Top 10 Backup Goalies

Brent Johnson (February 1, 2011 - Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images North America)

I’m working on coming up with ranking system for the top 10 goalies of the week or by-weekly.  It is taking me a little time to fully figure out how I want to do that.  But I came across this ranking of the top 10 backup goalies in the NHL by Bleacher Report and I am going to have to disagree with some of the rankings.  I am also going to give my top 10 backups right now.

They have Ray Emery on the list, but after playing in 4 games I don’t think that warrants making it into the top 10, I also think that two headed goalies (where goalies are splitting or are close to splitting games) don’t really count for backups even though they may appear as a backup (Brian Boucher), in my opinion.  I think they did a pretty good job otherwise.  As much as I’d love to put Scott Clemmensen as the best backup, those of you that know me would expect that, here are my top 10 backup goalies:

10- Jonathan Bernier, Los Angeles Kings (10-8-3, .908 save percentage, 2.57 goals-against average, 2 shutouts)

Bernier has done well in his first full year in the NHL, performing great in the games he has played in this year. Look for him in years to come.

9-Martin Biron, New York Rangers (8-6-0, .923 save percentage, 2.13 goals-against average)

Biron was an amazing backup for the Rangers filling in well and giving his teammate shootout tips from the bench helping the team win games that way.

8- Mathieu Garon, Columbus Blue Jackets (10-10-5, .904 save percentage, 2.65 goals-against average, 3 shutouts)

He has done well behind Steve Mason and earlier we anointed “the starter” for a few weeks and had filled in decently for Mason when he gets a night off.

7-Antero Niittymaki-San Jose Sharks (12-6-3, .900 save percentage, 2.57 goals-against average)

Nitty has done great filling in for Antti Niemi, even with an injury that kept him out a little during the season.  The Sharks have no problem playing him in games over Niemi and he has the experience should Niemi falter.

6-Jose Theodore, Minnesota Wild (12-10-3, .915 save percentage, 2.78 goals-against average, 1 shutout)

He was really good in Washington last year but did not fit into their plans or any other team’s original plans. Theodore’s play has been really good and he has taken some games away from Niklas Backstrom and is playing really well again this year.

5-Tuukka Rask, Boston Bruins (10-12-2, 2 shutouts, .917 save percentage, 2.75 goals-against average)

Pask an outstanding rookie season last year and taking the reins from Tim Thomas.  He has also performed great this year, but was outplayed by Thomas, resulting in fewer games for Rask.  He can handle the show and will do so in the future.

4-Johan Hedberg, New Jersey Devils (13-11-2, .913 save percentage, 2.34 goals-against average, 3 shutouts)

Even for a crappy first half Devils team he did well and gave the team a chance to win, but a few bad bounces resulted in losses.  Then he became brilliant filling in for Marty Brodeur winning 7 in a row pulling the Devils out of last place.  His solid play even kept Brodeur on the bench for a few games when he became healthy again.  Although he might not start again he has shown that at 37 he can still play great in the NHL.

3-Anders Lindback, Nashville Predators (11-5-2, 2 shutouts, .915 save percentage, 2.60 goals-against average)

Lindback has done well in his first year in North America and has shown that he will have a good career in his future.  He did great covering for Pekka Rinne when he was hurt for a bit.  I give Mitch Korn a lot of credit in helping Lindback make the jump from Europe to the NHL at such a quick pace. Look out for him in the future. 

2- Cory Schneider, Vancouver Canucks. (14-3-2, 1 shutout, .927 save percentage, 2.22 goals-against average)

He has played outstanding in all of his starts and would be the future if Roberto Luongo was not there for 11 more years.  He will bring great trade return and is another guy with a promising future ahead of him. 

1- Brent Johnson, Pittsburgh Penguins (11-5-3, 2.19 goals-against average, .920 save percentage, 1 shutout)

He kept the Penguins together when Fleury struggled early this season and plays solid in almost every start and his teammate are very confident in him.  He can also throw a punch or two.

Islanders Goalie Carousel

So after my first post I have decided to get more specific in my blogs.  I am mainly going to chat about goalies and give my reactions to how guys have been playing of late and their futures.  I am also going to talk about different aspects that can affect playing goal.  I will still post the occasional blog about other guys in the show, but as a goalie myself, goaltending is my passion.  I also came across a little conservative in my first post…I’m going to try and be a little more candid. 

The Islanders goaltending situation has ended up being pretty interesting this year, they have employed 8 goalies.  This has been the result of a number of injuries, some fluke and some out of stupidity, a trade, and a waiver claim.  I think that having a goalie for a GM, Garth Snow, would make for a solid goaltending situation on the team. He has made ok moves and had some questionable ones.  I don’t even want to get started about the ridiculous Rick DiPietro and his continuous knee/hip injuries and then the one punch season ender by Brent Johnson…they need to work some Lou Lamoriello magic and make his lifetime contract disappear.  Seriously if they buy him out he’ll be Alexi Yashin status on the salary cap with his contract’s buyout hit on the books for 20 years if he’s bought out this summer. 

Evgeni Nabokov is a smart man for staying home after the Isles picked him up off waivers.  If I was in his situation potty training and keeping the house tidy seems like a much better decision then getting embarrassed night after night playing for them…Even next year when he will probably be stuck at home for the year he’ll owe the Isles for failing to report after being claimed; he will have a nice time enjoying his millions and some quality time with his family.

Kevin Poulin (February 4, 2011 - Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images North America)

The Islanders do have some talent coming up in the 20 year old Kevin Poulin and recently traded for Al Montoya.  I think Nate “the Great” Lawson will find himself as the odd man out this summer even after watching his 40 save OT loss to the Capitals yesterday.  He was the main reason why the Isles were winning 1-0 with less than a minute in the game.  He is definitely playing for a contract and fired up to play well based on Montoya’s stellar play since being acquired. I see him 4^th on the depth chart next season if re-signed.  I’m rooting for him though; I like the goalies that battle for their spots.  But, Poulin could be the future if DiPietro continues to play about 10 games a season, I know I know DiPi played in 21 games this year but then got knocked out for the rest of the season.  If DiPietro (and Poulin as well, bummer fluke injury for him) is healthy to start next season I could see Poulin, who went 4-2-1 in 7 games and a 2.44 GAA and a .920 SV% on an NHL bottom feeder, starting in Bridgeport of the AHL and will be pushing Al Montoya.  I give Montoya the backup spot just due to his 6+ years experience in the AHL and pretty solid games between the Isles this year and Phoenix in 08-09.  His GAA of 2.04 and .930 SV% are solid for playing under 15 games in the NHL.  That is if they tend him a qualifying offer which I would be shocked if they didn’t.  Also there’s Mikko Koskinen, after watching him play and his save of the year candidate against James Wisnewski, he has potential but I see him a few years away from the show and needs some more time in the AHL.  I’m curious to see how Lawson and Montoya play the rest of the year. I think they will have a positive impact on each other and push each other to play solid.  They both seem to be grateful for the opportunity to play. 

                 Nathan Lawson and Al Montoya (February 16, 2011 - Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images North America)