November 25, 2000
The most unpredictable element in fielding a successful fantasy hockey team is to find successful goaltenders. Granted, there are a few sure things out there (Brodeur, Hasek, Roy, Cujo, Belfour, Salo). However every year it never fails that several starters lose part or all of their gig (like closers in baseball after just a couple of blown saves)to backups no one has ever heard of who aren't even listed in any of the pre-season fantasy hockey rags.
With exactly 1/4 of the 2000-01 season in the books, we've already seen an astonishing bumper crop of these situations. Let's look at who these guys are, where they came from, and what exactly do they want?????
Evengi Nabakov-Sharks Became Steve Shields backup after the trade of Mike Vernon last year. This made Shields the clear-cut #1, playing nearly every night. However, Shields was shaky--with a GAA of over 3 the second half of the year. This year, Shields sprained an ankle in the season's first week, opening the door for the 25 year-old Nabokov. Evengi has not looked back, playing virtually every night posting a 12-2-2 record and a 1.81 GAA. The Sharks will ride him for the foreseeable future, which bodes well with a current favorable schedule. CDM challenge owners have to love his rock-bottom 1 million salary as well.
Roman Cechmanek-Flyers Where did this come from. Actually the 29 year old was Dominik Hasek's backup at the '98 Olympics and was drafted in the sixth round of this years NHL draft. But Brian Boucher was solid last year, making incumbent John Vanbiesbrouck expendible. Boucher struggled early on, not all his fault with all of Philly's injury woes. But Cechmanek got his chance and has taken full advantage, going 6-2-1 with a 1.73 GAA. In part this could be attributed to not many people in the league knowing his tendancies. He looks like the de-facto #1 for the time being but that could change if the opposition starts to figure out his weaknesses.
Manny Legace-Red Wings This career minor-leaguer is the beneficary of Chris Osgood's early season struggles. Legace has responded with a 8-2-1 mark and 2.10 GAA. Scotty Bowman never gives a straight answer on what he's going to do with his goaltenders (or anything else) from one moment to the next. But expect the high-salaried Osgood to be back in the picture somewhere between now and playoff time.
Brent Johnson-Blues The 23 year-old rookie has been splended backing up Roman Turek. Getting approximately 40% of the starts as the Blues pace themselves in the early going, Johnson started 7-0 with a 1.14 GAA--albeit mostly against weaker teams. Still makes for a great pick-up in those in leagues with daily trannies. Be sure to read the St. Louis paper, Quennville (unlike Bowman) is very good in telling the media who's starting the next game.
Sean Burke-Coyotes The veteran de-facto #1 Phoenix netminder has been solid as the Coyotes are off to their usual fast start, going 9-4-5 with a 2.01 GAA. Beware on two fronts though, Phoenix always cools off as the season progress (as Roenick and Tkachuk accumulate their usual hangnails/suspensions). Also, as we have been told for months now, a group led by Wayne Gretzky is supposed to buy the team any day. It has been reported that Gretz' first order of business will be to sign hold out Nikolai Khabibulin. One would have to speculate though that it will take 'Bulin quite a while to shake off the rust of being out of the league for a year and a half, so Burke still looks good for the time being.
Other backups that I look for to emerge before too much longer include Peter Skudra (BOS-Dafoe's still having knee problems), Bob Luongo (FLA) and Jani Hurme (OTT). Be sure to keep checking the box scores, injuries and shaky performances can reshape the minefield of fantasy hockey goalies at any moment!!!
