FANTASY PICKS PART 5: GOALTENDERS

We're back for the 5th and final installment of our Fantasy Picks, and we have a short list of 5 keepers to pursue for your draft. We've already seen rookies, sure-bets, sleepers, and SK born players, but now it's time for the Prairie Puck to give you some advice on which goaltenders to pick: Coming in at the #5 goaltender to watch this season,

#5. Carey Price - MONTREAL CANADIENS

Being the 100th anniversary of the Habs, it's no surprise that this team has huge expectations for this year. After last year, which many people believed to be a "Cup year", the Habs have one goal in mind to honour 100 years of a dynasty: TO HOIST THE CUP. Last season, Bob Gainey made a huge gamble at the trade deadline, shipping #1 goaltender Christobal Huet to Washington, allowing rookie goaltender Carey Price a shot as the #1 guy. Price was no ordinary rookie though, as he carried the Habs to their first Conference title in years. A remarkable effort fell short, and the hopes that Price would join the exclusive club of Habs' rookie goaltenders to win Stanley Cups fell short (The other two were Hall of Famers Ken Dryden and Patrick Roy). Beginning a full season as the #1 goaltender, will Price carry Montréal all the way? He just may...

FUN FACT: If Montréal wins the Stanley Cup this year, they will average

a Stanley Cup victory every 4 years in their 100 year existence.

#4. Marc-Andre Fleury - PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

Losing in the Stanley Cup Final may have been the best thing for this young Pittsburgh squad, as it will not be the last time the team makes it to the final series. Marc-Andre Fleury has established himself in this league as an elite goaltender, and perhaps one of the most athletic and flexible keepers. This team has all of the necessary components to win, and if you think Pittsburgh has diminished in quality since the departure of Marian Hossa, keep in mind that the Penguins were at the top of the Eastern Conference before they acquired Hossa. Oh, and that was also during the time that a guy by the name of Sidney Crosby was injured. With Fleury between the pipes, the Penguins are just as dangerous as ever.

#3. Marty Turco - DALLAS STARS

A proven winner, Marty Turco was a key component to the Stars' Conference Final run last year, eventually losing to the hands of the Red Wings. Turco is a goaltender in this league who will put on a show every single night, and the revamped offense of the Stars' looks as though this team will be within the top 5 teams to contend for a cup this season. Lets all pray that the Canucks can make the playoffs this year so the two best goaltenders in the west (Turco and Luongo) can have another goaltender battle for the ages. Turco will earn himself up to 70 starts this season, tallying anywhere between 39 and 45 wins.

#2. Martin Biron - PHILADELPHIA FLYERS

This was a very difficult choice, putting Marty Biron so high on the list, and eventually meaning that Martin Brodeur or Roberto Luongo would not make the list. That being said, the teams that are making the best strides in this league are the teams that are building around youth, and Philadelphia is no exception. Philadelphia is a very tough team, resurrecting the persona, "The Broadstreet Bullies". They are also a very skilled team though, committing to a star like newly dubbed captain Mike Richards, as well as superstars Danny Briere and Simon Gagne. Marty Biron fits right into the mix as a 31 year old goaltender that clearly has fun in every game. Philadelphia has an opportunity to go through one of the quickest transformations in history, going from last place in 2007 to potential Cup champs in 2009 with Biron in net.

#1. Henrik Lundqvist - NEW YORK RANGERS

That's right folks, King Henry will be the top goaltender to pick in your Fantasy Draft. As I've already said on this blog, what is stopping the Rangers from contending for a cup this year? Drury, Gomez, Zherdev, Naslund, Dawes, Staal, Redden, Lundqvist, and not to mention maybe Shanahan or Sundin. A great mix of speed, youth, experience, and skill will make the Rangers a tough team to beat. The blueshirts will be among the elite top 5 teams in the league this year.

So I believe a brief explanation is in order. Not included in this list of 5 were Allstar goaltenders Martin Brodeur, Roberto Luongo, last year's breakout goaltender Evgeni Nabokov, Miikka Kiprusoff, and more. Not that Brodeur doesnt have the potential to tear up the league again, but there are younger goaltenders who will also do susbtantially well. Luongo, although he has been recently dubbed Vancouver's captain, will be carrying the team all by his lonesome this year once again.

Overall, it is pretty clear that 3 out of the top 5 picks fall in the same division, so you know which division to watch this year. Martin Brodeur, Marc-Andre Fleury, Martin Biron, Henrik Lundqvist, and Rick Dipietro all have uneblievable potential to make these games unbelievable to watch.

Thats all for Fantasy help folks...the rest is up to you.

T-O-P