Ranking The Goalies

Every fantasy hockey season can live and die on the strength of your goalies.   So without further ado, here are top twenty rankings. 

1. Evgeni Nabokov, San Jose Sharks:  The Sharks may disappoint in the playoffs, but in the regular season they are a dominant team and are led by Nabokov.  With Dany Heatley added to the offense, even on his off days Nabokov will be able to pick up a win.
2. Roberto Luongo, Vancouver Canucks:  Now if I was starting my own NHL team today and I could pick any goalie, Luongo would be it.  Before his injury last season it seemed that every game he was pitching a shutout.  The Canucks have also added Defenseman Christian Ehrhoff to help out in the defensive end.
3. Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils:  It seems in each of the past few seasons I’ve dropped Brodeur lower on my list, expecting a decline in play.  It never happens and the Devils have a good enough offense now where Brodeur doesn’t have to be a brick wall in order to win every game.
4. Mikka Kiprusoff, Calgary Flames:  Kiprusoff was having a fantastic season in 2008-09 but seemed to tire at the end and in the playoffs.  The Flames picked up Defensemen Jay Bouwmeester to help clear the puck out of their defensive end, and with Center Olli Jokinen playing with them for a full season, big things are expected in Calgary this year.
5. Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers:  Watching as many Ranger games as I do, I would like to put Lundqvist higher as I believe he is a spectacular goalie, but the Rangers don’t have the best defensemen on the planet and Coach John Tortorella plays an aggressive offensive system which will lead to many an odd many rush against Lundqvist.
6. Niklas Backstrom, Minnesota Wild:  Backstrom did have offseason surgery to repair a torn labrum in his hip, plus they lost Marion Gaborik, so there is reason to be concerned here.
7. Cam Ward, Carolina Hurricanes:  Ward seemed to thrive once the Hurricanes fired Peter Laviolette and hired Paul Maurice.  Maurice played Ward almost every night and Ward responded to the playing time with his best season yet.
8. Marc-Andre Fleury, Pittsburgh Penguins:  Fleury may be the modern day money goalie.  Playing great when the games mean the most.  Of course for fantasy owners you need him to play just as well during the regular season.
9. Tim Thomas, Boston Bruins:  Sort of came out of nowhere to go 36-11-7 with a 2.10 GAA last season.  With the talent surrounded Thomas, there is no reason to believe he can’t do it again.

10.  Ryan Miller, Buffalo Sabres:  Miller is a top flight goalie that plays on an average team, which means the pressure will be on his shoulders to lead this team to victory.

11.  Steve Mason, Columbus Blue Jackets

12.  Nikolai Khabibulin, Edmonton Oilers

13.  Cristobal Huet, Chicago Blackhawks

14.  Roman Turco, Dallas Stars 

15.  Ray Emery, Philadelphia Flyers

16.  Chris Osgood, Boston Red Sox

17.  Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens

18.  Patrick Rinne, Nashville Predators

19.  Tomas Vokoun, Florida Panthers

20.  Ilya Bryzgalov, Phoenix Coyotes

This post was written by TFSF