It never fails. Every year, NHL goalies who were a sure bet in the crease the season prior, find a way to fall flat on their face. It could be injury, sporadic play or even just father time that opens the door for the newest and next big puck stopper to swoop in and steal the job away from the incumbent netminder.
So which goaltenders, previously of marginal to no fantasy value, are poised to make a big impact and have breakout campaigns this hockey season? Let’s take a look.
DEVAN DUBNYK – EDMONTON OILERS
With all of those first-round draft picks in recent years finally coming of age, the Edmonton Oilers appear to be a team on the rise in the NHL this season. But their success on the ice and in the standings may very well be hinged to one player in particular; Devan Dubnyk. The former first-round pick by the Oilers in ’04 finally looks ready to assume the role as the starter for the Oil, winning favour with the coaching staff this preseason after
Nikolai Khabibulin landed himself in an Arizona jail for two weeks this past offseason for DUI. It’s not like the 38-year-old Khabibulin has been ‘lights out’ in his two years in Edmonton. He’s managed to win only 17 of 64 starts, including a 10-32-4 record last season. The bottom line is, it’s Dubbie time. So spark ‘em up. Expect a minimum of 50 starts and 25 wins.
SEMYON VARLAMOV – COLORADO AVALANCHE
A change of scenery. The undisputed #1 goalie in town. All signs point to this finally being the breakout season for Varlamov, the former Capitals first-round pick in ’06. Unlike Washington, there’s no need for Varly to look over his shoulder every time he lets in a goal in Colorado. While
J-S Giguere may have been brought in as insurance, the injury-plagued 34-year-old is in no position at this stage of his career to genuinely contest for a #1 spot. OK sure, there’s the question of whether Varlamov can stay healthy and prove he can start 60+ games over the course of an entire NHL season. But IF Varlamov can stay healthy, he is poised to post 30+ wins for the Avs between the pipes this season, similar to how the previously untested
Craig Anderson did it when he arrived in Colorado in 2009-10.
AL MONTOYA – NEW YORK ISLANDERS
Despite the ‘healthy’
Rick DiPietro supposedly coming out of camp as the #1 guy, Islanders Head Coach
Jack Capuano has shown early on this season that he is more interested in winning hockey games than pandering to management. Al Montoya, who’s started the Isles first two games this season, appears to be Capuano’s guy over the oft-injured DiPietro, despite the latter having 10 years and a gazillion dollars left on his contract, the worst (by far!) in NHL history. We all know that DiPietro will hit IR any minute now, so perhaps the real question is, how does
Evgeni Nabokov fit into this whole equation? Rumors early on suggested the Isles would showcase him in net, following his one-year sabbatical from the NHL, before trying to move him off the Island. While Nabby waits in the wings, Montoya, a former first-rounder himself, looks like he’s finally going to get his shot to stick as a legitimate #1 netminder in the NHL.
JONATHAN BERNIER – LOS ANGELES KINGS
It looks like Kings Head Coach
Terry Murray may have a ‘quick’ trigger finger when it comes to pulling his #1 goalie
Jonathan Quick this season, and fantasy owners of Bernier could be the biggest benefactors. While the Kings have bolstered their lineup this season in an undeniable attempt to make a push for the Cup this season, the pressure is on Quick this season to prove he’s the man who can carry LA to the promised land. Doubts, however, continue to persist after two early first-round playoff exits in each of the last two seasons. Enter Bernier, who had a stellar second half to last season, and has always been the heir apparent in La La land since being drafted 11th overall by the Kings in ’06. With Murray suggesting he’s going to go with the hot hand this season, there’s at least a 50/50 chance for Bernier to muscle his way in and steal the #1 job away from Quick.
Some other notables with genuine fantasy upside this season: Mike Smith (Phoenix), Tuukka Rask (Boston), Michal Neuvirth (Washington)
Daily Faceoff wants to know – which goalies do you think will have breakout seasons this year?
You can follow Dan following the NHL this season on Twitter @Dan_Berlin
