Fantasy top 25 goalie rankings for 2018-19, June 29

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 free agency, trades, injury and prospect news, fantasy mock drafts and any other developments.

MORE RANKINGS:
Top 250
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100 'F'
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50 'D'
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Keeper
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Cheat sheet
With the NHL draft over, here are five goalie situations to monitor for fantasy purposes:
Colorado Avalanche: Philipp Grubauer, 26, was acquired by the Avalanche on Friday and signed a three-year contract with them Saturday, creating a timeshare situation for next season. The backup for the Washington Capitals this season earned extended playing time down the stretch, going 11-3-0 with a .934 save percentage in his final 17 regular-season games (14 starts), but faltered in the playoffs, losing his starting job after Games 1 and 2 of the first round against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Grubauer should compete for starts with the oft-injured Semyon Varlamov, who's in a contract year and hasn't played more than 60 games since 2013-14. Fantasy owners should weigh the risks before reaching for a goalie from Colorado, the only team with two players in the current top 25.
Nashville Predators: Veteran Pekka Rinne has been one of the most consistent goalies in the past five seasons; his 148 wins ranks second in the span to Braden Holtby of the Washington Capitals (165) and his 19 shutouts rank fourth. Rinne was the most valuable fantasy goalie this season with 42 wins, a 2.31 goals-against average, .927 SV% and finished tied for the NHL lead with eight shutouts. However, he's 35 years old and could see his workload decline for the fourth straight season after starting 66 games in 2015-16, 61 in 2016-17 and 59 this season. Backup Juuse Saros, 23, can become a restricted free agent but has seen his playing time increase over the past two seasons; he started 23 games in 2017-18, going 11-5-7 with a 2.42 GAA, .923 SV% and four shutouts. Rinne remains an elite goalie option, but may no longer be a lock for 60 starts. This could be the transition year in net for Nashville.
New Jersey Devils: An injury-plagued season combined with poor play led Cory Schneider to appear in 40 games, his fewest total in five seasons with the Devils. His 2.93 GAA was his highest in eight seasons in which he's played at least 20 games. He finished 0-10-2 with a 4.04 GAA and .863 SV% with his final win of the season coming against the Detroit Red Wings on Dec. 27. He allowed at least three goals in each of those 12 games, including at least four goals in seven of them. However, Schneider returned to form in the Stanley Cup Playoffs when he went 1-2 against the Tampa Bay Lightning with a 1.78 GAA and .950 SV%, complicating New Jersey's goalie situation. Keith Kinkaid, who started the season as the backup, outperformed Schneider with a 26-10-3 record and 2.77 GAA in 41 games before faltering in the playoffs. Although each goalie is signed next season, it wouldn't be surprising if the Devils traded Schneider, who had offseason hip surgery and could miss the start of training camp.
Philadelphia Flyers: They have perhaps the most interesting goalie situation in the NHL and didn't give Petr Mrazek (6-6-3, 3.22 GAA, .891 SV% in 17 games after he was acquired from Detroit Red Wings last season) a qualifying offer. Veterans Brian Elliott and Michael Neuvirth (potential 2019 UFAs) could start the season as Philadelphia's goalie tandem, although each dealt with injury and underperformed last season. The Flyers also have Alex Lyon, 25, who was 4-2-1 with a 2.75 GAA in 11 games in his rookie season, and one of the top goalie prospects in Carter Hart, who was named the Canadian Hockey League goalie of the year in each of the past two seasons. It wouldn't be surprising if Hart is in the Flyers lineup sooner than later, so he's worth keeping an eye on in fantasy keeper leagues.
St. Louis Blues: Backup Carter Hutton could be in line for a big payday after having his best NHL season with the Blues in 2017-18. His 2.09 GAA and .931 SV% led all goalies who appeared in at least 20 games. Combine that with his 17-7-3 record and three shutouts, it's more than likely several teams will be interested in the pending UFA. If he isn't back, Jake Allen will get another shot at being the No. 1 goalie. His GAA has increased and his SV% has decreased the past three seasons, and he lost more games (28) than he won (27) this season. Allen may have been inconsistent, but it's worth noting he started 9-3-1 with a .921 SV% and is capable of putting up strong peripherals if the Blues remain healthy, something that wasn't the case last season.

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 (pending unrestricted or restricted free agent). ... In addition to players who could become unrestricted or restricted free agents July 1, any potential 2019 UFAs (\) and RFAs (\\) are also noted below. ... INJ. indicates players who dealt with injuries at the end of the regular season and/or in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. ... 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 (RFA)
4. Braden Holtby, WSH
5. Tuukka Rask, BOS
6. Marc-Andre Fleury, VGK*
7. Sergei Bobrovsky, CBJ*
8. Jonathan Quick, LAK
9. John Gibson, ANA\\
10. Matt Murray, PIT
11. Frederik Andersen, TOR
12. Martin Jones, SJS
13. Devan Dubnyk, MIN
14. Carey Price, MTL
15. Ben Bishop, DAL (INJ.)
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. Semyon Varlamov, COL (INJ.)*
24. Cory Schneider, NJD
25. Philipp Grubauer, COL
Just missed: Brian Elliott, PHI\; Craig Anderson, OTT; Juuse Saros, NSH (RFA); Keith Kinkaid, NJD\; Aaron Dell, SJS
Notable potential UFA goalies: Carter Hutton, STL; Petr Mrazek, PHI; Jonathan Bernier, COL; Robin Lehner, BUF; Jaroslav Halak, NYI
READ: Top 25 goalie rankings from April