Fantasy Hockey Preview 2014-15: Top Five Breakout Goaltenders

By Rob Kirk on Wednesday, June 18th 2014
Fantasy Hockey Preview 2014-15: Top Five Breakout Goaltenders

We all got a front row seat to an elite goaltending exhibition during the Stanley Cup Final with Henrik Lundqvist and Jonathan Quick sparkling at each end of the ice.

This should surprise no one since both Quick and King Henrik are regularly near the top of everyone’s fantasy hockey goaltending list. There are a handful of other elite net minders that can be counted on to produce at the highest level: Pekka Rinne, Tuukka Rask, Carey Price and I’ll throw in Sergei Bobrovsky because, well, just check out his last two seasons.

There are, however some diamonds in the rough, players that are primed for a breakout, much like Bobrovsky from two years ago. These are players that fly under the radar that are finally ripe for excellence. Ben Bishop, Steve Mason and even Semyon Varlamov would qualify as players that broke out during the 2013-14 season.

Each was given an opportunity to prove themselves, possibly even a “last chance” to do so. They made the most of their opportunity and turned in excellent individual efforts, helping their teams return to the playoffs.

While a playoff berth isn’t required for a goaltender to have an excellent season, the two usually go hand in hand. Here are five goaltenders to watch for the 2014-15 fantasy season.

5. Eddie Lack, Vancouver Canucks

The surprise trade of Roberto Luongo may have been a bit personal from now-unemployed general manager Mike Gillis, but the Canucks believe that Lack is their goaltender of the future. Ironic, particularly since they moved Luongo’s competition for the starting job last summer. With no one to really compete for the starting nod, Lack will be the man in Vancouver when the season starts.

 

4. Ben Scrivens, Edmonton Oilers

It has been an odd couple of years for Scrivens. Moved to Los Angeles in the goalie swap that brought Jonathan Bernier to Toronto, Scrivens found himself firmly planted on the bench behind stud Jon Quick. When Quick was nicked up, Scrivens made the most of his opportunities, putting up stellar numbers to keep the Kings afloat. When Scrivens went down to injury, Martin Jones took center stage and looked just as good. With Scrivens expendable as Jones assumed the backup role, he joined the Oilers in a deadline deal. With Edmonton, Scrivens will finally get the starting job that had been just out of reach in Toronto and Los Angeles.

 

3. Jaroslav Halak, New York Islanders

Speaking of goaltenders that have lived out of a suitcase in the last 18 months, Jaro Halak has been on a magical mystery tour that landed in Long Island. Well, Brooklyn now, since the Islanders will be using the Barclays Center next season. Halak has the all the tools to become an elite goaltender and could be the missing piece that the Isles need to get back to the playoffs and be an annual contender for the Metropolitan Division.

 

2. Cory Schneider, New Jersey Devils

For some ungodly reason the Devils decided to use Martin Brodeur’s ghoulish 57-year old corpse in goal for almost half the season. While Brodeur might go down as the greatest to ever wear the pads, he was down right awful last season and possibly cost a decent New Jersey club a playoff berth. Schneider was better than advertised, posting a microscopic 1.97 GAA and a .921 save percentage. Schneider got virtually no goal support and it was reflected with his win-loss record.

 

1.Frederik Andersen, Anaheim Ducks

The Ducks felt strongly enough about Andersen to tell Jonas Hiller to kick rocks. The Danish backstop posted a remarkable 20-5 record and was much more consistent than his Swiss (former) teammate. Coach Bruce Boudreau seemed to favor the Danish rookie last season instead of the veteran Hiller down the stretch. When Andersen got hurt in the playoffs, John Gibson, another highly touted rookie got a turn in goal. Andersen seems the heir apparent to the Ducks’ goaltending job, but look for Gibson to push him.

Stay In Touch

Scores

7:00 PM ET
Panthers
-
Sabres
-
7:00 PM ET
Capitals
-
Golden Knights
-
9:00 PM ET
Mammoth
-
Wild
-
10:00 PM ET
Ducks
-
Jets
-
Bruins
4
Blue Jackets
2
Panthers
5
Maple Leafs
1
Avalanche
2
Wild
5
Hurricanes
5
Lightning
4
Kings
1
Oilers
8
Penguins
4
Devils
1
Predators
4
Blackhawks
2
Blues
5
Kraken
1
Sharks
1
Flames
4
Rangers
2
Flyers
3
Canadiens
3
Islanders
4
Senators
1
Red Wings
2
12:30 PM ET
Rangers
-
Penguins
-
3:00 PM ET
Flyers
-
Bruins
-
4:00 PM ET
Sharks
-
Oilers
-
5:00 PM ET
Blues
-
Devils
-
6:00 PM ET
Blue Jackets
-
Islanders
-
6:00 PM ET
Avalanche
-
Blackhawks
-
7:00 PM ET
Maple Leafs
-
Senators
-
7:00 PM ET
Canadiens
-
Capitals
-
7:00 PM ET
Lightning
-
Sabres
-
7:00 PM ET
Hurricanes
-
Red Wings
-
7:00 PM ET
Kings
-
Flames
-
8:00 PM ET
Stars
-
Predators
-
10:00 PM ET
Kraken
-
Canucks
-