It’s not always easy to determine how good of a prospect a goalie is based on their statistics. Due to the nature of the position and the fact that most goalies don’t put up great numbers, it can be hard to project how effective they’ll be in real life. That being said, there are certain circumstances under which it’s possible to tell how good a goalie is just by looking at their statistics. For example, if you’re drafting in a keeper or dynasty league, it’s possible to determine how good of a prospect a goalie is simply by examining their save percentages and goals-against average (GAA). In this article, we’ll talk about the role of the goalie in fantasy hockey, as well as which circumstances allow you to draft a quality netminder with the #1 pick in your fantasy draft.
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How Important Is Goalie Talent In Fantasy Hockey?
It’s important to note that not all great goalies will also be great fantasy hockey prospects. Much like in real life, the position of goalie is remarkably inconsistent, and although some goalies are objectively better than others, there’s a lot of variability from one year to the next. As a result, it’s very difficult to project how effective a goalie will be in real life based on their past performance. With that in mind, it’s essential that you draft goalies expecting that some of them will be disappointments, as there’s no use in drafting a goalie with high expectations only to be bitterly disappointed when they underperform.
The Role Of The Goalie In Fantasy Hockey
When you’re playing in a fantasy hockey league, your objective is to score as many points as possible. That means you’ll want to draft as many goalies as possible, as they’ll all help you win games. The thing is, not all goalies are created equal, and although there are a few exceptional individuals who happen to be goalies, the position is incredibly deep and features a lot of mediocre to poor-quality players. As a result, it can be difficult to determine which goalies are truly worth selecting and which ones to avoid. That’s why, when you’re deciding who you’ll take with the first overall pick in your fantasy draft, you’ll want to take a closer look at their style of play as well as their stats because, quite often, the latter can be misleading. Let’s examine each criterion in turn.
Their Style Of Play
One of the most important things to consider when choosing a goalie is their style of play. There are three main styles of play that goalies can fall under, and each one is associated with an average save percentage and goals-against average. The styles are named after Hall of Fame goalie Johnny Bucyk, who according to hockeyauthority.com, “was the first to scientifically identify and analyze the styles of play of goaltenders.” The styles are:
- The butterfly style.
- The blocker style.
- The puck-stopper style.
Let’s examine each style in turn.
Butterfly goalies tend to have a higher save percentage and lower goals-against average than other styles. That’s because they tend to use their pads more than other goalies who play in a similar manner. For instance, a butterfly goalie might use his pads more often than the average other style to stop low shots and close-range shots. As a result, he’ll often stop a higher percentage of shots but will allow more goals than other goalies who play the same style. The key takeaway from all of this is that the style of play of a goalie is extremely influential in terms of how well they’ll perform in fantasy hockey. You can’t necessarily rely on their save percentage or goals-against average to determine how good they will be since it’s not always the case that the higher the save percentage the better the fantasy stats.
Their Goals-Against Average
Another important factor to consider when choosing a goalie in fantasy hockey is their goals-against average. Similar to their save percentage, the goals-against average of a goalie is dependent on a number of factors, but primarily on their style of play. The key takeaway from this is that although goals-against average is somewhat dependent on the style of play of a goalie, it’s not entirely accurate. For instance, a goalie who relies heavily on their pads to protect them will usually have a high goals-against average since they won’t be seeing the ball very much. On the other hand, a goalie who relies more on their positioning and timing will have a lower goals-against average since they’ll be able to see more of the puck.
The Puck-Stopper Style
The third style of play, which is also the most dominant style, is the puck-stopper style. Similar to the butterfly and the blocker styles, the puck-stopper style is characterized by a high save percentage and low goals-against average. Unlike the other styles, however, the puck-stopper style is usually accurate in predicting how well a goalie will perform in real life. The key to this is that the puck-stopper style is the most objective of the three, as the stats directly derive from play rather than opinion. Another key factor is that the puck-stopper style is the most consistent of the three, as there’s no variance in the style from one year to the next. It’s also the most adaptable, as a puck-stopper can shift to the other two styles if needed. That means if a goalie has a terrible year but had a decent rookie season, they might be able to improve their game and have a higher-than-expected sophomore season.
In terms of choosing a goalie in fantasy hockey, the key takeaway from all of this is that although you should always be wary of the styles of play and how well they might match up with your team’s style, you can’t completely disregard their stats either. In fact, if you’re in a keeper or dynasty league and need a goalie, it might be worth selecting one who is most similar to the style you’re most comfortable with.
Which Is The Best Style Of Play?
Based on the criteria discussed above, it’s clear that the puck-stopper style is the best style of play for a goalie. Not only does it have the highest average, but it’s also the most consistent. In terms of adaptability, the butterfly style is the best since it can be shifted to the blocker style or the puck-stopper style if needed. Finally, the blocker style is the best for low goals-against average since it can be used to combat high shots. If you’re in a high-scoring league, then the blocker style is also the best for increasing your chances of winning.
When it comes to choosing a goalie in fantasy hockey, you need to look for one who is the best fit for your team’s style. It’s not necessarily about finding the best overall player, as there are a lot of mediocre to poor-quality goalies who are still going to be successful in fantasy hockey since you’re not always picking the best player each year. With that in mind, it’s important to identify what type of style you want to see from your goaltender and then search for the best match. In the end, it’s all about having the best combination of style and stats.
In terms of which position to draft in your next fantasy hockey league, it depends on a number of factors. If you’re in a keeper league and will be playing in a rotisserie setting, then it might be best to select goalies at the beginning of the season, as the closer you get to the end, the harder it is to determine how good they’ll be. On the other hand, if you’re in a dynasty league where you’re purchasing goalies year-round, then it might be best to select them at the end of the season, as you can get a better picture of how they’ll perform in the coming months.