Teams aren't going to make it very far in the NHL without a solid goaltender. It's not rocket surgery—teams that win the Stanley Cup do it on the back of great netminding, not by scoring an average of five goals per game.
A shaky tandem in net can spell the downfall of an otherwise promising team (Philadelphia Flyers, Columbus Blue Jackets prior to Sergei Bobrovsky, Toronto Maple Leafs before James Reimer, etc.), while an outstanding stopper can help aid an average lineup to the conference finals and beyond.
While reading this list, keep in mind that goalies who aren't currently in timeshares were given the nod over backstops who will be splitting time in 2013-14. There are a few exceptions to the rule, but it stands, in general, that all three of Jaroslav Halak, Brian Elliott and Jake Allen can't be (and aren't) here.
We tried to give players the benefit of the doubt and not bury them just for having to further prove themselves, but we typically gave the nod to established veterans over guys who just broke through in 2013.
One offseason doesn't suddenly make a once-elite goaltender cannon fodder, either.
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
Article written by Franklin Steele
Ranking the Top 25 Goaltenders in the NHL for the 2013-14 Season
September 24th, 2013 by Franklin Steele Leave a reply »
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