Hey guys the updated Top-25 for November will be up shortly, but I wanted to give you the breakdown on how I've revised all my rankings and reports for them.
The Top-150 has been streamlined and trimmed down to the Top-100. The main reason for this is because I agreed to do a "draft watch list" report solely based on draft-eligible goalies, so that got me thinking about age discrepancy.
I decided that I wanted to refine what I define as a prospect. I think it makes sense to do this now while I have the time, plus it only makes things easier to digest and understand.
So I've removed anyone aged 28+ because at that age, they're considered older goalies that have way less odds of being a long-term starting NHL goalie. So I took those guys out (think Hutton, etc) they are being added into The Darkhorses report, which is still a premium report I've been publishing.
I've also removed all UFA goalies, except for those that have very strong and legitimate potential, and are still young enough to be signed by NHL teams and evolve into potential starters. There are only two of them remaining on the revised Top-100: Joacim Eriksson and Alex Salak. I did this because I feel that there's no way to truly predict and rank a UFA prospect compared to all the goalies that are signed or drafted by NHL teams. Politics plays a role in overall opportunity, and that has to be accounted for, so I feel they simply don't belong on the list until they're officially a part of an NHL team.
The UFA goalies that WERE removed, well, I call them "Hidden Gems" ... and they are placed below the Top-100 in their own little group. But they are not ranked due to their variable value, so they are merely organized in alphabetical order, kind of like a draft watch list.
So now everything looks like this:
TOP-100 PROSPECTS: Signed or drafted prospects with the best talent and potential to break into the NHL on a full-time basis. Includes goalies ages 18-27 (no draft-eligibles).
HIDDEN GEMS: UFA prospects (ages 20-27) that have potential to be signed by NHL teams and begin the process of working their way up the ranks.
THE GRADUATES: Stays the same.
THE DARKHORSES: Signed or UFA goalies (ages 28+) that have potential to break into the NHL.
DRAFT WATCH LIST: Top draft-eligible goalies for the 2013 and 2014 NHL Drafts. They are not ranked because I simply don't see all of them play. A ranking will be completed one or two months before the draft takes place, or I'll do some kind of mock draft.
OK there you go! Let me know if you have questions about any of this. I think it goes a long way in not only helping me compartmentalize the goalies I track, it refines everything a little bit more, and it helps you guys out as well.