Choosing NHL Goaltenders on DraftStreet
Choosing your goaltender is the most important decision you need to make each day when setting your hockey lineups on Draftstreet. This process can leave you arguing with yourself half the morning, as you try to balance price, best chance for a win, all the while monitoring who’s getting the start in net for each team. The price range is dramatic, going from a mere $6,261 for Dwayne Roloson up to a crippling $28,576 for Brian Elliot. That’s the difference between spending 6% and consuming almost 1/3 of your cap space on one position.
Typically my approach each day is to list out 3 or 4 goalies that have the best chance at victory and then check the cap hits to pick the cheapest one. Some goalies (like Roloson) will never enter my consideration. So, starting at the bottom and working my way up the pay scale, I’ll run through some of the top options I’ve been spotting lately in net right now, value priced under a manageable $16k (estimated depending on day).
Current Top Value Goalies
1. Martin Brodeur (NJ) – $8.2k
I realize the fall from glory is obvious at this point, but this price is insulting for the greatest goalie of all time. He still has some good games left in him, and if you can time it right against a low-scoring opponent, you can cash in big time at this cap hit. He’s more or less splitting time with Hedberg at this point, so you need to check the starter before taking the chance.
2. Evgeni Nabokov (NYI) – $12.5k
The Nabokov experiment has been a rocky one this season with mixed results. It’s tough to overlook that beautiful price tag. With Montoya going down again last night, the Isles will be counting on Nabokov to drag them out of their funk. He looked alright in relief last night against the Jets, stopping all 19 shots he faced.
3. Michal Neuvirth (WAS) – $13.9k
The Caps have handed the reigns over to Neuvirth over the past week, and he’s delivered with a couple of wins and a shutout. His GAA in December is around 1. When is that price correction coming?
4. Cam Ward (CAR) – $14.6k
Ward has two things going for him right now. He faces a ton of shots (which means lots of saves) each night in front of a struggling Carolina defense. And the Canes have nobody else to turn to. He’s been in the cage for 21 of the last 23 games, and is still delivering a respectable 6.3 FPPG, despite a poor showing in the win column. If the Canes can string together some wins, he can be a huge value play.
5. Richard Bachman (DAL) – $14.7k
Bachman has seized the opportunity in his NHL debut as the Stars await the return of Lehtonen. He is 4-1 as a starter with a 2.25 GAA. He’s generating an average of 7.6 FPPG. This run won’t last forever, so cash in while you can.
6. Jaroslav Halak (STL) – $14.8k
It’s not at all surprising that Halak has been fantastic for fantasy owners since Hitchcock stepped behind the bench. Over the last 9 games, he’s lost just once in regulation, while posting a 1.75 GAA. He’s still splitting the net with Elliot, but Elliot will cost you double while providing the same return.
7. Corey Crawford (CHI) – $15.2k
Crawford will have to wait for his turns at this point, with Emery playing top-notch hockey. Look for him to cash in on back-to-back situations. He’s still providing about 6 FPPG at a fair market value of 15.2k for the league-leading Hawks.
8. Ilya Bryzgalov (PHI) – $15.4k
Few goalies have been as erratic as Bryzgalov this season. At times, he’s been unbeatable. And then he completely collapses. Still, it’s always tempting to take that chance at this price, as the Flyers can win on any given night. He also sees more shots than most goalies, which pads the save stat.
9. Ty Conklin (DET) – $15.8k
He hasn’t fared as well this year and he has in past seasons as a backup; however, Detroit is playing much better hockey right now than they were early on when Conklin got most of his action.
10. Johan Hedberg (NJ) – $15.9k
Hard to believe that at age 38, Hedberg would continue to show up Brodeur with his opportunities in New Jersey. His GAA sits at 2.41 and he’s averaging 7 FPPG. While the Devils are far from a sure thing most nights, Hedberg has been a consistent contributor to fantasy victories on Draftstreet this season.