Saves

If you're looking to reward the workhorse, saves is a better way to do it than games or minutes played. Like those categories, saves are linked (at least partially) to minutes played. It's not a direct correlation, because the defensive strength of the team does factor in, but generally the league's saves leaders are among the leaders in minutes played as well. The advantage of using saves is that you're incorporating performance as well, not just ice time. If I'm looking for one category to complement the Big 4, this would be my choice more often than not.

Goals Against

Some fantasy sites offer goals against as an option. In a points-based league, this could be incorporated into a scoring formula, which you can't do with GAA. That's a nice alternative to traditional goalie scoring formulas that focus just on wins and shutouts. But in a roto or head-to-head league, goals against is redundant if you're already counting GAA.

Points-Based Scoring

This article is primarily geared towards category-based leagues (roto and head-to-head), but for those of you in points-based leagues, you'll want to ensure that goalies are valued fairly in comparison to skaters. There's a ton of variety in points-based scoring, but I'd aim to have the league's top goalies on par with a 90-point forward, with an average starting goalie valued similar to a 70-point forward. So, for example, in a straight points league, you could award 2 points for a win and 2 for a shutout. Under this system, the top handful of goalies would've finished with 80-88 points, which is equivalent to the top forwards (non-Crosby division).

However you choose to integrate goaltenders into your league scoring, there's no doubt that in fantasy – as in real life – your team's fortunes will rise or fall with the performance of your masked men. So here's wishing you more Tuukka Rasks, and fewer Cam Wards!

What do you think? What are the advantages and drawbacks of these goaltending categories, and which ones do you like to employ? And who's your favourite fantasy goaltender, past or present?

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