Which goalie tandem to go for?

[Kunoichi]

Hi all,

I'm in a 10-team keeper league with goalie stats of W, GAA, SA, SV%, and SHO with 4 minimum starts per week. I kept Fleury, Dubynk, and Gibson (as my rookie). I think going into the draft I'll pick up a set of tandem as insurance if I cannot secure a good starter goalie. Who should I go for?

WPG - Pavalec / Hutchingson
CGY - Hiller / Ramo
CAR - Lack / Ward
SJ - Jones / Stalock

OTT - Anderson is available but Hammond was kept
PHX - Mike Smith is available but it's Mike Smith...
MIN - Kuemper - to secure my MIN tandem but I don't see the team splitting the crease
DET - Mrazek is available, I might pick him up if he is available mid-late round
DAL - Lehtenon is available but Niemi was kept

I think WPG, CGY are safer bets for stats but SJ is intriguing. Anderson would be a good pick too for the year.

Thoughts? Thanks in advance!

[PenguinHunter]

I would try Pav and Hutch. Winnipeg is on their way up and these two should combine for the most wins of the teams this year.

Calgary - I think they will take a step back like Colorado did this year.
Carolina - will have trouble getting you wins. and defence sucks so this will hurt the peripherals.
San Jose - might get similar amount of wins as WPG cause they are still a good team, but I am nervous about 2 unproven goalies.

[Pengwin7]

The CGY tandem, I believe, will be the best value-drafted Team-Goalies of fantasy hockey pools this year.
The Flames defense is insanely good and the forwards buy into a defensive system.
Especially if somebody draft position is at or near a turn, you might (!... might, read more later) be able to snipe them both pretty late.

WPG is good too... but a bit of a wild card.
I think Pavelec is the #1 (clear) even though Hutch did well in the middle of the season.

Drafting them near each other either means praying Pavelec falls or it means that Hutchinson is drafted too soon.
They are 3-4 rounds apart, IMO, if drafted at proper value.

Same with SJ.
I think M.Jones & Stalock should properly be value-drafted about 4 rounds apart... and there IS the case where the back-up could be sniped on waiting.

There are four other tandems where the goalies have closer value:
STL: Allen/Elliott
DAL: Lehtonen/Niemi
DET: Howard/Mrazek
CGY: Hiller/Ramo
These 4 combos I would try to draft both goalies as close together as possible to ensure 82gp... of course, that's using two spots... so they have to be "value drafted" by falling through one's draft... and hoping on a "falling" tandem... that can't be planned for... unfortunately - it's simply a prayer and good luck. Easier done in 8 or 10-team leagues... not so easy in 12 & 14-team leagues.

[franklin]

I believe the best goalie is Anderson.

And the best duo are Winnipeg, Calgary and San Jose.

[FinnishFlash]

THe best team tandem would be Calgary, imo. They have a solid young team, and both are capable goalies.

As far as best available goalies, I'd lean towards Anderson and Mrazek, but you'll likely have to take those guys signficantly sooner than the CGY tandem.

[Shake]

1) Calgary duo with offense and team defense playing in front of them should make for some really solid production.
2) Winnipeg - I like their duo and the team is coming up.
3) San Jose - Some questions around Jones as a full-timer but as a duo and veteran team should be middle of the road solid.

[Kunoichi]

Thanks for the feedback and the great in-depth analysis!

I also think Calgary and Winnipeg are the two duos with most potential. I'm hoping to pick Anderson up with my 2nd (I'm pick 6th of 10 teams, and the Hammond owner is 5th). If I do get him, I might just go with Mrazek or one goalie from the tandems. If not, then I'll target for one of the sets. Too bad Gibson won't be seeing ice this year!

Quick question - for Calgary - do you think it is Hiller or Ramo with bigger share, or you see it split 50/50? Hiller is the one with the contract but Ramo stepped up big during playoff.

Thanks again!

[Front89]

I'd go Ramo, he is the future IMO and that may start this year

[eiKeijo]

You think the strategy is to go handcuffs with a tandem and not picking two best goalies? Lets say Anderson and Rämö/Hiller?

[GMantooth]

for those tandems listed top choice would be the Peg then SJ second.

[Kunoichi]

You think the strategy is to go handcuffs with a tandem and not picking two best goalies? Lets say Anderson and Rämö/Hiller?

I'm gonna try to get Anderson, but if he's taken with the 5th (I own 6th and the 5th manager kept Hammond), then I'll consider the tandem. Sounds like Ramo will be my back up but Mrazek should be good also.

[GMantooth]

Mrazek>Ramo

[als_revenge]

I'd take Craig Anderson first, and Martin Jones 2nd. You'll end up with two starting goalies on fairly decent teams, IMO. Take some chances, draft to win!

[Kunoichi]

Thanks for everyone's help!

I took Ehlers with my 1st round, then Anderson in the 2nd. I also picked up Pavelec at 9th as well. Jones was gone in the 2nd round and Hiller in the 4th.