It’s quite amazing what a trade can do to rejuvenate a goaltender’s game. But it’s also equally impressive how it can totally destroy one. Some thrive in a new setting and others simply crash and burn. For fantasy owners, the only question left to ask is just how long a goalie can play well in his new surroundings. Sustainability is all that matters to you, because that puts points on the board.
When you think of rookie goalies with legitimate fantasy value, you instantly think of Steve Mason and Pekka Rinne. For those in a really deep league (or a keeper), feel free to toss Erik Ersberg, Justin Pogge and Jeff Deslauriers in the mix as well. But now there’s a second Kings rookie coming on strong in a hurry – Jonathan Quick. Has lightning seriously struck twice, or is this just another grave waiting to be dug in the Los Angeles goaltending cemetery?
Another day, another debate. Which goalie should to start and why? This is the main question that plagues you, and for good reason, for there are so few guarantees when it comes to who will get the call on any given night. Even a number of NHL coaches are making questionable decisions in net, ultimately affecting every single fantasy team in some way or another. Therefore, it’s time for a lesson in how decisions can negatively and positively affect a team.
The goalie’s eyes say it all. A blank stare to the heavens after an innocent shot sneaks through, a piercing glare at their defenseman after a deflection in front, or a vengeful look towards the referee in anticipation of an interference penalty. All of these looks of desperation and helplessness are increasing by the week and no goalie can escape the perils that lie ahead, not even those that have eluded it many times before.
Like giant glowing moons, the two ominous I’s of goaltending linger and sulk in the night sky. One of them, Injury, represents the physical component of the position, along with the notion that anyone can fall victim to the dreaded IR list. The other is Inconsistency, representing the mental toughness component, along with the notion that “hot streaks” or “crease takeovers” don’t last very long. And sometimes they don’t even last for an entire week.
Well, today is official Happy Hockey Talk Day. And if you’ve read School of Block or The Cat Eye at all over the past 12 months, you know I’m a huge advocate of the mental and emotional, the motivational and inspirational aspects of goaltending. All too often these themes are buried and lost in the daily grind of fantasy notes, injury updates and trade offers.
There is no solace that comes with losing your starting goaltender due to injury. There’s no extra IR spot on the roster or free agent acquisition to be made, there’s no antidote to fix the scar. Live with it and move on. Roberto Luongo has been placed on the gurney, clad in white sheets and neatly lined up next to Rick DiPietro, Kari Lehtonen, Martin Brodeur, and for now Evgeni Nabokov and Marc-Andre Fleury.
When it all comes crashing down, the only thing left to do is build it back up again. Such is the life of many NHL goalies dealing with their play this season and such is the life of dealing with your own fantasy goalie tandems. The combination of streaky, volatile and inconsistent play is still rampant, so regardless of whether it stems mainly from team play, bad coaching or the goaltender himself, it’s not going away anytime soon.
Whether it’s used correctly or not, the trendy term “goaltending controversy” is being tossed around in many markets right now. I can’t get away from it here in Denver, nor can analysts in Ottawa, Dallas, Chicago, St. Louis…and the list goes on. But no matter what the reasoning is, when you look a little deeper, all of these situations actually walk a very fine line between healthy competition and a real full-fledged controversy.
There’s no denying it, the increase in scoring to start the season has numerous goalies melting under the glow of the red light. Even when they put together a tremendous game, they are still allowing close to an average of three goals, sometimes four or five. But despite this period of inflation for save percentages and goals against averages, there are still plenty of admirable performances and performers to be found. But now they’re just more spread out and somewhat elusive.
