Forget what you thought you knew about fantasy hockey goalies because this year, it’s a wild west out there. The position is completely up in the air right now, with workhorse netminders becoming a rare breed and committees taking over more and more ice time. Seriously, even the guys we expect to be rock solid are prone to a total meltdown.
The One Goalie You Can Still Trust
Andrei Vasilevskiy just cemented his spot atop the fantasy goalie ranks, making it look easy. The dude snagged his second Vezina Trophy last season, leading the whole league with a ridiculous 39 wins. We’re talking a stellar 2.31 GAA and a .912 save percentage across 58 appearances, which was third-most in the entire circuit. After some whispers about injuries in previous years, those concerns look totally behind him. He’s the absolute top pick, playing for a Lightning squad that’s going to be among the league’s elite again. This isn’t just about picking a goalie, it’s about anchoring your entire fantasy team with someone who delivers.
Roll the Dice or Run For Cover: The High-Stakes Goalies
Beneath Vasilevskiy, it’s a total crapshoot, man. Guys like Igor Shesterkin are baffling. He was the Rangers’ best player, no doubt, but that team had one of the worst records. Now they’ve overhauled their defensive group, so you gotta wonder: big rebound coming or what? Then there’s Connor Hellebuyck. After an MVP year, he had his career’s worst season, going 23-23-11 with a 2.86 GAA and a .895 save percentage. He could literally be traded at any second, making him a nightmare to evaluate. Jake Oettinger notched 35-plus wins for the fourth straight year, hitting 35 last season, but his .899 save percentage is a red flag. Logan Thompson’s got my attention, winning 31 games for the second year running with solid stats, a 2.44 GAA, and a .912 save percentage, especially with Washington’s “excellent offseason additions.” But Ilya Sorokin, an easy top-five goalie talent, is stuck behind an Islanders team I have zero faith in to rise above mediocrity. Jeremy Swayman? He’s a regression candidate because Boston is probably going to fall off a cliff.
And let’s talk fading vets. Jacob Markstrom is going to be wildly over-drafted. Sure, he’s the unquestioned starter for a loaded Florida team, and the upside is there, but that 3.07 GAA and .883 save percentage in 44 games for New Jersey last season? That could blow up in your face. Sergei Bobrovsky just inked a three-year, $21 million deal with Toronto. The wins might come, but he’ll be 38 in September, you know? And Juuse Saros? Three seasons, 181 games, 3.00 GAA, .899 save percentage. Those numbers aren’t exactly screaming “draft me early.”
The Young Guns Who Could Steal Your Season
Don’t sleep on the youngsters either, because there’s some serious potential here. Jakub Dobes, for real, should be way higher on this list. He just signed a three-year, $16 million contract after a killer year with a 29-10-0 record, 2.78 GAA, and a .901 save percentage. Guys like Spencer Knight, Karel Vejmelka, and Lukas Dostal are in this mix too, ready to breakout and totally change the fantasy landscape.
So, when you’re on the clock, remember: Vasilevskiy is the rock, but after that, it’s all about calculated risks and spotting those breakout youngsters. This fantasy season is shaping up to be a tactical battle for goalie gold. Draft smart, everyone!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
Leave a Reply