Fantasy Corner: Top 20 Goalies

1. Roberto Luongo, VAN (Age: 30)
’08-‘09 Stats: 33-13-7, 2.34 GAA, .920 SV%, 9 SO
3-Year Average: 38-21-7, 2.33 GAA, .919 SV%, 7 SO
Note: The cornerstone of the Vancouver franchise is as good as they come. He could be in for a monster season, as he is set to become a UFA next summer.

2. Tim Thomas, BOS (Age: 35)
’08-‘09 Stats: 36-11-7, 2.10 GAA, .933 SV%, 5 SO
3-Year Average: 31-20-6, 2.56 GAA, .920 SV%, 4 SO
Note: Thomas had a career year in net in ’08. While he may not put up the same un-godly numbers from a year ago, Thomas remains a top 5 fantasy goalie.

3. Martin Brodeur, NJD (Age: 37)
’08-‘09 Stats: 19-9-3, 2.41 GAA, .916 SV%, 5 SO
3-Year Average: 37-20-5, 2.26 GAA, .919 SV%, 7 SO
Note: Brodeur was injured for much of ’08-’09 but still has juice left in the tank. He won 10 of 11 games in one stretch last season.

4. Niklas Backstrom, MIN (Age: 31)
’08-‘09 Stats: 37-24-8, 2.33 GAA, .923 SV%, 8 SO
3-Year Average: 31-15-7, 2.20 GAA, .924 SV%, 6 SO
Note: Backstrom set career-highs in games played and wins in ’08-’09. Be aware of the coaching change in Minnesota, though, as 'Backs' will no longer benefit from the ultra-defensive system of Jacques Lemaire's.

5. Miikka Kiprusoff, CGY (Age: 32)
08-‘09 Stats: 45-25-5, 2.84 GAA, .903 SV%, 4 SO
3-Year Average: 41-25-8, 2.66 GAA, .910 SV%, 4 SO
Note: Despite his GAA on and SV% getting worse over each of the past 4 seasons, ‘Kipper’ is a work-horse that will rack up the wins. He has started 91% of the Flames' games and has accumulated 166 victories since 05-06.

6. Henrik Lundqvist, NYR (Age: 27)
’08-‘09 Stats: 38-25-7, 2.43 GAA, .916 SV%, 3 SO
3-Year Average: 37-24-8, 2.33 GAA, .915 SV%, 6 SO
Note: Lundqvist is remarkably consistent, recording between 37 and 38 wins in each of the past three seasons. He posted the highest GAA of his career in ’08-’09, though.

7. Evgeni Nabokov, SJS (Age: 33)
’08-‘09 Stats: 41-12-8, 2.44 GAA, .910 SV%, 7 SO
3-Year Average: 37-16-7, 2.29 GAA, .911 SV%, 7 SO
Note: Nabokov posted a remarkable record for the Sharks last season. He is a fairly safe bet to tally around 40 wins again this season.

8. Cam Ward, CAR (Age: 25)
’08-‘09 Stats: 39-23-5, 2.44 GAA, .916 SV%, 6 SO
3-Year Average: 35-23-5, 2.71 GAA, .906 SV%, 4 SO
Note: Ward keeps getting better and better. His GAA has decreased by at least 0.18 in each of his first four seasons in the NHL, while his wins, SV%, and shutouts have steadily increased.

9. Jonas Hiller, ANA (Age: 27)
’08-‘09 Stats: 23-15-1, 2.39 GAA, .919 SV%, 4 SO
3-Year Average: 17-11-1, 2.28 GAA, .921 SV%, 2 SO**
Note: The Ducks turned to Hiller as their go-to-guy down the stretch. He did not disappoint, posting sparkling numbers in the postseason (7-6-0, 2.23, .943).

10. Ryan Miller, BUF (Age: 29)
’08-‘09 Stats: 34-18-6, 2.53 GAA, .918 SV%, 5 SO
3-Year Average: 37-20-3, 2.63 GAA, .912 SV%, 3 SO
Note: Miller was white-hot at the start of last season (9 GP, 7 W, 15 GA, 2 SO). He has recorded at least 30 wins in each of his 4 full NHL seasons.

11. Steve Mason, CBJ (Age: 21)
’08-‘09 Stats: 33-20-7, 2.29 GAA, .916 SV%, 10 SO
3-Year Average: 33-20-7, 2.29 GAA, .916 SV%, 10 SO*
Note: Mason’s paltry playoff performance, albeit against Detroit, may have a lingering affect at the start of the ’09 campaign. Don’t overvalue him, as a sophomore slump may be in order.

12. Marc-Andre Fleury, PIT (Age: 24)
’08-‘09 Stats: 35-18-7, 2.67 GAA, .912 SV%, 4 SO
3-Year Average: 31-15-6, 2.61 GAA, .913 SV%, 4 SO
Note: Despite showing flashes of brilliance, ‘Flower’ has been streaky and injury-prone in the past two regular seasons. The departures of d-men Rob Scuderi and Hal Gill could hinder his performance.

13. Marty Turco, DAL (Age: 33)
’08-‘09 Stats: 33-31-10, 2.81 GAA, .898 SV%, 3 SO
3-Year Average: 34-24-7, 2.45 GAA, .906 SV%, 4 SO
Note: Look for Turco to rebound from the worst season of his career in ’08-’09. He is in a contract year and I would not be surprised if he ended up becoming a top 10 fantasy goalie in ’09-’10.

14. Pekka Rinne, NSH (Age: 26)
’08-‘09 Stats: 29-15-4, 2.38 GAA, .917 SV%, 7 SO
3-Year Average: 29-15-4, 2.38 GAA, .917 SV%, 7 SO*
Note: Rinne was no fluke in his rookie season as a Predator. He only allowed 5 or more goals 4 times in 52 games played a year ago.

15. Nikolai Khabibulin, EDM (Age: 36)
’08-‘09 Stats: 25-8-7, 2.33 GAA, .919 SV%, 3 SO
3-Year Average: 24-18-6, 2.61 GAA, .910 SV%, 2 SO
Note: The ‘Bulin Wall’ could stand tall in Edmonton, or it could come crumbling down. He is a risky pick because he has to be motivated to play well and Edmonton may not be a Cup contender in ’09-’10.

16. Cristobal Huet, CHI (Age: 34)
’08-‘09 Stats: 20-15-14, 2.53 GAA, .909 SV%, 3 SO
3-Year Average: 24-15-4, 2.55 GAA, .915 SV%, 3 SO
Note: Huet did not live up to expectations in his first season in Chicago. With Khabibulin out of the picture, Huet could set a career high in wins in ’09-’10.

17. Carey Price, MTL (Age: 22)
’08-‘09 Stats: 23-16-10, 2.83 GAA, .905 SV%, 1 SO
3-Year Average: 24-14-7, 2.71 GAA, .912 SV%, 2 SO
Note: Price took a step back in his sophomore season. His GAA rose significantly from ’08-’09, and his SV% took a hit.

18. Ray Emery, PHI (Age: 27)
’08-‘09 Stats: 21-18-2, 2.48 GAA, .914 SV%, 4 SO
3-Year Average: 23-15-5, 2.80 GAA, .904 SV%, 3 SO
Note: After a leave of absence from the NHL, Emery makes his return as the Flyers’ starting goaltender. He could regain his form from ’06-’07 if all goes well (33 W, 2.47 GAA, .918 SV%)

19. Tomas Vokoun, FLA (Age: 33)
’08-‘09 Stats: 26-23-6, 2.49 GAA, .926 SV%, 6 SO
3-Year Average: 28-21-6, 2.52 GAA, .922 SV%, 5 SO
Note: Florida figures to be a weaker team in ’09-’10 than they were last season. Vokoun will struggle to rack up the wins and the departure of Bouwmeester will only hurt Vokoun.

20. Chris Mason, STL (Age: 33)
’08-‘09 Stats: 27-21-7, 2.41 GAA, .916 SV%, 6 SO
3-Year Average: 23-18-6, 2.56 GAA, .913 SV%, 5 SO
Note: Mason posted the highest win total of his career in ’08-’09. But keep in mind that '07-'08 was the only other time he entered the season as a starter (with Nashville)... and we all know what happened then.