| Written by Greg Gibeault |
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Posted on 10/8/2007 |
With the NHL season in full swing, a few teams are still trying to sort out who their starting goaltender is. In this article, we’ll take a look at the hottest battles around the league.
Los Angeles Kings
For the next month or so rookie G Jonathan Bernier will be given the chance to shine, but once he gets near the ten game mark, look for the Kings to make a final decision. If he plays that tenth game, he’ll burn up a year of his contract and will have most certainly cemented his place on the big club as the starter. With goalies J. S. Aubin and Dan Cloutier out with injuries, G Jason Labarbera has been given the backup role and will push Bernier for the startering job in the meantime.
Phoenix Coyotes
I changed my mind about the situation in Phoenix just prior to posting my last article. It appears as though I was right all along and should have stuck to my guns. G Mikael Tellqvist has retained the starting job by an ever so slim margin after stepping in near the end of last season. Either G David Aebischer or G Alex Auld are next in line, but it’s hard to say if either have an inside track. Definitely a murky situation and until it clears up, I wouldn’t count on any of the three for your fantasy roster. For that matter, when it does clear up, none of them should be counted upon to contribute regularly fantasy-wise.
Toronto Maple Leafs
In the offseason, the Leafs sent three quality draft picks, including a first rounder, to San Jose for G Vesa Toskala and LW Mark Bell. For that price, considering Bell’s status at the moment, I can’t imagine that Toskala won’t be the starter this season. It’s actually ridiculous that management in Toronto is willing to chance upsetting their key offseason acquisition. For now, from a fantasy perspective, it is recommended to hold on to Toskala with the knowledge that he will eventually get the job that he was brought in to do.
Around The League
Status Range: Lock > Stable > In Question > Volatile > Injured (injury / likely to miss time)
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