Getty Images Yahoo Fantasy Hockey is open for the 2013-14 season. To assist in giving you a greater probability to win your league, our pals at Dobber Hockey are returning for another season. They’re going to be breaking down the highest forwards, defense and goalies, and in addition giving you some sleepers to keep an eye on. At present, the goalies.
By Michael Amato
In most common fantasy hockey leagues, goaltenders make up lower than 10% of your roster, but account for almost 50% of your classes. Choosing properly when it comes to netminders is essential and for those who get caught with a beneath common group your probabilities of success are slim. Tiering your goaltenders prior to drafting is a good way to help your resolution-making process when selecting. You could have a plan of concentrating on two goalies from the second Tier, or perhaps a Tier 1 which implies you may also get stuck with someone from Tier three. It is all personal preference.
The key thing to remember when establishing your Tiers is that it is not all based on talent and production. Jaroslav Halak and Brian Elliott most likely must be ranked increased primarily based on the numbers they’ve had in St. Louis over the past two campaigns, but the truth that they cut up begins hurts their value. Someone from Tier 1 can give you comparable, if not higher outcomes, and take up much less roster space which lets you give attention to different wants.
Sign up your team and league at present.
Tier 1
The cream of the crop. Posting 35-40 wins must be within the cards for this group in addition to some great GAA and SV% totals. Except something unexpected occurs like a significant damage, or they by some means end up on the Philadelphia Flyers.
Tuukka Rask, Boston Bruins
The plan of Rask taking on for Tim Thomas went off and not using a hitch final 12 months in Boston. He tied for the league lead in shutouts and posted a940 SV% in the playoffs, whereas continuing to haunt Leaf followers at each turn. With a strong Bruins squad in entrance of him, you will be arduous pressed to discover a safer choose than Rask.
Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles Kings
Quick’s common season numbers in 2013 have been a slight cause for concern, but his performance within the playoffs should have erased any doubt about his reliability. With Jonathan Bernier now gone and the motivation of earning a beginning spot on the U.S. Olympic group this winter, do not hesitate to seize Fast early.
Pekka Rinne, Nashville Predators
Nashville had a rough marketing campaign within the lockout shortened 2012-13 season, but Rinne has averaged 36 wins a season within the three earlier full years. Do not be stunned if David Poile and Barry Trotz figure things out and get the Predators again to playing a strong staff concept that has made them so successful. Rumor has it they’re even wanting right into a radical new idea this low season that will assist out Rinne’s trigger referred to as “scoring objectives.”
Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers
He hasn’t posted a SV% below920 since 2008-09 and recorded 24 wins within the lockout shortened season final yr. I am undecided there may be another participant within the Nationwide Hockey League that means more to his staff than Lundqvist does to the Rangers. Pay that man, Glen Sather. Pay that man.
Antii Niemi, San Jose Sharks
Niemi faced the third most pictures amongst starting goalies final season and still managed a924 SV% and 24 wins. Photographs in opposition to are an awesome stat to take a look at you probably have whole saves as a class in your pool. The Sharks determine to be sturdy again in 2013-14 and Niemi should play a giant position of their success.
Tier 2
Many goalies from Tier 2 may easily fall into the Tier 1 category if just a few bounces fall their approach. Then again, it wouldn’t take a lot for them to slide down to Tier three either. If you happen to can draft two from this group you should be in good condition although as all of them have the capabilities for 30 win seasons.
Ryan Miller, Buffalo Sabres
Miller hasn’t been in a position to get back to the level he played at in 2009-10 and the Sabres are trending in the wrong direction. With that being stated, nonetheless, Miller’s talent is still there and he does have a shot at 30-35 wins. Sadly for poolies, complaining and publish-sport rants usually are not relevant classes.
Cam Ward, Carolina Hurricanes
He’s missed a large chunk of the yr in two of the previous 4 seasons due to damage, but when healthy he’s a stable choice. Maybe being left off Workforce Canada’s Olympic orientation camp roster offers Ward some motivation to channel in 2013-14.
Corey Crawford, Chicago Blackhawks
Crawford could be very near being in Tier 1 due to setting several profession bests in many statistical categories final season. Much of his success, however, is thanks to playing on the juggernaut Blackhawks. The dearth of consistency in his transient career is sufficient to keep him in Tier 2 for this 12 months, but with the workforce in entrance of him he has a shot at 40-plus wins.
Sergei Bobrovsky, Columbus Blue Jackets
There’s no question Bobrovsky had an incredible run final yr, however remember that was a very small pattern dimension. In 2011-12 he wasn’t even capable of put up a900 SV% and he’s nonetheless relatively inexperienced by NHL requirements. The Blue Jackets made a number of strong off-season acquisitions they usually performed properly as a staff in entrance of Bobrovsky in 2013, however hitching your complete goaltending wagon to a Columbus netminder simply sounds like a foul concept.
Getty Images Jimmy Howard, Detroit Purple Wings
Detroit goalies have a fame for being overrated and just being along for the ride whereas amassing wins, however Howard seems to be doing an excellent job of dispelling that idea. In three of the last 4 campaigns he has posted a SV% of at least920 and he made the sixth most saves among starters in 2013.
Carey Worth, Montreal Canadiens
Price was inconsistent at times last year and has solely hit 30 wins once in his profession. He has the talent to take him to the Tier 1 degree, but Montreal most likely overachieved last season and are more likely to regress barely in 2013-14, which means he will likely be in tough to hit 35 wins. He’s nonetheless a viable option with plenty of upside if the Canadiens can rebound from a tricky playoff exit.
Craig Anderson, Ottawa Senators
Anderson is a borderline Tier 1 man, however the tempo he was on final yr is simply too torrid to keep up. He posted a941 save share in solely 24 video games in 2013 and if he places up anything even close to that in 2013-14, it may make poolies very glad. Issue in the Senators bettering their roster this summer season and that should equate to more W’s for Anderson.
Roberto Luongo, Vancouver Canucks
Luongo was relegated to backup duties final yr and was essentially fantasy irrelevant. Now with Cory Schneider off to New Jersey, he’s a stable option to carry your staff as soon as once more. Earlier than last season, Luongo had averaged 37 wins a 12 months as a starter since 2005-06. The one factor to observe this season, nevertheless, is the NHL’s realignment when it comes to the Canucks. The previous couple of campaigns Vancouver had feasted on weak groups in the Northwest Division, however now Minnesota and Colorado have been changed with the likes of San Jose, Los Angeles, and Anaheim.
Braden Holtby, Washington Capitals
Although Holtby’s time in the NHL has been temporary, he still boasts a career923 SV% and a 2.39 GAA. He appears to have claimed the number one spot within the longstanding goaltending carousel in Washington, so he ought to be good for loads of wins this season.
Sign up your crew and league today.
Tier 3
Many of the goalies in Tier 3 are irritating within the sense they could be a lot larger in the event that they didn’t share so many begins, have damage issues, or battle with consistency. It is important to keep a close eye on this group as increased playing time and hot streaks can result in a steal in your draft if you choose right.
Jonas Hiller and Viktor Fasth, Anaheim Ducks
On their own they might be nice starters on your fantasy squad, but paired collectively they simply develop into first rate. Each had sturdy campaigns in 2013 and will possible split time once more this season, though if someone falters it is going to open the door for increased playing time for the other. Consider the Geese’ organization is stocked full of goaltending talent in the intervening time with prospects John Gibson and Frederik Andersen, so it’s not loopy to suppose they could deal Hiller or Fasth at some point next yr.
Semyon Varlamov, Colorado Avalanche
Varlamov has battled injuries throughout his profession and had a GAA of over three last season. Colorado is still rebuilding so his stats aren’t prone to be too fantasy friendly within the near future. He should still get plenty of starts although if he stays healthy and may also help you hit your weekly minimal necessities if wanted.
Kari Lehtonen, Dallas Stars
Lehtonen has 30-plus wins in two of the last three seasons, but he is one other man who must have attended Carlo Colaiacovo’s seminar on the way to perpetually get injured. If he’s healthy he will help you, simply proceed with caution the place Lehtonen is anxious.
Devan Dubnyk, Edmonton Oilers
Dubnyk has slowly but surely impressed over the past three seasons, culminating in 2013 the place he finished with a solid921 SV%. The problem is that he performs for an Oilers team that struggles to choose up victories. People have been waiting for Edmonton to show signs of enchancment for years now, however this needs to be the year they turn a nook does not it? If the squad is receptive to new Coach Dallas Eakins’ goalie friendly defensive system, then Dubnyk might be a sensible play.
Niklas Backstrom, Minnesota Wild
Any thoughts that the Wild might part with Backstrom were put to rest when the team prolonged him for three years this summer season. His numbers aren’t what they have been when he first arrived in Minnesota, but he nonetheless has 35-win potential.
Cory Schneider and Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils
Schneider left one goaltending controversy for one more, though this one would not determine to last as lengthy. Brodeur isn’t likely to play more than one other yr or two, and if the Devils were smart they’d give Schneider the bulk of the begins. That is simpler said than performed although once you think about all that Brodeur has finished for the franchise, so the long run Hall-of-Famer continues to be likely to vulture 30-35 begins away from Schneider in 2013-14.
Getty Images Mike Smith, Phoenix Coyotes
Anyone who took Smith last year hoping he may duplicate what he did in 2011-12, was left sorely disillusioned. Apart from that unimaginable campaign, he hasn’t been capable of put up stable numbers with regularity. However, Dave Tippett continues to be behind the bench in Phoenix and a extra goalie friendly coach you’ll not discover.
Marc-Andre Fleury and Tomas Vokoun, Pittsburgh Penguins
Fleury is often a regular Tier 1 man, but his efficiency in current playoffs is likely to give Vokoun more starts this 12 months. Both guys will get wins after they’re between the pipes, but sharing the duties hurts each their values.
Brian Elliott and Jaroslav Halak, St. Louis Blues
Ken Hitchcock’s love affair with the “Dead Puck Period” isn’t great on entertainment value for hockey followers, however it’s a thing of beauty for Elliott and Halak house owners. The two have mixed for 21 shutouts during the last two seasons. Sadly splitting time makes it tough to depend on them.
James Reimer and Jonathan Bernier, Toronto Maple Leafs
Reimer hasn’t backstopped the Leafs to consecutive Stanley Cups but, which is basically what it appears he has to do to be declared the starter. Reimer has arguably carried out better than Bernier of their younger careers, however due to the significance of the commerce, Bernier is likely to see loads of action in 2013-14. Look for Randy Carlyle to go with the new hand.
Ondrej Pavelec, Winnipeg Jets
It at all times seems that Pavelec is performing higher than his numbers point out. Final yr it looked as if he was one of the main reasons the Jets were contending for a playoff spot, as he was seemingly making spotlight reel saves on a nightly basis. Then you definitely take a look at his SV% and it barely breaks900. Fun to observe, however not always fun for his owners.
Tier 4
Let’s simply hope it does not come to this.
Karri Ramo and Joey MacDonald, Calgary Flames
Ramo has recorded stable numbers in the KHL in recent years, however that is the NHL and he is bought the Flames in front of him now. That sound you hear is Jay Feaster pulling up in entrance of Miikka Kiprusoff’s home with a dump truck full of cash, attempting to convince him to not retire.
Scott Clemmensen and Jacob Markstrom, Florida Panthers
You would possibly need to dangle on to Markstrom for those who’re in a keeper league, however this 12 months figures to be exhausting times for goalies in the Sunshine State.
Evgeni Nabokov and Kevin Poulin, New York Islanders
Nabokov hasn’t been terrible since his return from the KHL and he might be a Tier three man if the Islanders proceed to play the way they did last season.
Anders Lindback and Ben Bishop, Tampa Bay Lightning
Both goalies have some potential, however it’s a must to assume brief-term in fantasy hockey. If either of them gets on a run and claims the starting job you might be able to seize lightning in a bottle.
Ray Emery and Steve Mason, Philadelphia Flyers
Emery has a good shot at overtaking Mason as the clear starter by Christmas. He had a 17-1 document final 12 months, albeit as a backup with Chicago. That is Philadelphia though, where goalies usually overlook easy methods to save pucks.
Sign up your group and league as we speak.
Fantasy Hockey: Tiering goaltenders to improve draft success
0 comments:
Post a Comment