Goalie Drafting...

[jhonny]

My 1st round pick is #9... standard snake-type draft with 12 teams (see sig)... I traded up in the second round to the #13 overall pick. These are probably the top 20 available goalies... I put them in order that I believe they belong in terms of fantasy value for my league next season:

1. Ward (true #1)
2. Howard (true #1)
3. Crawford (true #1)
4. Kipper (true #1)
5. Thomas (1A)
6. Quick (true #1)
7. Anderson (true #1)
8. Backstrom (true #1)
9. Bobrovsky (only Heaven knows)
10. Hiller (true #1 when not dizzy)
11. Neuvirth (1A)
12. Lehtonen (true #1)
13. Tampa Bay Goalie (Rolo??)
14. Reimer (true #1 but Sophomore season)
15. Pavelec (true #1)
16. S. Mason (true #1)
17. Avalanche Goalie (Elliott??)
18. Rask (1B)
19. Dubnyk (1A)
20. DiPietro or Montoya??


Who do I pick at #9 and #13 overall to supplement my Bryzgalov Keeper? Assuming this is how they get picked, the tiop 8 are gone when its my turn...

A second strategy is to go after the best position player for my #13 pick... in my league the goalie is so valuable and true #1 goalies are so rare, that most picks in the first 2 rounds are goalies, so this tact would be risk/reward type thing, and I could hope to snag a decent #3 later when the dust settles a bit.

Best position players available:

E. Staal, Duchene, Lucic, Clowe, Visnovsky, Subban... many more (grit is very valuable in my league)

Thanks guys!

[Magicstew]

If goalies are worth a lot then you need to draft a goalies first. Getting Pavelec again won't hurt you - gonna love him in WPG - but if one of the top goalies is still there then you will be solid in goal. Rask may last a few rounds due to not being #1 and Thomas only has one or 2 years left so he is a great 3rd goalie and future starter.

[cb4]

25% of your categories are goalie categories, so shoring them up would be great.

Given what you've said, I think I'd definitely be looking at a goalie with your #9 pick.

I'd be staying away from Bobrovski though. Too much uncertainty. Same with Hiller as of now. When is your draft? Can you wait to hear more about Hiller?

With daily starts, 3 goalies gives you a HUGE leg up with wins/saves/shutout potential.

That being said, E Staal is VERY tempting... Personally, I'd be looking at him as a potential next year keeper over Karlsson even with your bonus to D in scoring IMO...

I think the # 13 pick depends on who is taken. Personally, I'd go for the best player available. If it's a goalie, that much better!

1. Ward (I agree here 100%)
4. Kipper (I'd rank him # 2)
2. Howard (people may be scared of him for next year)
3. Crawford (again, people may not see him as a True 1 b/c of Salak)
5. Thomas (A great 2nd goalie for next year, but he may go higher)
6. Quick (would be a GREAT pick!)
7. Anderson (good 2nd goalie, but sv% would scare me a bit)
8. Backstrom (I like him more than Anderson)
9. Bobrovsky (ugh...)
10. Hiller (can you wait for a better prognisis?)
11. Neuvirth (I have a feeling he's gonna be gold next year. 100% hunch though)
12. Lehtonen (Injuries still worry me)
13. Tampa Bay Goalie (potential to be a GREAT 3rd option IMO)
14. Reimer (too much hype)
15. Pavelec (agree)
16. S. Mason (agree)
17. Avalanche Goalie (wait and see?)
18. Rask (he could be a great 3rd goalie)
19. Dubnyk (no)
20. DiPietro or Montoya (not at a 13th pick)

Good luck!

[jhonny]

I do have time... draft won't be until September... I will watch Hiller's situation closely!

#9 will be a goalie... depending on how good that selection is, in conjunction with what is available at #13, I will choose between another goalie and Eric Staal.

Winnipeg's losses won't be Pavelec's fault... same as last season... I just hope they continue to understand this fact and roll with him all year. That would make him totally worth that #13 pick.

[woodrow]

As cb4 points out, only 25% of your scoring is from the goaltending, whereas a lot of standard leagues go 6x4, meaning their goalie cats count 40% of the scoring stats.

If there is a run on goalies, I can see why you may want to snag your 2nd 'tender early, but there should be a pretty good option there at 13 as well.

Your cats seem to focus much more on multi-cat players where guys like Backes, Clowe, Lucic and Hartnell would be extremely valuable. From your listing of cats, a D like Subban would be extremely valuable too

If someone like E. Staal is available at 9th, I'd be taking him unless pretty much everyone before picked a goalie or I'd be taking Clowe or Lucic if they are still available. Staal pretty much contributes across the board too and he'll add valuable FOWs.

Just my .02 cents. Good luck in your draft.

[jhonny]

As cb4 points out, only 25% of your scoring is from the goaltending, whereas a lot of standard leagues go 6x4, meaning their goalie cats count 40% of the scoring stats.

If there is a run on goalies, I can see why you may want to snag your 2nd 'tender early, but there should be a pretty good option there at 13 as well.

Your cats seem to focus much more on multi-cat players where guys like Backes, Clowe, Lucic and Hartnell would be extremely valuable. From your listing of cats, a D like Subban would be extremely valuable too

If someone like E. Staal is available at 9th, I'd be taking him unless pretty much everyone before picked a goalie or I'd be taking Clowe or Lucic if they are still available. Staal pretty much contributes across the board too and he'll add valuable FOWs.

Just my .02 cents. Good luck in your draft.

Right on Woodrow! I just think I needed someone to confirm the gut.

Thanks everyone!!