Fantasy Hockey Draft Rankings, Advice and Analysis

Fantasy top 30 goalies: Future is now for Gibson

Thursday, 03.19.2015 / 12:00 PM
Evan Sporer - NHL.com Staff Writer

Every Thursday during the season, NHL.com's Evan Sporer will provide you with in-depth analysis of goaltenders. From updated weekly top-30 rankings to trending players and more, Sporer will be your go-to guy for advice on fantasy goalies all season long.

John Gibson was always the future when it came to the Anaheim Ducks' crease. The only question was, when would the future arrive?

Gibson burst onto the scene last season, a highly touted second-round pick (No. 39) from the 2011 NHL Draft who won two gold medals playing for United States junior teams in international competitions.

The rookie did not disappoint, winning his first start via an 18-save shutout against the Vancouver Canucks, and then winning his first postseason start -- another shutout -- against the eventual Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings.

Going into this season, Anaheim had a good problem on its goalie depth chart. Gibson and Frederik Andersen each figured to compete for minutes, only an injury in November kept Gibson out for an extended period, then landed him in the American Hockey League with Andersen playing so well.

Circumstance and a hot goalie were delaying the future in Anaheim, but the future can only wait for so long.

Just as Gibson sustained an injury under bizarre circumstances -- during a pregame warmup -- Andersen also sustained a strange injury. When a defenseman inadvertently tipped over Andersen's goal, causing it to fall and the crossbar to hit him on the neck, the door was opened for Gibson.

Since getting recalled by the Ducks, Gibson has gradually been returning to form. He has a .922 save percentage in his 14 start since Andersen was injured, but what really has made him stand out is how well he's played since Andersen has come back.

If coach Bruce Boudreau is using the end of the regular season as a litmus test to decide which of his goalies will get playing time in the postseason, count Gibson as the early favorite. Since Andersen returned from his injury, he has made three starts to Gibson's five. The numbers, though, aren't really close when the two goalies are juxtaposed:

Gibson: 4-1-0, .921 save percentage, 30.5 shots against per 60 minutes

Andersen: 1-2-0, .894 save percentage, 22.4 shots against per 60 minutes

Despite facing a heavier workload, Gibson is putting up better numbers. This isn't likely a trend that will only see Gibson earn more playing time down the stretch and into the playoffs, but into next season. Andersen will be on the final year of his contract in 2015-16, one in which he's put up very good numbers. But Gibson is young, only getting better, and isn't fit to be splitting time or gaining experience in the American Hockey League. And with a job up for grabs that's exactly how Gibson is playing right now.

TRENDING UP

Cory Schneider, New Jersey Devils

There's a very legitimate case to be made that Schneider is having the best season of any goalie not named Carey Price. It might be difficult to see because of his win-loss record, but Schneider is second in the League in save percentage (.929) and has been playing incredible hockey since around December. Schneider started the first 20 games of the season for the Devils, a stretch that undoubtedly had him fatigued by the end. If you take Schneider's numbers from after that stretch he has a .936 save percentage in 41 games, according to war-on-ice.com. Among goalies who have played at least 1,800 minutes (30 games) since Nov. 22, when Schenider's streak ended, only Price has a higher save percentage. And Schneider actually has a higher adjusted save percentage (.946) than Price (.945), according to war-on-ice.com, which weighs save percentage based on the quality of chances against.

TRENDING DOWN

Frederik Andersen, Anaheim Ducks

Again, the numbers since his return from injury haven't been glowing. That, combined with how Gibson has been playing and the Ducks chasing the Presidents' Trophy, could be a formula for Gibson getting the majority of starts down the stretch. After Andersen was given two straight starts for Anaheim in which he allowed six goals on 36 shots, Gibson has started the Ducks' past four.

KEEP AN EYE ON

Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers

This isn't a player you're going to be able to go out and add, but Lundqvist appears to be inching closer to making a return. He's been out since Feb. 2 after sustaining a vascular injury but was cleared Tuesday to return to practice and on Wednesday, general manager Glen Sather said Lundqvist will need about 10 days before he's ready to play. The fantasy and the Rangers' conundrum kind of intertwine. The No. 1 priority for the Rangers is getting Lundqvist in form for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. If he's rusty, he'll probably be given a longer leash to play through, but there will be no asterisk or consolation for your fantasy team. Lundqvist, when in top form, is a top fantasy goalie, but it remains to be seen how long it will take him to regain said form.

TOP 30 FANTASY GOALIES

These modified re-rankings are a projection of a goalie's fantasy output for the entire season. Our ranks are based on volume categories like games played, wins, saves, goals-against average (GAA) and save percentage (SV%). The plus or minus for each player is movement based on our most recent rankings from last week (NR means not ranked in previous rankings). It is important to note that our rankings reflect sheer fantasy value, not talent. A less-talented goalie could be ranked higher due to their team's strong defense and offense.

1. Carey Price, MTL (SAME)

2. Pekka Rinne, NSH (SAME)

3. Marc-Andre Fleury, PIT (SAME

4. Cory Schneider, NJD (+2)

5. Braden Holtby, WSH (-1)

6. Tuuka Rask, BOS (-1)

7. Corey Crawford, CHI (-1)

8. Roberto Luongo, FLA (-1)

9. Devan Dubnyk, MIN (SAME)

10. Brian Elliott, STL (SAME)

11. Jonathan Quick, LAK (+1)

12. Jaroslav Halak, NYI (-1, DTD)