Fantasy Hockey Roundtable

11/28/2009 8:49 PM -  Ian Gooding

 

Did you know that one Islanders goalie has a record of 8-2-5 this season?

Which goaltending battle has been the most intriguing so far this season?

At first, I figured this choice wouldn’t be the most popular one of this week’s Roundtable, but you might say there’s a recency effect to my pick. The New York Islanders’ goaltending tandem of Dwayne Roloson and Martin Biron was largely shunned on draft day, but they have been better than advertised this season, even if their 2.78 GAA is not in the top half of the league. Teams like Toronto, Carolina, and even Columbus have much worse team goals-against averages that are well over the 3.00 mark.

Roloson, who has started 15 games this season, recently came off a 58-save win against the Leafs on Monday. One of the more surprising stats that you’re likely to see this season is Roloson’s record of 8-2-5. Not bad for a guy who just turned 40. Biron, on the other hand, has better long-term value as a starter. But in 13 games, Biron has a 2-8-2 record. A closer examination of the stats reveals that their win-loss records are misleading, since the goalies’ goals-against average differs by only 0.02.

Things will become more interesting sooner than you’d think, since Rick DiPietro has recently begun to practice. There’s no reason to believe that Isles coach Scott Gordon will rush DP back, so the goaltending timeshare could very well turn into a three-headed monster. Who will be the odd man out? Certainly not the man with the 15-year contract and all the durability of fine china. So Roloson or Biron will have to be moved to a team with an injured or iffy starter. 

A situation far from certain, yes. But in terms of pure drama, this goaltending tandem will be the most intriguing one by the end of the season – mark my words.

Ian Gooding, fantasyhockey.com

Since the start of the season I have been keeping an eye on the goalie battle in Washington. A full time #1 in Washington can lead to a possible 40 win season, which is gold in fantasy hockey if your league just counts wins. If your league counts GAA and SV%, it’s a totally different story as the Capitals tend to score enough goals to make up for their lack of defense.

Semyon Varlamov: 9-1-2, 2.35 GAA (9th), .922 SV%(7th) 

Jose Theodore: 5-3-4,  3.24 GAA (39th), .893 SV% (38th)

If your league counts GAA and SV% and you are looking for a Caps goalie, go with Varlamov.

With the injury to Theodore, Varlamov has taken advantage and if he continues to thrive he could be the starter even when Theo returns. However, due to Theo’s salary I would expect them to rotate based on whoever is winning. I expect a 50-50 split until mid February at which time Varlamov will be the goalie during the home stretch and the playoffs.

Marcus Schalle, dobberhockey.com

I’ve been most interested in the Islander goalie situation, where you have both Marty Biron and Dwayne Roloson putting up strong numbers.

The fascinating thing is that despite their statistical similarities (Roloson has a 2.80 GAA and .920 SV%; Biron has a 2.78 GAA and .910 SV%), Roloson is 8-2-5 and Biron is 2-8-2.

Similar numbers by older goalies, both playing behind the same team and the wins/losses are like night and day.

And of course, this goalie battle will only get more interesting if presumable franchise goalie Rick DiPietro returns.

The Islanders, who had almost no goaltending last season, could find themselves with three strong goalies.

It’s feast or famine in the nets on Long Island.

Steven Ovadia, rotorob.com

The one battle that stands out to me is one that has yet to occur in Chicago.  Antti Niemi has been phenomenal when he plays for the Chicago Blackhawks; however, Cristobal Huet has also been solid for Joel Quenneville’s squad.  Posting a 1.85 GAA with a .921 SV% and two shutouts in only six games would typically allow him to start anywhere in the league, but Huet continues to get the nod.

Kevin Orris, fantasypros911.com