Our latest top-10 draft prep piece arrives in the blue paint for a look at the best of the best between the pipes and the top fantasy goaltending duos in the NHL. With most clubs now going with, at least, two or three serviceable NHL netminders, it's important that fantasy GMs in any league format have an excellent feel for not only starting goalies, but also the ones in line to eat minutes should the first options struggle or get hurt. Here are the top-10 goalie tandems in the fantasy game ranked on their quality and value as pairings.

Honourable mention: Thatcher Demko, Arturs Silovs, Vancouver Canucks. Jordan Binnington, Joel Hofer, St. Louis Blues. Stuart Skinner, Calvin Pickard, Edmonton Oilers.

10) Alexandar Georgiev, Justus Annunen, Colorado Avalanche

A fantasy goalie option that's led the NHL in wins in back-to-back seasons on one of the most dangerous offensive clubs in the league deserves to be on a list of this nature. Even though Georgiev's underlying metrics last season weren't exactly jumping off the page, such as his goals saved above average at a ghastly -11.9, he anchors a duo that shouldn't be overlooked for fantasy hockey value, especially in leagues with fewer goalie categories where wins are more heavily weighted. Annunen is also an intriguing option that plays into this tandem hitting the list, as the former 64th-overall draft pick proved in limited action last year that he's comfortable in the crease at the NHL level registering an 8-4-1 record, .928 save percentage, 2.25 goals-against average, and two shutouts. With that said, it should still be expected Georgiev is to once again get the lion's share of the starts while Annunen continues to develop, increasing the 28-year-old veteran's value even more.

9) Charlie Lindgren, Logan Thompson, Washington Capitals

Underrated front-office exec Chris Patrick deserves a lot of love for the moves he was able to pull off this summer to make the Capitals a team that should definitely be an improved on-ice product with postseason aspirations. The transactions make sense considering the precarious situation the rest of his roster is in, but the addition of Logan Thompson to act as a security blanket-type option behind Charlie Lindgren and almost overnight, Washington will be a group that hangs its hat on the defensive end. Lindgren was sneaky-good last season while putting up career numbers across the board in his first-full campaign as a legitimate number one option to the tune of a 25-16-7 record to go along with a .911 save percentage, 2.67 goals-against average, and six shutouts (tied for league lead). Sprinkle in new blue-liners Jakob Chychrun and Matt Roy and we can't help but feel those numbers could actually improve, even with the more-than-capable Thompson in town pushing him for minutes. Either of these netminders serve as excellent secondary goalie options with number one potential and solid fantasy hockey value.

8) Connor Hellebuyck, Kaapo Kähkönen, Winnipeg Jets

This is where the list got a little tricky to lay down as Hellebuyck is clearly a top-five fantasy option who is highly sought after but the secondary Kähkönen option is scaring us off having this duo ranked any higher. Yes, we understand the perennial Finnish backup was at the peril of playing behind the San Jose Sharks over the last three seasons, but he's been a perennial backup in his career for a reason and will be in tough to hold down the blue paint if for some reason Hellebuyck falters or gets bit by the injury bug. However, considering how durable and talented Hellebuyck is, he has to be mentioned on this list and is good enough to pull Kähkönenalong for the ride.

7) Jake Oettinger, Casey DeSmith, Dallas Stars

Given DeSmith's relatively shaky 2023-24 showing (.895 SV.%, 2.89 GAA), we would have much preferred for the Stars to run it back with their pair from last year of Oettinger and Scott Wedgewood, but for now Dallas' duo snags the number seven spot on our list almost solely based on how big of a season is expected from one of the best in the business in the six-foot-six Minnesota product. Oettinger started slow last year but came on like a house on fire to carry the Stars to within two games of the Stanley Cup Final. If DeSmith can reclaim his form from the previous season this will undoubtedly be a top-five combo by the end of the upcoming 2024-25 campaign.

6) Frederik Andersen, Pyotr Kochetkov, Carolina Hurricanes

Head coach Rod Brind'Amour should get a lot more love for what he does to turn his Carolina roster into one of the toughest to play against on a nightly basis that regularly finishes right at the top of the league in defensive metrics. Allowing a league-low shots against only a season ago at an impressively low 25.6, the Canes should once again be a stingy defensive team in front of the talented tandem of Kochetkov and Andersen. Given how good Freddy was both before and after his blood-clotting issues, it should be expected the wily Danish veteran gets the chance to once again play the majority of minutes for Carolina, but Kochetkov is clearly the goalie of the future in Raleigh who Brind'Amour will quickly turn to should Andersen struggle or once again get sidelined with injury.

5) Jacob Markstrom, Jake Allen, New Jersey Devils

Tommy Fitz coming in hot! What a masterclass of front-office work from Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald over the past couple of years to overhaul the New Jersey organization to the point where it's now looked at as a real threat to make some noise in the Eastern Conference after the addition of Jake Allen and Jacob Markstrom on the back end, to shore up the position that's perennially given the Devils fits. If Markstrom can return to the form he flashed with the Flames a few seasons ago when he rocked a .922 SV.%, 2.22 GAA, 37-15-9 record, and an NHL-leading nine shutouts, then New Jersey is most definitely in business in terms of being a dark horse Cup threat. Allen is the perfect backup to support Markstrom who proved in his limited time with the Devils that he's still got it, posting a 6-6-1 record and .900 SV.% for a Devs group that was clearly already booking tee times. A healthy Dougie Hamilton and additions of Brett Pesce and Brenden Dillon also have us loving this duo even more, as, much like Canes above, New Jersey should be a difficult club to play against in their own zone.

4) Ilya Sorokin, Semyon Varlamov, New York Islanders

If the New York Islanders could find a bit more offensive punch and turn around a penalty kill that ranked dead last in the league last season it should lead to a bounce-back campaign for a player in Sorokin who still has all the tools and talent to be a top-three netminder in fantasy circles. A full season of Patrick Roy behind the bench, another year of experience for Noah Dobson, and the under-the-radar add of Anthony Duclair should all lead to the Islanders being an improved club, but until we see Sorokin in game action this year we're somewhat wary to put him any higher.

3) Sergei Bobrovsky, Spencer Knight, Florida Panthers

Even with Knight being mostly an enigma for the past couple of years while dealing with off-ice personal issues, this duo has more talent than most and Bob has clearly shown the hockey world how good he is over the past two seasons. In terms of Knight, he was actually solid for the Charlotte Checkers last season while Anthony Stolarz held down his spot as Bobrovsky's number two, registering a .905 SV.% and 2.41 GAA in 45 games of AHL action and despite his issues away from the rink, he still projects to be a number one goalie option moving forward. Until then the crease is still Bob's to lose, and given his back-to-back runs to the Cup and the Panthers' first-ever banner being raised in a few weeks' time, the decorated Russian 'tender is a lock for our list.

2) Juuse Saros, Scott Wedgewood, Nashville Predators

The Nashville Predators have been a hot topic this offseason, and for good reason. Front-office savant Barry Trotz swung for the fences and landed three of the biggest free-agent names on the market in Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, and Brady Skjei – everyone in the fantasy community knows this, but what will these additions mean for a goalie in Saros who is now clearly backstopping the best version of the Preds he's ever played behind. Sprinkle in Trotz' sneaky-smart acquisition of one of the more reliable backups from the past decade in Wedgewood and the hype in the Music City is definitely real. Don't be surprised if this is the year Saros finally gets the first Vezina of his All-Star-caliber career.

1) Igor Shesterkin, Jonathan Quick, New York Rangers

When you employ a Conn Smythe-level netminder flaunting two Cup rings as your backup, your number one is likely a complete fantasy stud, that’s a luxury most teams cannot brag about. Such is the case for the New York Rangers who enter the 2024-25 season rocking with a tandem of Jonathan Quick and Igor Shesterkin, a duo poised to have the Blueshirts once again sitting atop NHL standings as reigning Presidents' Trophy champs. Much like Oettinger above, Shesterkin struggled during the first half of the year, leading many fantasy hockey GMs to lose sleep and likely positioning, to only surge in the second while going 17-5-1 over the final 24 games and posting a .929 SV.% and four shutouts. Shesty is the best in the business and he's backed-up by one of the best American-born goalies to ever do it in Quick. Lock this duo in as the best fantasy hockey tandem.