These rankings are based on expectations for the rest of the season. Value is quantified by projected starts, peripheral category coverage, time-share situations, team defenses, past performance and overall upside in standard leagues. It is important to note that our rankings reflect sheer fantasy value, not necessarily the most talented goalies in order.
It may have come as a surprise when the New York Islanders waived veteran goalie Jaroslav Halak and subsequently sent him to Bridgeport of the American Hockey League. Halak had been getting most of the starts with Thomas Greiss (59 percent owned in Yahoo) backing him up and third-stringer Jean-Francois Berube making a few appearances as well.
It was clear that the three-goalie system was not going to work, and now it looks like Greiss will take the reins as the No. 1 with Berube backing him up. Greiss has a 2.45 GAA, .923 SV% and has won each of his past three starts. He's had a SV% of at least .941 in each, including 32 saves in a 6-2 road win against the Winnipeg Jets on Dec. 31.
Greiss had career bests in starts (38), wins (23) and SV% (.925) last season. He also was a huge reason the Islanders won a round in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in 23 years. This season, Greiss has seen fewer starts (14) than Halak (20), but has improved his even-strength SV% (.938) compared to last season (.933).
With such a bold roster move, general manager Garth Snow and coach Jack Capuano have put their trust in Greiss to be the workhorse as the Islanders attempt to climb the standings in pursuit of the playoffs. After New York's five-day break, it opens a stretch where six of its next seven games come against teams currently outside of postseason position. With two back-to-back sets in the span, it's fair to expect Greiss to be the main man, with a start or two from Berube (2 percent owned).
TRENDING UP
The Vancouver Canucks have won five straight, and Ryan Miller has played a big part in that streak. Miller is coming off of a 22-save shutout against the Arizona Coyotes on Wednesday, and has allowed a combined five goals in his past four starts. Miller has won four straight for the first time since the 2014-15 season and is readily available in shallow leagues (51 percent owned). He's had a save percentage of at least .923 in each of his past four games. Jacob Markstrom (15 percent owned) has a 2.60 GAA and .913 SV% and has challenged Miller for playing time, but will take a back seat if Miller keeps this up. The Canucks are quietly one of six teams separated by four points in the push for the two Western Conference Wild Card spots.
TRENDING DOWN
The Tampa Bay Lightning have lost four of their past six games (2-3-1), and have allowed six goals in each of their first two games in the New Year. Andrei Vasilevskiy (64 percent owned) has started all seven games since Ben Bishop's injury, but is 3-3-1 with a .874 SV%. Bishop isn't expected to be back until the middle or later part of the month, meaning Vasilevskiy should continue to get starts through thick and thin. Kristers Gudlevskis (1 percent owned) has been assigned to Syracuse of the American Hockey League to get more playing time, but could soon return if Vasilevskiy continues to struggle.
WORTH NOTING
- Jared Coreau (6 percent owned) made 34 saves for his first NHL shutout in a 4-0 road win against the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday. With Jimmy Howard injured and Petr Mrazek struggling, Coreau could be in line for more work.
- Cory Schneider of the New Jersey Devils has bounced back with two impressive starts in a row. He shut out the Boston Bruins at home on Monday and allowed one goal on the road against the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday. The Devils goalie has two shutouts in his past five games.
- Peter Budaj (76 percent owned) continues to be an outstanding injury replacement for the Los Angeles Kings with Jonathan Quick sidelined. He has 17 wins, a 2.00 GAA, .921 SV% and four shutouts, putting him among the top 30 overall in Yahoo's performance-based rankings (28th). He has allowed two goals or fewer in eight straight starts. Despite a .956 SV% and two SO in the span, Budaj is 4-3-1 because of the Kings' offensive struggles. He's still a must-own player in all formats.
TOP 25 FANTASY GOALIES
These rankings were last updated Jan. 6
1. Carey Price, MTL, (+1)
2. Devan Dubnyk, MIN (-1)
3. Braden Holtby, WSH (+1)
4. Sergei Bobrovsky, CBJ (-1)
5. Tuukka Rask, BOS (SAME)
6. Corey Crawford, CHI (+1)
7. Martin Jones, SJS (-1)
8. Henrik Lundqvist, NYR (SAME)
9. Pekka Rinne, NSH (+1)
10. Marc-Andre Fleury, PIT (+2)
11. Jake Allen, STL (SAME)
12. Steve Mason, PHI (-3)
13. Cam Talbot, EDM (+1)
14. John Gibson, ANA (+2)
15. Roberto Luongo, FLA (-2)
16. Frederik Andersen, TOR (-1)
17. Cory Schneider, NJD (+3)
18. Cam Ward, CAR (+1)
19. Brian Elliott, CGY (+3)
20. Peter Budaj, LAK (+3)
21. Andrei Vasilevskiy, TBL (-4)
22. Thomas Greiss, NYI (+3)
23. Mike Condon, OTT (-2)
24. Jared Coreau, DET (NEW)
25. Ryan Miller, VAN (NEW)
Dropped out: Antti Raanta (NYR), Chad Johnson (CGY)
Key injuries: Matt Murray (PIT), Jonathan Quick (LAK), Ben Bishop (TBL), Jimmy Howard (DET), Semyon Varlamov (COL)
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