Rating the NHL Goaltenders

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Oct 5, 2010

Rating the NHL Goaltenders

1. Boston Bruins

SI.com columnist Darren Eliot, a former NHL goaltender, offers his appraisal of each team's netminding duo for the 2010-11 season, in order of their relative strength and taking into account the durability of the go-to guy, the lack of a proven backup, and consistency. The upstart and the old fart ... Rask is the real deal, so don't expect any slippage after his stellar rookie campaign. Never, ever, however, bet against Thomas having a major impact in his quest to play meaningful games once again for the B's. Click HERE for Darren's take on the goaltending trend in the NHL.

2. New Jersey Devils

They're not quite as old as the Terry Sawchuk/Johnny Bower tandem that led the Toronto Maple Leafs to their last Stanley Cup in 1967, but certainly Brodeur, 38, and Hedberg, 37, are the best puck-handling duo of all time. Speaking of time, Hedberg knows he has to earn it, but is Brodeur willing to relent and play less during the regular season? Click HERE for Darren's take on the goaltending trend in the NHL.

3. Pittsburgh Penguins

Johnson is the perfect backup in that he can play sporadically and find a way to win. He can even come in and carry a team for a stretch of games. But it is now on Fleury to become the perfect starter by sharpening his focus, reducing his number of weak goals and shortening his stretches of uneven play. Click HERE for Darren's take on the goaltending trend in the NHL.

4. Phoenix Coyotes

Bryzgalov was phenomenal in Phoenix last season and LaBarbera proved to be the perfect compliment. Both are big, aggressive and now established in their respective career roles -- all positives for the Coyotes coming off a surprise season into one that's now filled with elevated expectations. Click HERE for Darren's take on the goaltending trend in the NHL.

5. New York Rangers

Lundqvist is a proven commodity at this point -- durable and dependable. So, too, is journeyman Biron. Yet, Lundqvist's down and deep approach might need a little spiffing up this season, as shooters around the league seem to be finding some cracks in King Henry's once almost impenetrable armor -- not a good development for a team that often struggles to score. Click HERE for Darren's take on the goaltending trend in the NHL.

6. St. Louis Blues

Coming over from the Montreal, Halak gives the Blues and up and coming legitimate number one netminder who is building an impressive NHL track record. Add professional backup Conklin and you have the near perfect tandem scenario. Click HERE for Darren's take on the goaltending trend in the NHL.

7. Buffalo Sabres

I believe that Miller is the top goaltender in the game today. He means more to the Sabres than any other goalie does to his team -- no offense intended to Miller's backup, Lalime. Miller's high performance level last season was amazing. But he can't come off that standard even a bit this season. Otherwise, the Sabres will be a middle of the road outfit. Talk about pressure... Click HERE for Darren's take on the goaltending trend in the NHL.

8. San Jose Sharks

The Sharks have added two Finns of distinction: Niemi won the Stanley Cup with the Blackhawks. Niittymaki, who won 21 games in Tampa Bay last season, has a Bronze medal on his resume from the 2006 Olympic Games. This is as proven an even split-time tandem as you will find. Click HERE for Darren's take on the goaltending trend in the NHL.

9. Detroit Red Wings

Howard played brilliantly last season in his first real whack at the NHL level. Osgood morphed into the mentor-backup role to great effect. It's a unique dynamic and one of the better storylines from a season ago. Both goaltenders should be able to carry their roles even further this time around. Click HERE for Darren's take on the goaltending trend in the NHL.

10. Los Angeles Kings

Quick slowly ran out of energy after a breakthrough season as a starter. That won't happen this time around with Bernier pushing not just for playing time, but starting status as well. The competition for the crease will be real and the results should reflect that. Click HERE for Darren's take on the goaltending trend in the NHL.

11. Atlanta Thrashers

For the first time in franchise history, the Thrashers have a proven 30-game winner in Mason, who is able to play over 60 games in a season. Backup Pavelec is a hungry twenty-something with some experience and more to prove. Both netminders are big-body shot blockers. Click HERE for Darren's take on the goaltending trend in the NHL.

12. Florida Panthers

Vokoun is a battler and a gamer, and he plays a lot (averaging 64 games in each of the past three seasons). Yet, those qualities have never really been quite enough. He plays too much to not have a dip in the quality of his play at some point in the season and it is always drop-off that the Panthers never seem up to overcoming. Journeyman Clemmensen (23 appearances for Florida last season) is a reliable backup who played very well in a career-high 40 for New Jersey in 2008-09. Click HERE for Darren's take on the goaltending trend in the NHL.

13. Colorado Avalanche

Anderson was the first half story of the year in goal for the Avs last season, leaving little room for Budaj to get time in goal. Now, can Anderson follow up his stellar performance and will coach Joe Sacco find a way to get Budaj some games to keep Anderson from withering? Click HERE for Darren's take on the goaltending trend in the NHL.

14. Carolina Hurricanes

Ward is a one-man show in Raleigh, meaning if he gets hurt -- he has battled injuries throughout his career -- Justin Peters, age 24, is left as the understudy (nine games of NHL experience) in a starring role. Click HERE for Darren's take on the goaltending trend in the NHL.

15. Vancouver Canucks

After another disappointing playoff exit, Luongo finds himself having to bounce back even after he won gold at the Olympics. Schneider is ready to serve his apprenticeship as backup, but the Canucks are looking to Luongo to reestablish his fundamentals and make a difference when it matters most. Perhaps his relinquishing the team's captaincy will help. Click HERE for Darren's take on the goaltending trend in the NHL.

16. Minnesota Wild

Backstrom is a proven puck-stopper who always knew that Josh Harding had his back. But Harding is out for the season after wrecking his knee, so the Wild have signed the veteran Theodore -- who has never been a backup, at least in his own mind. This season, more than any other, Backstrom must be a difference-maker. Click HERE for Darren's take on the goaltending trend in the NHL.

17. Calgary Flames

Kiprusoff was great last season, as he often has been, and he played a lot of games as he always does. That formula -- with no proven backup yet again -- is getting old in Calgary and, at 34, Kipper isn't getting younger. Looking at the unimpressive roster that surrounds him, the chance of another campaign of Kiprusoff's 2009-10 caliber (35-28-10, 2.31 GAA, .920 save pct.) seems slim under the circumstances. Click HERE for Darren's take on the goaltending trend in the NHL.

18. Montreal Canadiens

The Canadiens aren't as strong in goal as a year ago, but it isn't Price's fault. He played pretty well last season and will do so again. It's just that Jaroslav Halak played better during the playoffs and now he's in St. Louis. The Habs obviously don't expect journeyman backup Alex Auld to carry them if Price melts in the heat of the unrelenting pressure of Montreal. Click HERE for Darren's take on the goaltending trend in the NHL.

19. Washington Capitals

Two young, promising netminders vying to assert themselves as the starter sounds like what the Canadiens have gone through the past couple of seasons. The question is who will win that battle -- Varlamov or Neuvirth -- and will the Caps follow suit and trade one, perhaps even the eventual winner? Step one starts on opening night. Click HERE for Darren's take on the goaltending trend in the NHL.

20. Chicago Blackhawks

Turco and Crawford are at opposite ends of the career spectrum. Veteran Turco is grasping to finish on a high note and Crawford is looking to establish himself as NHL-ready. It's an interesting dynamic and it might even work...but the odds are long with Turco's penchant for creating his own holes. Click HERE for Darren's take on the goaltending trend in the NHL.

21. Toronto Maple Leafs

The formula here is prototypical Francois Allaire teaching: big body shot blockers in Giguere and Gustavsson who rely on economy of motion to stop the first shot, but they burden the defense with unremitting rebound-clearing after that first save is made. Click HERE for Darren's take on the goaltending trend in the NHL.

22. Anaheim Ducks

Hiller is the go-to guy and he will be forced to make more tough saves than ever before, given the state of flux in which the Ducks' blueline finds itself. McElhinney is a backup in every sense of the word, with no starting pedigree at this level to speak of. Click HERE for Darren's take on the goaltending trend in the NHL.

23. Tampa Bay Lightning

A pair of goalies who couldn't break through as youngsters in Dallas are reunited in Tampa after having shown flashes elsewhere at the NHL level. What does it all mean? A rotation based on gut feel by new head coach Guy Boucher as he tries to coax consistency out of his streaky tandem. Click HERE for Darren's take on the goaltending trend in the NHL.

24. Nashville Predators

Rinne outplayed the now-departed Dan Ellis for starting time and the accompanying long-term deal that went with the role. Now Rinne must deliver consistency from start to finish this season and do it without any proven backup behind him. He didn't play his best until halfway through last season's campaign -- and that made life much tougher for the Preds in the hotly contested Western Conference. Click HERE for Darren's take on the goaltending trend in the NHL.

25. New York Islanders

I have nothing but respect and admiration for how well Roloson played last season on the Island. Still, I want to see the athletic antics of DiPietro on display once again for the Islanders. The fans miss them and the Isles need the oft-injured first overall draft pick from 2000 to be at his acrobatic best. Click HERE for Darren's take on the goaltending trend in the NHL.

26. Dallas Stars

In Lehtonen and Raycroft, the Stars have the NHL's castoff coupling. Raycroft, a former NHL Rookie of the Year, is now a journeyman backup. Lehtonen, the second overall pick in the 2002 draft, is getting a second chance to establish himself. Maybe he will, but probably not, especially given the caliber of this rebuilding team. Click HERE for Darren's take on the goaltending trend in the NHL.

27. Columbus Blue Jackets

Mason won the Calder Trophy in 2008-09 and was handed a humility sandwich last season, as he struggled mightily throughout. Garon is one of the most reliable relievers in the game and might see more starts because the Jackets won't be as patient with Mason in giving him time to relocate his form. Click HERE for Darren's take on the goaltending trend in the NHL.

28. Ottawa Senators

You can't expect any more out of Elliott, a 10th round pick in 2003. The problem for the Sens is that they expect more out of Leclaire and he just hasn't shown the consistency throughout his career to warrant such lofty regard. Click HERE for Darren's take on the goaltending trend in the NHL.

29. Philadelphia Flyers

What do you say and who do you say it about when looking at the Flyers' goaltending? After going to the Stanley Cup Final, Leighton, who will miss the start of the season due to back problems, deserved a new contract. The equally streaky Boucher was already signed. Still, how can a team that's so well-built and competitive year after year seemingly leave goaltending as an afterthought every single season? Click HERE for Darren's take on the goaltending trend in the NHL.

30. Edmonton Oilers

The aging and embattled Khabibulin returns after missing most of last season with back ailments that led to surgery. Behind him are Deslauriers and Dubnyk -- the youngsters who bore the brunt of a barrage last season. Khabibulin in top form could really help cover the errors this young Oilers team is bound to make. Click HERE for Darren's take on the goaltending trend in the NHL.