaking performance in the play-offs last year he could go high in some fantasy pools, but is generally considered a middle of the range selection. However, Halak is expected to have another strong season. In St. Louis, Halak has been given the starting role and will no longer have to fight for starts with Carey Price; because of this expect his 26 wins from last season to jump significantly as he should expect to see around 60 starts. The 25-year-old may also benefit from a Blues team that many experts are picking to have a bounce-back season in 2010-11.
Jonas Hiller – Anaheim Ducks
Hiller would be in the upper echelon if he did not play for one of the worst defensive teams in the League. However, he is still a solid pick having won 30 games last year with a SV% of .918 and a GAA of 2.73. He will not stun you with his numbers, but he will give you a solid performance.
Hidden gem
Steve Mason – Columbus Blue Jackets
Last season Mason was terrible; he looked like a shadow of the goalie that won the Calder Trophy a year earlier as the League’s best rookie. His statistics were awful as he only managed 20 wins, and SV% of .901 and a GAA of 3.06. However, goalies tend to go through sophomore slumps and Mason could be ready for a comeback. At only 22 years old he has plenty of years left in the League and if he is able to get back to his 33-win form from 2008-09 he could be a major late round steal.
Jean-Sebastien Giguere – Toronto Maple Leafs
Earlier this week Toronto coach Ron Wilson stated that Giguere would be the Leafs’ number one goalie heading into the 2010-11 campaign. It is no secret that Giguere has struggled over the last two seasons playing behind Hiller in Anaheim. However the change of scenery seems to have sparked the Conn Smyth winner. Giguere is capable of very impressive numbers and with youngster Jonas Gustavsson pushing him for the top spot expect that competitive edge to come back into his game.
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