Classic Posts: Remember Those Top 25 Goalies?

I humbly apologize Mr. Brodeur....you are still #1. Looking at this list now still makes me cringe but nearly 4 months later it was time to take a look back. Enjoy.

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Yes you knew this was coming and no there will be no Star Wars music to accompany this. However we have a video in honor of the #1 fantasy goalie last season or we believe to be the #1 fantasy goalie points per game wise. Here goes.




Great save by Roberto Luongo and our #1 guy.




This year well we wanted to do something a hair different BUT due to the recession...we will dull out the usual skinny, some info, and a smile. We are sorry we did not blow out the budget but at any rate enjoy our list then debate away. And now our feature presentation.

The Top 25 Fantasy Goalies will feature a little bit more info on the first ten (pictures for the top 5) and then a brief skinny on the final 15. This is not something written in stone and will brand goalies for life. Most of our picks were right on the money last year but we had some noticeable flops (Biron, Giguere, Turco, etc.). Onward with the list.

Top 25 Fantasy Goalies

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#1: Roberto Luongo (Vancouver Canucks)

Why?: With all due respect to Tim Thomas who's stats were a hair better. Luongo over a 70 start season or more just produces more points in leagues where wins and shutouts are essential. The last two full years of Luongo produced a 2.31 GAA and a .920 save percentage with 11 shutouts and 82 wins. Then in just 54 starts last year he had 9 shutouts and 33 wins. Project those numbers over a 72 start season and you have 44 wins and 12 shutouts....that is nasty!

Skinny: For this year...Luongo may not quite get 12 shutouts. I am thinking somewhere in the neighborhood of 10 shutouts and 44 wins with a 2.29 GAA and a .923 save percentage. He is going to be pretty well automatic this year as far as fantasy goalies.



#2: Martin Brodeur (New Jersey Devils)

Why?: Because he is Martin Brodeur. Do you really think a fluke injury is going to slow him down or an average team in front of him? No. The two years before his biceps tear were scary enough. I don't know...16 shutouts, 92 wins, and a 2.17 GAA to go along with a .921 save percentage is just too good to pass up in fantasy leagues. Brodeur usually gets drafted as the #1 goalie based on reputation alone. Even at 37, he is still THAT good. Where most goalies are slowing down...I have a feeling that last year left a sour taste in his mouth.

Skinny: Martin Brodeur will be nominated for the Vezina Trophy once again. His numbers will be around 41-43 wins....a 2.35 GAA and a .921 save percentage. Toss in 8 or 9 shutouts and people will forget all about that nightmare that was the 2008-2009 season.


#3: Tim Thomas (Boston Bruins)

Why?: If there is one guy in Boston that needs to step up and earn his new deal...it is Tim Thomas. Thomas won the Vezina last year amid little controversy. Of course the two big boys were hurt....so the path was a little more wide open. That being said Tim Thomas is a very solid goalie that can be downright brilliant and is not afraid to take a leadership role on the ice. Sure he is 35 but that Boston defense is just about tops in the league even without a guy like Steve Montador. The numbers do not lie last year...a 2.10 GAA, .933 save percentage and 5 shutouts along with 36 wins. Even if he gets 10-12 more starts which is almost certain...the numbers will still be up there.

Skinny: Bottom line is Tim Thomas will not be the third goalie taken in most fantasy drafts but he should be. Numbers that you could expect from the Flint, Michigan native are about the following. I am figuring a 40-42 win season with a 2.24 GAA and a .923 save percentage. Add in 5 or 6 shutouts for good measure and you have the recipe for a very happy fantasy owner if you take him.


#4: Niklas Backstrom (Minnesota Wild)

Why?: With Jacques Lemaire gone....its the end of the world....right? Wrong! His numbers will suit him well in whatever system he plays. Minnesota will play a bit faster but they will still need a positionally sound goalie like Backstrom and he more than fits the bill. He was nominated for the Vezina last year for a reason and his 2.33 GAA and .923 save percentage were no fluke. Still in his early 30's, Backstrom has get this...room for improvement still. A scary thought for all teams that face him this year. Bad news maybe is the fact that he did get a shiny new contract that he will have to play up to but not many foresee that as a major problem.

Skinny: Backstrom may actually get a few more wins with a slight uptick in offense. Ask Josh Harding last year about hard luck losses from lack of support. That will not happen now. Interestingly enough the signing of Greg Zanon (from Nashville) may help Backstrom have a better season than 08-09. This season I am expecting a 2.27 GAA and a .928 save percentage from Backstrom. He may even get nominated for the Vezina again when all is said and done.


#5: Miikka Kiprusoff (Calgary Flames)

Why?: This was exceedingly tough...there were several fine goalies who could have went into this spot and I know what happened to Kipper last year but with a new coach and a healthier defense along with Jay Bouwmeester and Miikka will get back to his form from a few years ago. The wins are already there and will be there this year. Remember the 45 from last year and think much better with the other numbers. Six shutouts the last two seasons? Nah he should get that all in one year this year....no sweat! Those 2.7 and 2.8 GAA? A thing of the past this season. Expect a marked improvement.

Skinny: We kind of expect Kipper to start off a bit slow again but not with the outrageous GAA. As the team gels in Calgary, he will get on a roll. Then from there look out! What can be expected this year? Well about 43-45 wins.....a 2.45 GAA and a .918 save percentage with at least 6 or 7 shutouts. They do look a lot like his numbers from 3 years ago but I think Brent Sutter brings in a defensive accountability and faith in his netminder that Mike Keenan clearly did not have.

Now 6-10........

6. Henrik Lundqvist (NY Rangers)

Why?: Simply he carries the Rangers on his back. In four years with the Rangers, Henrik has done something that is so rare...its scary. Winning 30 times in his first four seasons will get you more than noticed. He is also on the cover of oh never mind no one cares about that. Bottom line is Lundqvist is solid in net and behind a team that kills penalties very well and plays close to the vest....that 2.43 GAA should come back down a hair this year. Likely he will have more than 3 shutouts as well....he did go 35 straight games without one during the 08-09 season.

Skinny: Tough to predict this sort of thing because of the team he plays in front of but expect Lundqvist to have at least 35 wins and closer to 40. I say 39 wins with a 2.35 GAA and a .919 save percentage. Throw in 7 or 8 shutouts and you can see why it was tough to place him #6 on this illustrious list.


7. Evgeni Nabokov (San Jose Sharks)

Why?: He wins...bottom line. 41 in total last year with some pretty good numbers along the way. Granted San Jose plays very well defensively and some will say that Nabokov benefits greatly from goal support that is second to very few if any. However, he did have an off year last year by his standards. Since the lockout he has been kind of up and down...so expect a little more of an up year from the 34 year old Russian who let's face it is playing for some serious coin this year.

Skinny: Here is the deal...he will win at least 40 games and probably closer to 45 if he stays healthy. If you can put up with the relatively low save percentage compared to almost all of this list...he is a great 2nd starting goalie. Bottom line a GAA of around 2.35 and a save percentage of about .912 with 7 or 8 shutouts should do it for this Russian netminder.


8. Cam Ward (Carolina Hurricanes)

Why?: Carolina is a team on the rise. The Conference Finals appearance may be a sign of things to come. This could be the year that Ward breaks the 40 win plateau at last. With years of 30,37, and 39 wins in the last three seasons....is it really that far of a leap to expect? Of course not. The goals against has also come down in the last three and let's face it this team's defensive corps is a lot better than it was three years ago. The type of team that might actually win a division. With Ward in net.....that goal is indeed possible.

Skinny: A 40-42 win season is what we are calling for. Ward will have around a 2.40 to 2.45 GAA and close to a .920 save percentage. Six or seven shutouts thrown in and a solid backup in Michael Leighton will give Cam Ward the proper rest he needs to be at his best late in the regular season or your fantasy playoffs. Just some food for thought considering how hot he was last year down the stretch.


9. Steve Mason (Columbus Blue Jackets)

Why?: I can hear it already. Why so far down? Well one great year does not make you the next coming of Patrick Roy...you have to do it again. Yes I think Mason will do it again but not quite as well as last season. He is the perfect type of goalie in the Ken Hitchcock system which means most of the numbers will be there again this year. As a matter of fact wins may be an improvement just because if he stays healthy he will play more than 61 games. Mason is a perfect #2 to have on a team because most nights its a 2-1 or 3-2 game. His 33-20-7 record with 10 shutouts to boot won him the Calder. And do not forget that 2.29 GAA...that was nice.

Skinny: I will take some heat for this as well. Mason is barely a top 10 goalie in fantasy leagues but because this seems to be the year of 1a and 1b again....Mason will benefit greatly. Add in the fact that some other goalies are in for down years (Carey Price, whoever plays on LI) and you get eggroll. About 36-38 wins.....a 2.32 GAA and a .917 save percentage along with 7 or 8 shutouts would not be a surprise for Steve Mason.


10. Ryan Miller (Buffalo Sabres)

Why?: Simple look at how well he was playing before he got hurt. Thanks Scott Gomez. Remember that Miller had 34 wins in only 59 games last year...he likely would have topped 40 wins with around a 2.50 GAA and maybe 7 shutouts. However, we will never know. Now for all the guff that Darcy and Lindy have gotten this offseason (mostly Darcy)...the Sabres will still have Miller in net and that definitely counts for something and something good for fantasy owners!

Skinny: Well about 38-40 wins for Miller is about right. Add in the 2.45 to 2.50 GAA and a save percentage close to .920 and you have a guy that should sneak in under some radars in fantasy leagues. People may take Pekka Rinne or Jonas Hiller but the key is you have to prove it in year two. We know what Miller can do. That is the bottom line. Sometimes the veteran gets it over the young guns.


And now the rest but by no means least....11-25


11. Pekka Rinne (NSH) -- Last year was no fluke and he will prove it.
12. Jonas Hiller (ANA) -- Will be the #1 in Anaheim and rack up #'s.
13. Nikolai Khabibulin (EDM) -- He will be better than Huet this year.
14. Cristobal Huet (CHI) -- With that offense...he should be up here.
15. Marc Andre-Fleury (PIT) -- Hangover yes but better 2nd half.
16. Tomas Vokoun (FLA) -- Still solid numbers but little support.
17. Chris Mason (STL) -- Which C. Mason will we see????
18. Chris Osgood (DET) -- He will have a better regular season...
19. Jon Quick (LA) -- An up and comer that could be top 10 soon.
20. Craig Anderson (COL) -- Could put up some nice numbers.....
21. Simeon Varlamov (WSH) -- Takes the bull by the Caps horns.
22. Marty Turco (DAL) -- Has to have a better year for Dallas.
23. Ray Emery (PHI) -- We had to put him on here somewhere.
24. Jonas Gustafsson (TOR) -- I like the monster to do pretty good.
25. Carey Price (MTL) -- Because it cannot get much worse than yeah.


Coming up on Saturday we hit the forwards with the Top 25 Fantasy Left Wingers. It should be a blast. Now have it and debate away. I think my ears may be ringing from here.