GOALIE RANKINGS By Derrick Roslaniec, March 12th 2004

This is "Part 1" of a 2 part piece on goaltending in the WCFHL. In this part, I am looking at each team's CURRENT ranking in regards to the goalies they have on their team. Team standings and goalie's records were not used to determine rankings; only my judgement based on name and ratings (remember, this is only for fun). Each team has been assigned a grade, and they are listed in decending order. In cases where the grades were even, I still ranked the teams based on who I though was better. ('Part 2' will be next, and it will focus on each team's future goaltending situation) 30. MONTREAL CANADIENS (D) # Player PO HD CD IJ IT SP ST EN DU DI SK PA PC DF SC EX LD OV 4 Peter Skudra G L OK 66 82 61 66 74 82 83 62 79 NA NA 52 50 72 63 Trevor Kidd G L OK 50 85 77 70 70 90 80 55 78 NA NA 68 66 72 7 Mika Noronen G L OK 45 80 72 69 84 89 75 60 78 NA NA 38 38 69 * No goalie on this team is starter material. No goalie on this team has ever been starter material. No goalie on this team will ever BE starter material. Okay, so that last statement may be untrue since Noronen has potential, but he's still a longshot. 29. BOSTON BRUINS (C-) # Player PO HD CD IJ IT SP ST EN DU DI SK PA PC DF SC EX LD OV 22 Jean-Sebastien Aubin G L OK 62 81 63 65 65 86 81 68 80 NA NA 55 55 71 8 Ryan Miller G L 97 50 85 67 72 78 89 79 60 79 NA NA 35 35 71 * Here we have two goalies with potential, but that's it. No starter, not really a backup (either), and no minor goalies to call up in emergency. If either guy lives up to their potential, the Bruins will be okay in the future. 28. CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS (C) # Player PO HD CD IJ IT SP ST EN DU DI SK PA PC DF SC EX LD OV 38 Tommy Salo G R 95 70 90 55 88 88 80 90 65 90 NA NA 73 73 79 1 Damian Rhodes G L OK 48 77 60 72 67 92 77 66 74 NA NA 62 72 68 * Salo is a strong number one, but he's far to streaky to rely on all the time. Unfortunately, Rhodes isn't worth having on the farm team, and the Blackhawks have him as a pro backup. My advice? Lose Rhodes, and get some minor goalies that can grow. 27. CALGARY FLAMES (C+) # Player PO HD CD IJ IT SP ST EN DU DI SK PA PC DF SC EX LD OV 15 Dan Blackburn G L OK 55 83 61 73 85 89 83 57 78 NA NA 45 45 71 42 Byron Dafoe G L 95 73 88 66 81 79 80 88 68 88 NA NA 67 68 78 * Dafoe (highly overrated) is well past his prime. He can't carry a team anymore, but he can teach the young Blackburn a few things. Blackburn isn't experienced enough for any starting duties, but give him time. The lack of a farm goalie here is a problem as well. 26. TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING (C+) # Player PO HD CD IJ IT SP ST EN DU DI SK PA PC DF SC EX LD OV 42 Marc Denis G L 96 62 86 61 85 86 87 86 67 86 NA NA 50 50 76 33 Ron Tugnutt G L OK 60 82 65 75 76 85 82 62 82 NA NA 82 82 73 6 Mike Fountain G L OK 50 75 55 57 62 87 78 52 78 NA NA 65 45 66 41 Dieter Kochan G L OK 64 76 53 62 64 88 74 60 74 NA NA 48 48 66 * Ouch! Denis has tons of potential, but has still yet to live up to hype. Solid on some nights, but weak on just as many. Tugnutt can provide backup when needed, but he is likely used more then he should be. The smart choice would be to move him out of Tampa Bay ASAP. The pair of minor goalies is okay, but neither would be a help in the pros right now. Both have the potential to be pro backups one day. 25. NEW YORK ISLANDERS (C+) # Player PO HD CD IJ IT SP ST EN DU DI SK PA PC DF SC EX LD OV 55 Martin Biron G L OK 68 89 72 85 80 83 87 67 89 NA NA 52 52 78 50 Arturs Irbe G L OK 57 86 52 80 82 90 86 60 86 NA NA 80 80 75 4 Mike Leighton G L OK 52 79 65 72 72 85 75 60 76 NA NA 40 40 68 40 Scott Langkow G L 95 47 45 70 31 41 72 45 35 45 NA NA 37 34 44 * Same situation as the Lightning. Biron is slowly improving, but has yet to live up to scouts expectations. Irbe's stock is sinking faster then the 'Titanic'. Leighton could be a pro goalie next season, but right now he is still a minor-leaguer. 24. CAROLINA HURRICANES (C+) # Player PO HD CD IJ IT SP ST EN DU DI SK PA PC DF SC EX LD OV 1 Ty Conklin G L 99 54 80 61 70 80 83 79 62 78 NA NA 42 42 69 51 Rick DiPietro G L OK 65 88 54 77 85 85 86 80 87 NA NA 42 42 76 9 Jason Muzzatti G L OK 68 69 66 61 76 88 72 59 71 NA NA 56 65 65 * Maybe the most promising duo in the league, Conklin and DiPietro are two great goalies to have. Unfortunately, neither is starter material at the moment, but since the Hurricanes probably won't make the playoffs, they have nothing to worry about this year. 23. EDMONTON OILERS (B-) # Player PO HD CD IJ IT SP ST EN DU DI SK PA PC DF SC EX LD OV 13 Mike Dunham G L 95 63 89 79 79 79 80 89 61 88 NA NA 65 68 78 27 Zac Bierk G L OK 60 80 85 67 42 85 75 67 75 NA NA 55 53 70 1 Sabastien Charpentier G L OK 53 83 47 69 82 84 82 64 76 NA NA 38 38 69 * Dunham is having a strong season, but he's nearing the end of his career. Still strong, he will slowly fall to a backup role in the future. Bierk is a solid guy to have as a backup, and one day he should be the Oiler's starter. Charpentier is a good choice for a #3 goalie. 22. DALLAS STARS (B-) # Player PO HD CD IJ IT SP ST EN DU DI SK PA PC DF SC EX LD OV 41 Kevin Weekes G L OK 61 88 63 84 86 82 86 68 87 NA NA 65 60 77 36 Philippe Sauve G L OK 48 83 57 76 75 83 83 67 83 NA NA 35 35 71 51 Mike Bales G L OK 50 70 70 45 45 90 52 45 51 NA NA 43 43 56 11 Scott Clemmensen G L OK 62 74 69 65 65 84 75 63 74 NA NA 45 45 67 1 Roman Turek G L OK 58 87 93 87 87 90 86 63 86 NA NA 70 58 78 * The Stars have lots of future potential, but I'm looking at the current goalie situation. Weekes is fairly solid as a starter, but he needs someone better then Sauve to take more of the load off. Turek is currently in the minors, but he should probably be sharing starting duties with Weekes while he still can. Clemmensen is decent, and only getting more skilled on the farm. 21. TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (B-) # Player PO HD CD IJ IT SP ST EN DU DI SK PA PC DF SC EX LD OV 37 Jani Hurme G L OK 71 84 61 73 84 83 84 66 84 NA NA 50 50 74 36 Dwayne Roloson G L 99 65 90 75 80 85 82 89 65 91 NA NA 75 75 80 49 Scott Fankhouser G L OK 59 75 73 62 72 82 74 64 75 NA NA 42 42 67 2 Sebastian Centomo G L OK 51 74 69 64 75 81 72 62 73 NA NA 35 35 65 * Roloson is the only strong goalie on this team at the moment. Hurme can fill the pipes on spot duty, but if Roloson gets injured, Hurme won't be able to handle the load. Fankhouser is currently the starter on the farm, but Centomo should take that over soon. Centomo will also see pro duty one day. 20. LOS ANGELES KINGS (B-) # Player PO HD CD IJ IT SP ST EN DU DI SK PA PC DF SC EX LD OV 54 Fred Brathwaite G L OK 60 85 73 75 82 75 83 61 79 NA NA 62 62 74 34 Johan Hedberg G L 95 61 91 54 82 78 89 92 68 88 NA NA 50 48 77 5 Mikael Tellqvist G L OK 39 82 58 76 76 84 78 62 77 NA NA 40 40 68 37 Rich Parent G L 99 58 72 96 65 65 79 69 60 69 NA NA 40 40 66 * The Kings have a good trio of goalies in Hedberg, Brathwaite, and Tellqvist. Hedberg and Brathwaite are getting the job done in the pros, and Tellqvist is only getting stronger while playing lots of minutes in the minors. No true starter here, but Hedberg is on the cusp. 19. ANAHEIM MIGHTY DUCKS (B) # Player PO HD CD IJ IT SP ST EN DU DI SK PA PC DF SC EX LD OV 36 Chris Osgood G L OK 68 90 51 84 85 83 88 68 88 NA NA 85 80 78 35 Garth Snow G L OK 61 85 78 70 79 75 85 64 86 NA NA 68 68 76 15 Tim Thomas G L OK 50 82 52 65 65 82 77 60 78 50 50 45 45 68 17 JF Labbe G L OK 62 82 50 68 82 82 77 60 78 NA NA 45 45 69 * Osgood has a starter's mentality, but he shows too many bouts of weakness in his game. Snow, never a true #1, is more then capable to pick up the slack. Neither is a sure thing on any given night, and that is the Ducks only weakness here. Labbe and Thomas are a fantastic minor duo, and either can prove spot duty with the pros if needed. 18. COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS (B) # Player PO HD CD IJ IT SP ST EN DU DI SK PA PC DF SC EX LD OV 32 Jeff Hackett G L 96 63 87 70 70 67 83 87 64 87 NA NA 80 85 77 63 Felix Potvin G L OK 49 90 72 83 90 83 90 68 83 NA NA 75 75 77 2 Jamie McLennan G L OK 66 85 63 75 82 83 83 60 84 NA NA 58 52 74 54 Jean-Marc Pelletier G L OK 60 82 68 67 50 80 75 65 74 NA NA 39 39 69 * The Jackets have solid goaltending, but no true starter. Both Potvin and Hackett have fallen out of the starters' role, but McLennan has been providing solid work when started. Pelletier is providing good work in the minors, but he's not strong enough to help out the pro club. Both Potvin and McLennan are in the top five of league save percentage. 17. BUFFALO SABRES (B) # Player PO HD CD IJ IT SP ST EN DU DI SK PA PC DF SC EX LD OV 41 Evgeni Nabokov G L OK 70 90 65 84 85 89 87 68 87 NA NA 55 55 78 26 Jamie Storr G L OK 60 86 70 68 75 80 84 60 83 NA NA 65 65 74 6 Marcel Cousineau G L OK 56 78 46 65 65 83 71 64 73 50 50 35 35 65 22 Curtis Sanford G L OK 68 75 48 65 65 82 75 61 74 NA NA 35 35 66 * The Sabres have a solid 1-2 with Nabokov carrying most of the load, and Storr filling in on spot duty. Both Cousineau and Sanford are strictly minor-leaguers, so if either needs to be called up due to injury, hopefully they will only need to keep the bench warm. 16. NEW JERSEY DEVILS (B+) # Player PO HD CD IJ IT SP ST EN DU DI SK PA PC DF SC EX LD OV 45 Jocelyn Thibault G L 95 70 88 56 88 85 87 86 69 84 NA NA 65 72 77 1 Pasi Nurminen G L OK 70 87 59 82 86 89 85 67 85 NA NA 60 55 76 5 Tyler Moss G L OK 65 77 56 72 68 75 77 66 75 NA NA 40 38 68 * Thibault is solid, but on a downward spiral in his career. Nurminen is the opposite - solid, and only getting better. The Devils can rotate these two goalies, and still have a good shot at winning every night. Moss is strong as a minor goalie, and can be used as a pro backup if injuries arise. 15. OTTAWA SENATORS (B+) # Player PO HD CD IJ IT SP ST EN DU DI SK PA PC DF SC EX LD OV 32 Corey Schwab G L OK 64 82 66 72 75 80 75 60 75 NA NA 62 60 71 31 Tomas Vokoun G L OK 74 90 63 81 85 80 84 74 85 NA NA 63 63 78 1 Christobal Huet G L OK 61 74 64 66 84 86 75 63 75 NA NA 45 45 67 * Vokoun is coming into his own, but he is still not a proven starter in the WCFHL. Schwab is in the twilight of his career, but he is still solid as a back-up. Huet has what it takes to be a starter one day, but he is still building himself up in the minors (smart move). 14. WASHINGTON CAPITALS (B+) # Player PO HD CD IJ IT SP ST EN DU DI SK PA PC DF SC EX LD OV 47 Steve Shields G L OK 58 83 81 77 77 68 83 61 84 NA NA 65 65 74 63 Marty Turco G L OK 72 91 59 85 85 85 91 66 91 NA NA 55 55 80 31 Frederic Chabot G L 99 56 59 65 30 35 87 66 61 56 NA NA 47 47 55 48 Jim Waite G L OK 65 75 67 68 69 78 70 57 68 NA NA 65 64 67 * Enough can't be said about Turco, who has become one of the league's top goalies in a very short time. Unfortunately, after him there is not much left with the Capitals. Shields is a good backup, but he will never be starter quality again. If Turco falls to injury, Shields will likely struggle with the starters role. There's no real help to be had from the minors, but Chabot and Waite are providing solid netminding down there. 13. PHILADELPHIA FLYERS (B+) # Player PO HD CD IJ IT SP ST EN DU DI SK PA PC DF SC EX LD OV 37 Andrew Raycroft G L OK 68 88 56 82 88 89 87 65 87 NA NA 55 55 77 35 Emmanuel Fernandez G L 97 67 89 59 82 74 83 88 70 88 NA NA 60 60 78 39 Robbie Tallas G L OK 55 73 64 68 63 76 75 62 75 NA NA 42 47 66 * Great pro duo here. Raycroft is a solid rookie, with some comparisons to Patrick Roy in his youth. Fernandez is always solid, and many teams would be happy to have him. Tallas is strictly a farm guy, and that's where his is at the moment. 12. ATLANTA THRASHERS (B+) # Player PO HD CD IJ IT SP ST EN DU DI SK PA PC DF SC EX LD OV 36 Brian Boucher G L OK 60 86 72 74 80 88 85 65 85 NA NA 48 48 75 35 Curtis Joseph G L 96 70 90 60 87 89 95 90 67 90 NA NA 79 85 80 14 Ryan Bach G L OK 54 70 53 72 64 67 74 69 71 NA NA 54 54 64 29 Tom Askey G L OK 59 62 65 47 46 82 64 44 60 NA NA 43 38 56 7 Derek Wilkinson G L 99 55 65 63 53 49 81 58 46 66 NA NA 47 52 58 * I don't understand why the Thrashers aren't in the playoff picture with the goalies they have here (I didn't look at the rest of the team). Joseph is a proven, capable starter that can be depended on night-in and night-out. Boucher is a fine choice as a backup, and he can even be used to start some games if Joseph's tired. The Thrashers also have a trio of minor-leaguers that can be called upon if an emergency arises. 11. SAN JOSE SHARKS (B+) # Player PO HD CD IJ IT SP ST EN DU DI SK PA PC DF SC EX LD OV 37 Olaf Kolzig G L 97 66 89 88 86 80 76 89 70 89 NA NA 74 78 81 3 Miika Kiprusoff G L 99 60 85 71 77 77 85 84 62 84 NA NA 55 54 75 41 Norm Maracle G L OK 63 75 49 63 63 79 75 65 74 NA NA 45 45 66 * Kolzig has always been a solid starter in net. Kiprusoff is a great up-and-comer, who provides excellent backup duties. If Kolzig isn't careful, he may lose his starting duties quite soon. The fact that Maracle is one the Sharks' roster does more harm then good. 10. DETROIT RED WINGS (A-) # Player PO HD CD IJ IT SP ST EN DU DI SK PA PC DF SC EX LD OV 40 Martin Brodeur G L OK 60 94 77 95 94 73 90 82 96 NA NA 87 87 84 37 Dominic Roussel G L OK 59 69 61 61 58 74 66 59 65 NA NA 47 46 61 54 Steve Passmore G L OK 60 79 73 74 50 83 76 67 76 NA NA 42 48 70 * Any team with Brodeur on their roster is going to be near the top of these rankings. To bad there is a massive goalie void after that on the Red Wings. Both Roussel and Passmore should play out their careers in the minors. There is enough goalies in this league that the Wings should get a better backup. 9. PITTSBURGH PENGUINS (A-) # Player PO HD CD IJ IT SP ST EN DU DI SK PA PC DF SC EX LD OV 4 Milan Hnilicka G L OK 60 83 57 75 86 84 83 64 82 NA NA 50 45 72 7 Jean-Sebastien Giguere G L OK 67 92 66 80 84 85 91 68 91 NA NA 55 58 80 1 Sebastian Caron G L OK 65 85 58 70 75 87 85 65 86 NA NA 35 35 74 * A solid, young trio here, but Hnilicka would probably be better served spending time backstopping the farm club. Giguere is currently one of the strongest in net, and Caron can steal some games as well. 8. ST. LOUIS BLUES (A-) # Player PO HD CD IJ IT SP ST EN DU DI SK PA PC DF SC EX LD OV 32 Manny Legace G L OK 69 87 50 75 67 83 85 67 86 NA NA 60 60 75 60 Jose Theodore G L OK 68 92 56 90 89 93 89 68 89 NA NA 68 68 80 4 Chris Mason G L OK 62 73 65 66 66 82 73 64 73 NA NA 35 35 66 * Jose Theodore may be the league's best goalie of the future, and he is no slouch now. Legace is the most underrated goalie in the history of this league, and he can carry the show if ever needed. A great 1-2 punch in net for the Blues. Mason is strictly farm fodder. 7. COLORADO AVALANCHE (A-) # Player PO HD CD IJ IT SP ST EN DU DI SK PA PC DF SC EX LD OV 46 Patrick Lalime G L OK 70 91 69 87 85 84 91 68 91 NA NA 62 58 80 1 Martin Gerber G L OK 62 85 58 70 80 85 85 65 85 NA NA 45 45 74 * Lalime is a proven, solid starter that anyone would like to have on their club. Gerber is a proto-typical backup, and he may even get better with time. The only real knock against the Avalanche is the absence of a farm goalie to be called up if the need arises. 6. VANCOUVER CANUCKS (A-) # Player PO HD CD IJ IT SP ST EN DU DI SK PA PC DF SC EX LD OV 39 Nikolai Khabibulin G L OK 65 90 71 87 88 84 90 68 90 NA NA 74 74 80 47 Robert Esche G L OK 60 88 74 78 86 90 86 60 86 NA NA 62 60 77 15 Eric Fichaud G L OK 62 74 55 62 52 80 74 62 74 NA NA 58 63 66 * Nice tandem here. Khabibulin may be the most underrated starter in the game. He has amazing reflexes, but he never seems to lead a team to greatness. Esche is a nice #2, and he should develope into the Canucks' starter. Fichaud is currently a good choice for the minors, and he may be able to be Esche's backup a few seasons down the road. 5. NASHVILLE PREDATORS (A-) # Player PO HD CD IJ IT SP ST EN DU DI SK PA PC DF SC EX LD OV 8 John Grahame G L OK 60 88 77 77 85 84 86 63 87 NA NA 63 63 77 1 Roman Cechmanek G L OK 77 90 82 82 70 87 87 61 91 NA NA 70 50 80 * Great 1-2 in net, but where's the farm goalies if needed? No matter. Cechmanek is very stong in net, and Grahame can easily take over starting duties if the need were to arise. Both of these goalies only look to get better in the short term. 4. FLORIDA PANTHERS (A-) # Player PO HD CD IJ IT SP ST EN DU DI SK PA PC DF SC EX LD OV 36 Roberto Luongo G L OK 67 90 81 84 83 85 88 69 88 NA NA 50 50 79 64 Jussi Markkanen G L OK 60 84 56 72 75 83 84 60 84 NA NA 57 55 73 37 Wade Flaherty G L OK 65 78 58 64 64 80 77 59 77 NA NA 45 53 68 * When looking for two strong, young goalies, I would argue that one can't find a better pair then this. Luongo may be the best goalie of the future, but even now he's remarkable. Markkanen is strong in the pipes, and he should continue to build into one of the league's best. Currently, Markkanen plays the backup, but that could very well change one day soon. Flaherty can provide solid call-up duty if needed. 3. MINNESOTA WILD (A-) # Player PO HD CD IJ IT SP ST EN DU DI SK PA PC DF SC EX LD OV 20 Ed Belfour G L OK 73 93 65 80 80 84 88 65 90 NA NA 92 92 81 37 Dan Cloutier G L OK 84 87 69 77 84 75 87 64 80 NA NA 60 65 77 48 Richard Shulmistra G L 99 46 52 69 39 40 68 54 41 60 NA NA 35 40 50 1 Corey Hirsch G L OK 61 68 60 72 63 58 67 58 61 NA NA 55 64 62 * Possibly the best 1-2 in the league with Belfour leading the charge. Cloutier is solid in his own right, and will fill the starters role nicely when Belfour calls it a career. Nothing to brag about in the minors, but Shulmistra should progress over time. 2. PHOENIX COYOTES (A) # Player PO HD CD IJ IT SP ST EN DU DI SK PA PC DF SC EX LD OV 45 Dominik Hasek G L 95 78 92 57 82 82 71 87 60 91 NA NA 96 90 80 2 Brent Johnson G L OK 60 86 78 78 85 90 85 65 86 NA NA 57 55 76 1 Patrick Desrochers G L OK 59 72 80 65 65 85 72 65 72 NA NA 35 35 66 * Two words: Dominik Hasek. Old he may be, but the 'Dominator' is still one of the best there is. Johnson is solid enough to take over the starting duties if Hasek falls to injury (which is likely), and Mr. Desrochers is a strong candidate for a future pro-quality netminder. 1. NEW YORK RANGERS (A) # Player PO HD CD IJ IT SP ST EN DU DI SK PA PC DF SC EX LD OV 9 David Aebischer G L OK 68 88 66 83 85 90 88 65 87 NA NA 50 48 77 38 Sean Burke G L OK 81 89 85 89 85 60 92 60 92 NA NA 80 82 82 5 Reinhald Divis G L OK 50 81 60 69 72 80 77 63 77 NA NA 40 40 68 * Burke is currently the best goalie in our league - 'nuff said. Aebischer is obviously the Rangers goalie of tomorrow, but he can provide strong goaltending now as well. Divis is still unproven in the pro game, but he is currently working on his skills in the minors..