As the 5dimes summer months continue to wind down the NHL fantasy drafts continue to inch closer, and it won’t be long before the e-mails are sent out with the confirmation dates for the beginning of the 2012-13 season. While Sidney Crosby, Steven Stamkos, and Alex Ovechkin will continue to impact fantasy hockey leagues across North America, the goaltending position is a very underrated aspect of the game, especially considering most leagues make it worth nearly half of the statistical categories in head-to-head matchups. Identifying the best goalies for fantasy hockey can be difficult considering all of the factors that contribute to their success or lack thereof, but there are a couple of key rules that can help avoid drafting a bad fantasy goaltender.
One of the most important per head factors in drafting a quality fantasy goaltender is understanding that you are drafting an asset, and not an actual talent. While Henrik Lundqvist is an elite fantasy goaltender with the New York Rangers, his stock would not be the same if he played for a non-contender like the Columbus Blue Jackets, even if he makes them a much better team. The opposite side of this argument could be one of the smartest ways to acquire a top fantasy goalie, as there are several mediocre goaltenders that have thrived on good teams, such as Brian Elliott in St. Louis and Jimmy Howard in Detroit. Another important factor is drafting for potential rather than accomplishments. Projecting a player’s fantasy value is about understanding what they will do, not what they have done, so it isn’t wise to take unnecessary risks based on irrelevant stats. Remembering to draft based on potential, and to stick with strong teams rather than strong talents are the two biggest keys to avoid drafting a bad fantasy goaltender in an online betting league.
