Thursday, November 4, 2010

Top 10 goalies in the NHL.

credit nhl.com

And now, the post you all have been waiting for, the top 10 starting goaltenders NHL.

Tommy and I have debated, discussed, and if we weren't separated by these computers, I probably would have punched him in the mouth... But we have put aside our differences, to bring to you our top 10. The fans are already disagreeing with us, but they aren't the ones with the blog, no that's me...

So here it is, the Top Ten Starting goalies in the NHL.

10. Vancouver Canucks: Roberto Luongo
Luongo is a popular choice and often in people's top 5, but Tommy and I agree he's overrated. A few years ago my tone was different, but he's not the same dominant goalie anymore. Having said that, he is still very good. He is big and positions himself very well. A bit slow on the lateral movement, but Luongo is still a very good goaltender.

9. New York Rangers. Henrik Lundqvist
King Henry has had many good years in New York, won championships in finland (frolunda indians before going NHL) and at a young age led Sweden to a gold medal, but he is not the goalie we are used to seeing. Still incredible but he is not the elite goalie anymore.

8. Phoenix Coyotes: Ilya Bryzgalov
Ilya had an amazing season last year, he had the Bearded Fellow's vote for the Vezna Trophy, but the reason he finds himself here is that he's not an elite goalie yet. He is very good, but I couldn't honestly put him with the upper echelon of goalies. He is another good season away from being a top five goalie in my book, but right now he's number eight. But top ten ain't too shabby.

7. Carolina Hurricanes: Cam Ward
Cam Ward is the glue that hold Carolina together. And at 26, he's going to be a great goalie for years to come in Carolina. His rookie year he won the Stanley Cup and Conn Smyth, and he hasnt looked back by continueing to be stellar every season. The sky's the limit on Cam Ward, and if he can avoid injuries, then he's going to be a Vezna trophy contender and probably win at least one Vezna. I'll hop on his bandwagon everyday.

6. New Jersey Devils: Martin Brodeur
What can you say about Marty? He's the best goalie of all time, made famous by that lightning quick glove. All time wins and shutout leader, 4-time Vezna Trophy winner, Calder Trophy winner, 2-time Gold Medalists, 3-time Stanley Cup Champion, 10-time all-star, Marty has accomplished so much in his career. He's here at six because this isn't about his accomplishments. He's still a very good goalie, one of the best, but he's not the same Marty of a few seasons ago. Age has slowed his reactions and injuries may be a concern, but we still love you Marty, keep doin work.

5. Minnesota Wild: Niklas Backstrom
Niklas Backstrom has never had a losing season with a team that has no offensive talents whatsoever (especially with departed Gaborik) and with the exception of an average season last year, his GAA and SV% have never been worse than 2.33 and 92%. this is incredible on minnesota who is a struggling team. minnesotas defense first style makes him better, but he is still a crafty veteran who (along with tuukka) could give Kipper a run for the starting job next olympics. Backstrom is consistant game in and game out, and he gets the job done.

4. Calgary Flames: Mikka Kiprusoff
I love the Kipper. I think he is the most underrated goalie in the NHL. Calgary's defense has not been very good lately, and yet Kipper still plays at an elite level. Kiprusoff has always been a guy I feared to run into in the playoffs, because he's a goalie that can take control of a series. Sadly, the team around him hasn't been good enough to make a run and this year is clearly no different. Kipper needs a new home, or Calgary needs to do a lot of fixing. But all the turmoil with the Flames right now, Kiprusoff has been the one consistent through the years and continues to play at an elite level.

3. St. Louis Blues: Jaroslav Halak
Halak first broke out with his stellar play in the Olympics for the Slovaks. Then he was the net-minder of that Montreal team that shocked the Capitals and the Halak has been outstanding ever since coming to the Blues. He has been one of the most dominant goaltenders in the NHL this season and is a big part as to way the Blues find themselves where they are. I absolutely love him, and I thought it was a mistake for Montreal to trade him, and he's proving me right (see number 23 on our list...) At 25 years old, Halak has nothing but great things in his future.

2. Florida Panthers: Tomas Vokoun
Vokoun is the goalie GM's dream of having. he is big, fast, great reactions, perfect positioning and has the ability to get a shutout every time he steps on the ice. if you dont get odd man rushes, powerplays, or people in front of the net then forget about scoring on the man. he was a beast in the olympics for te Czechs, dominant in nashville (except for when dasyuk shoots on him), and is the mold in which florida is building their team. his attitude in Wanting to rebuild the horrible team that is florida shows he veteran leadership and a desire to make himself better than he already is.

And the moment you've been waiting for... The Bearded Fellow and Tommy's number one starting goalie in the NHL...

1. Buffalo Sabers: Ryan Miller
Hands down easy choice for both of us, Ryan Miller is the shining spot on a very bad Buffalo team, alla Dominick Hasek. And Miller is about as dominant as the Dominator. SIngle-handedly won the US the silver medal, single handedly got Buffalo to third place, won the Vezna last year, Ryan Miller is the best goalie in the NHL, it's a damn shame he's on such a bad offensive team. But if the Sabers can get any scoring then they will turn their season around, because they are terrible right now. But Ryan Miller is for sure, the best goalie in the NHL

2 comments:

  1. Can't deny the logic but it's hard to see bryzgalov at 8, someone needs to be bumped down, don't know who, but he's gonna finish the season better than that

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  2. I can see your point, I mean top 10 is still obviously very good. But I felt he's one of those guys you go "Hey top 5 for sure," then you look at it, and you think "Oh I forgot about these guys... maybe he's not top 5"

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