NHL.com updates the top 25 fantasy goalie landscape based on past production and expectations for next season in standard Yahoo leagues. Fantasy owners should use these updated rankings as a basis for team evaluation, keeper decisions and offseason draft research. These rankings will be updated throughout the offseason after other signings, trades, injury and prospect news, training camp, NHL Preseason games, fantasy mock drafts and any other developments. For more fantasy coverage, visit NHL.com/Fantasy.
Fantasy top 25 goalie rankings for July 2018-19
Hutton has sleeper potential for improved Sabres; Mrazek, Lehner intriguing late-round options with new teams, coaches
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Top 250
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100 'F'
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50 'D'
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Team power ranks
Mock draft for 2018-19
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Injury report
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Free agency roundup
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Cheat sheet
After 2018 free agency, here are some notable goalies that have gained value as beneficiaries from offseason movement and coaching changes around the NHL:
Carter Hutton, BUF: After signing a three-year contract with the Buffalo Sabres on July 1, Hutton looks to be the clear No. 1 and will likely set NHL career highs in games played (40), starts (34) and wins (20). Hutton's 2.09 GAA and .931 save percentage with the St. Louis Blues last season led all goalies who appeared in at least 20 games, although it would be a stretch to think he can duplicate that. His .910 SV% when shorthanded ranked second in the NHL behind Anaheim Ducks goalie John Gibson (.916), providing a potential boost to the Sabres' penalty kill (77.9 percent, 22nd). Buffalo allowed the third-most goals per game last season (3.39) but should be much-improved at even strength with defenseman Rasmus Dahlin (No. 1 pick in 2018 NHL Draft). Hutton has been a viable backup or timeshare goalie in St. Louis and Nashville, but has yet to prove he's capable of managing a heavier workload. Hutton, 32, will mentor backup Linus Ullmark after Chad Johnson (Blues) and Robin Lehner (New York Islanders) left in free agency. Hutton could be a steal if drafted outside the top 20 goalies, especially after Buffalo acquired goal-scoring left wing Jeff Skinner from the Carolina Hurricanes.
Petr Mrazek, CAR: Mrazek has shown flashes of brilliance in his NHL career but was inconsistent after being traded to the Philadelphia Flyers from the Detroit Red Wings on Feb. 19, going 6-6-3 with a 3.22 GAA, .891 SV% and one shutout in 17 games. After agreeing to terms on a one-year contract with the Hurricanes, the 26-year-old enters the season in a timeshare situation but could become the full-time starter. Scott Darling was a huge fantasy disappointment last season, going 13-21-7 with a 3.18 GAA and the lowest SV% (.888) among the 56 goalies to play at least 20 games. Mrazek and Darling each has bounce-back potential under new coach Rod Brind'Amour, especially after the Hurricanes brought in defensemen Dougie Hamilton (trade) and Calvin de Haan (four-year contract). With Carolina on the cusp of Stanley Cup Playoff contention, Mrazek is a deep sleeper worth considering in the final rounds of your draft.
Robin Lehner, NYI:The 26-year-old should see the bulk of starts after signing a one-year contract with the Islanders on July 3. He was 14-26-9 with a 3.01 GAA, .908 SV% and three shutouts in 53 games (50 starts) last season and allowed four or more goals 15 times. It's concerning that the Islanders allowed the most goals in the NHL (293, 3.57 per game) but new coach Barry Trotz should improve their defense. Even after losing elite center John Tavares in free agency, the Islanders have a strong offense that could give Lehner more consistent goal support than the Sabres did. Lehner has started at least 50 games in each of the past two seasons, and his competition is backup Thomas Greiss, who was 13-8-2 with a 3.82 GAA and .892 save percentage in 27 games last season but is two seasons removed from 23 wins with a 2.36 GAA and .925 SV%. Lehner, who had a .916 save percentage (.921 at even strength) in his three seasons in Buffalo, may go undrafted in standard leagues but prove to be a viable streaming option off the waiver wire.
TOP 25 GOALIE RANKINGS
Standard Yahoo goalie categories include wins, goals-against average, save percentage and shutouts. ... Value has been quantified based on factors including but not limited to past production, team goaltender situations, anticipated start volume, projected goal support (or lack thereof), injury history, age, sleeper, bounce-back or breakout potential, anticipated regression and contract status. ... Any potential 2019 unrestricted (\) and restricted (\\) free agents are noted below. ... INJ. indicates players with injury concerns. ... David Satriano's goalie rankings may differ from Pete Jensen's order at the position in NHL.com's top 250 overall.
1. Pekka Rinne, NSH\
2. Andrei Vasilevskiy, TBL
3. Connor Hellebuyck, WPG
4. Braden Holtby, WSH
5. Tuukka Rask, BOS
6. Marc-Andre Fleury, VGK
7. Jonathan Quick, LAK
8. Sergei Bobrovsky, CBJ*
9. Frederik Andersen, TOR
10. John Gibson, ANA
11. Matt Murray, PIT
12. Martin Jones, SJS
13. Devan Dubnyk, MIN
14. Ben Bishop, DAL (INJ.)
15. Carey Price, MTL
16. Henrik Lundqvist, NYR (INJ.)
17. Corey Crawford, CHI (INJ.)
18. Antti Raanta, ARI
19. Jake Allen, STL
20. Cam Talbot, EDM*
21. Mike Smith, CGY*
22. Roberto Luongo, FLA
23. Carter Hutton, BUF (NEW)
24. Cory Schneider, NJD
25. Semyon Varlamov, COL (INJ.)\
Dropped out: Brian Elliott, PHI\
Just missed: Philipp Grubauer, COL; Juuse Saros, NSH; Keith Kinkaid, NJD\; Petr Mrazek, CAR*; Robin Lehner (NYI)\
READ: Top 25 goalie rankings from June 29
