Hey Justin - this is perfect timing, as I have an offer on the table that involves potentially dropping Neuvirth.

I know that it is still to be decided in camp, but I agree with Dobber's 90% belief that Holtby will be the starter. Especially with Holts spending the entire AHL season in front of Oates while Neuvy plays overseas, and seems to be alienating himself from his teammates. All in all, its gotta be Holtby's to lose, no?

Do you think it is a safe enough calculated risk to roll with Holtby? If it is a really foolish move, then I will likely axe Alfe, but I would like to rid myself of the hassle of three tenders if possible.

Thanks!

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19 team Dynasty League - POINTS ONLY. Daily starts: 9 fwds, 6 D, 1 goalie

G=2pts, A=1pt, Dman G=3pts, GWG=1pt, Goalie Win=3.5pts, SO=4pts, L=-1pt


Kovalchuk, Couture, Wheeler
Parenteau, Iginla, Heatley
Elias, Little, Weiss
Booth, Zuccarello

Karlsson, Letang, Ehrhoff
Carle, Gonchar, Martin
Hamhuis

Niemi
Smith

Applying realistic percentages to these two goalies is tough. Desjardins has struggled to stay healthy, and that's the only reason he's not an NHL backup right now. I do think he has a good season in Hamilton, stays healthy, and becomes Carey Price's backup next season. I don't think the Canadiens would have brought him back into the fold after last season's injuries in Lake Erie without realizing he could get injured again...but they want to see him succeed, they know he works hard, they know he's a very good goalie with a bit of starter upside, and they probably want Carey Price to at least see some type of competition behind him...so Desjardins has the door opening in front of him ... he just HAS to stay healthy this season...and through the summer.

Stalock is a stud for a 5-11/6-0 goalie and he's back to being 100% healthy again, and he's playing very well in Worcester right now after a bit of a slow start the first few games. He is definitely an NHL backup in a few more seasons, depending on what happens with Niemi and Greiss. I'm hesitant to say he's a definite NHL starter because he's small and highly athletic, so he doesn't have the frame or play the style that you see with most prototypical starters right now. Very few "smaller and highly athletic" goalies are starters right now ... Quick might be the only one, but his positional game has improved by leaps and bounds over the past few seasons.

But Stalock is definitely going to be an NHL backup in my mind. He's a really skilled and confident goalie, and he has a great trait that will really help his value -- he can move and handle the puck like a boss.

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in your opinion, how long before price is a top 3 fantasy goalie? top 5?

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10 team Keeper Roto League
4C-4LW-4RW-6D-2G-5bench-unlimited farm.

C= crosby,m.koivu,malkin,zajak,grabovski,j.jokinen,
LW= ovechkin,nash,s.gagner,dubinsky
RW= downie,hemsky,callahan,voracek,perry,mueller
D= green,doughty,phaneuf,wisniewski,girardi,karlsson
G= rask,lundqvist,ward,price

FARM=kreider,grachev,petrov,enroth,kuznetsov,ennis ,rundblad,bjugstad,radulov,montoya, adam,t.erixon,cowan,s.elliot,j.faulk,cormier,petro v,orlov,stone,eakin,grigorenko,silfverberg,brodin, atkinson

--G,A,P,PPP,SHP,GWG,PIMS,+/-,SOG,hits,FOW,blocks-Wins,GAA,SV%,saves,SO

Many of you know I'm a huge Neuvirth fan, but after seeing everything I've seen since the playoffs .... Holtby is the goalie to own. Everything Dobber says, and knowing Holtby is playing in a talented AHL right now, it's significant in terms of the optics of his value within the Caps organization. I would say it's definitely safe to roll with Holtby. Neuvirth hasn't been very good in Czech Republic ... "leaky" is the term I'm hearing from scouts overseas.

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Really just depends on team defense, how much support he's getting, and what kind of offense they provide in front of him.

Technically speaking, he's already one of the best goalies in the world. His mature mindset in such a tough market like Montreal is unreal. His positioning is unreal. He is a true phenom, and he's still not even really in his prime yet. I think now that he's starting to settle down in terms of getting married and starting a family, that will really bring some balance to his life, and help his overall game and consistency. I can't even begin to tell you how many NHL goalies I've talked to during the lockout that mention the benefits of having a family life. It makes a goalie realize they don't have to live and die by wins and losses. Price is already such a relaxed and even-keeled goalie with a great pro mentality, but I really think you're going to start seeing him play even more clutch and consistent over the next few seasons and beyond......Montreal just has to play better in front of him. Then he'll be Top-5 fantasy goalie.

But no matter how good he is with his game, if they don't provide him with support, he may never be a Top-5 fantasy goalie.

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thanks justin.

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10 team Keeper Roto League
4C-4LW-4RW-6D-2G-5bench-unlimited farm.

C= crosby,m.koivu,malkin,zajak,grabovski,j.jokinen,
LW= ovechkin,nash,s.gagner,dubinsky
RW= downie,hemsky,callahan,voracek,perry,mueller
D= green,doughty,phaneuf,wisniewski,girardi,karlsson
G= rask,lundqvist,ward,price

FARM=kreider,grachev,petrov,enroth,kuznetsov,ennis ,rundblad,bjugstad,radulov,montoya, adam,t.erixon,cowan,s.elliot,j.faulk,cormier,petro v,orlov,stone,eakin,grigorenko,silfverberg,brodin, atkinson

--G,A,P,PPP,SHP,GWG,PIMS,+/-,SOG,hits,FOW,blocks-Wins,GAA,SV%,saves,SO

Thanks for this Justin, it's really appreciated.

1. Behind Elliot and Halak, who is the future of St. Louis's goaltending? I'm losing confidence in Allen but am gaining it in Binnington. Or is it someone else?...

2. Magnus Hellburg. Future star? Future starter? Future 1A? Future back up?...

3. Detroit. Who's the future there?

Thanks in advance.

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20tm UFA/RFA dynasty

Cats: G, A, SOG, STpts, +/-, hits/bs, GAA, Sv%, W+SO

Hi Justin, do you see Varlamov becoming a top 5 or 6 goalie in the next few years? I believed a goalie need to go through some struggles before elevating to another level, something like Varly went through last year.

Michael Leighton is signed for this season only. I picked him up off the waiver wire and wonder if the NHL season does go at some point this year, is he worth keeping or if he gets a few starts and plays well should I look to trade him?

I guess what I'm asking is, do you think Philly will extend his contract ( if he plays well ) and will he get many starts behind Bryz next season assuming he re-signs?

If he becomes a UFA, do you see someone else signing him ( I would assume as a backup )?

Is he fantasy-worthy now & in the future?
Thanks

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Excelsior~ Ever Higher

Why do we Park in Driveways and Drive in Parkways?
Why doesn't glue stick to the inside of the bottle?
Boxing rings are square.
Why do we put SUITS in a Garment bag and GARMENTS in a Suitcase?
If women wear a pair of glasses, a pair of shoes, a pair of pants and a pair of ear-rings, why don't they wear a pair of bras?

BAZINGA!

Hey Justin,

Which prospects does the lockout help the most? If the season starts this year? If its cancelled entirely?

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UFHP - Y! 12 GMs - 23/8 pro/farm - keep 17 + all farm
G, A, +/-, PIM, PPP, SHP, GWG, SOG, Hits, FW; GS, W, L, GA, GAA, SA, SV, SV%, SHO

C: Backstrom, Carter (RW), Duchene (LW), Ribiero
LW: Hall, Ladd, Heatley, Clowe, Fleishmann, Stalberg,
RW: Yakupov, Tarasenko, Briere (C), Hemsky
D: Keith, Voynov, Schultz, Hamilton, Siedenberg
G: Hiller, Price, Bernier, Greiss

Farm:
C: Granlund
RW:
LW: Schwartz, Toffoli
D: Rundblad, Orlov
G: Lack, Visentin, Enroth