goalieguild

It seemed very fitting that a School of Block lesson fell on the same day that Dobber and I announced our partnership and acquisition of Goalie Post. If you didn’t read the Goalie Guild's press release yet, be sure to check it out right here. And just like that, I have made the dive. I am proud to become the poolie’s newest guide to starting goaltenders and I can’t wait to take over a fully-functional platform that will now house my daily fantasy goalie analysis, advice and insight.

Shout it from the hills – the playoffs are here! It’s time to polish the trophies, drop your cold hard cash on the table and do whatever it takes to finish first, second or third in your league. If you made it this far, you didn’t get here without solid goaltending. And if that’s true, you’re probably confident with those same goalies heading into the first round. But what if you struggle to start the week and you’re left scrambling for points over the weekend?

The clock is ticking, my fantasy friends. The playoffs, at least for most one-year leagues, are just a week away. And with that in the back of everyone’s mind, the chance to make one or two last-ditch efforts to improve your team for the playoffs is there for the taking. I mean, this is why you rationed your allotment of trades and waiver moves, right? But are there any risks worth taking right now in the world of NHL goaltending?

Regardless of age, experience, or skill level, an NHL goaltender must always prove themselves on a nightly basis. Failure to do so results in an open door or an extra start for their counterpart. From there, the potential for a goalie to collect rust or lose their rhythm and confidence grows. Such is the life of a goaltender, where every minute matters.

One week from today, the trade deadline will tear through the National Hockey League like a Texas tornado. The funnel cloud is forming as we speak, as a few goaltenders have already been uprooted and dropped in a new city. Whether these changes improve or ruin a goalie’s fantasy value depends on many different factors, but one thing I know for sure is that traded goalies will be re-energized as they start the next chapter of their pro careers.

A goalie’s performance is shaped as much by the audience as by the actual goaltender. Each and every game is scrutinized in relation (or in comparison) to the demands and expectations of the viewer. Goaltending, even on a basic level, is a very difficult position to analyze. Therefore the viewer’s ability to understand the goalie’s state of mind will always play a major role in how that goalie’s performance, and thus their fantasy value and upside, is portrayed.

In order to better project the fantasy value of an NCAA goaltender, one thing you must realize is that they’re a totally different breed. When I scout a college goalie, I have to recognize elements such as their daily class and practice schedule, the college culture and lifestyle, the intense rivalries, and most importantly, the game’s style differences. Ultimately, I think of the NCAA as a parallel universe to that of the NHL. It’s the same sport, just in a different world.

For six elite goaltenders, the All-Star Weekend was a chance for them to showcase their skills to the entire hockey world. For the other 54 NHL goalies, it was a chance to relax for a long weekend, push the proverbial reset button and get refocused in order to play their best hockey of the season down the stretch.

Another week goes by, another set of prospects get thrown into the NHL fire. On Saturday, it was Braden Holtby shutting down Toronto and receiving high praise from Don Cherry. Less than 24 hours later, Jacob Markstrom made his NHL debut in relief of Scott Clemmensen and suffered the loss. One performance was certainly way more impressive than the other, but the influence each one had on their team’s goalie situation were both massive.

Remember in last week’s School of Block when I mentioned that a legitimate talent rarely struggles for an entire season? From that standpoint, I focused mainly on Martin Brodeur – he was a true workhorse showing the signs needed to reverse his first-half misfortunes. This week’s lesson will again discuss goalies changing their fantasy values, but with a focus on the shifting balance of opportunity and roles.