Keep which goalies?

[2timechamp]

I have Rask, Niemi, Luongo and Elliott as my goalies. We can keep 12 players. I was going to keep Backstrom, Dats, Ovi, Zetterberg, RNH, Malkin, Seguin, Toews, Rask, Niemi and Luongo.

Not sure if I should also keep Elliott or keep Elliott over Niemi, or just keep 11 players and get one extra draft pick.

Advice?

[als_revenge]

I don't have any experience in H2H leagues, so take this with a grain of salt.

I'd definitely keep Niemi over Elliot. I'm not convinced Elliot will even be a starter in St Louis this year. And he's also UFA - I have no faith that he can put up big points in another system.

Goalie categories appear to count for only 5 of 15 categories, so I might stick with only keeping 2. Have you tried seeing if there is any market for either Luongo or Neimi? Perhaps you can get an extra pick, or an upgrade at forward, for moving one of them?

[2timechamp]

Thanks for the response. But we don't trade picks in our league and there's no trading until after the draft anyway.

[LawMan]

No way do you keep Niemi or Elliott. Niemi is the real deal who is locked into a starter's role in SJ poised to post consistently good numbers. Elliott is a career backup who posts very short flashes of brilliancy. I realize he was amazing in fantasy playoffs last year but he's nowhere near Niemi's level.

5 out of 15 skater categories is average to slightly highier making goalies reasonably important in your league. Reviewing your team I'd keep:

Nicklas Backstrom, Toews, Datsyuk, Malkin, Zetterberg, Ovy, RNH, Seguin, Wheeler, Rask, Luongo, Niemi

That is a very solid skater core. Luongo is your 12th keeper in my opinion because all of these guys are easily replaceable come draft time:

Brouwer, Bickell, Markov, Gonchar, Seidenberg

[als_revenge]

Yeah, Niemi over Elliot for sure. If you can't trade, don't be afraid to drop Elliot. It's the smart play.

[jcairns]

Yep. Reiterating what others said but Niemi over Elliot, all day every day with a side of bacon.

[ericdaoust]

Niemi is a real asset to keep. He has really grown since his Chicago cup win where he looked lost in the crease at times.

[leaftodd]

Nicklas Backstrom, Toews, Datsyuk, Malkin, Zetterberg, Ovy, RNH, Seguin, Wheeler, Rask, Luongo, Niemi

This. I agree completely.

[Daydream Nation]

The difference between Luongo and Niemi is much, much closer than that of Niemi and Elliot. Elliot is splitting time with Halak while Niemi is the clear-cut starter in SJ. Let Elliot go. Good luck.