As the NHL season approaches its midway point, savvy fantasy managers are scouring the waiver wire for hidden gems – especially between the pipes. While conventional wisdom says to avoid goalies on basement-dwelling teams, a few stalwart netminders are bucking that trend and providing surprising value. Let’s take a closer look at some crease-dwellers putting up respectable numbers despite toiling for struggling squads.
The Unsung Heroes in Net
Karel Vejmelka, Utah Hockey Club
Despite Utah’s losing record, Vejmelka is holding down the fort admirably with a 2.44 GAA and .915 SV% over his last 10 starts. The 26-year-old journeyman is seizing his opportunity with Connor Ingram sidelined. He won’t continue to fly under the radar for long in fantasy circles – grab him while you still can in over 90% of ESPN leagues.
“Vehmelka is putting the team on his back during this recent run… Utah is flirting with playoff contention largely thanks to his heroics in net.”
ESPN Fantasy Hockey Analyst Victoria Matiash
Lukas Dostal, Anaheim Ducks
Don’t let Anaheim’s dismal -18 goal differential fool you – their goalie of the future is playing lights out. Dostal ranks 4th in the NHL in goals saved above average and 2nd in goals saved above expected, trailing only Connor Hellebuyck. The Ducks are steadily improving in front of the 24-year-old phenom, who is still available in over half of ESPN leagues.
- 11.76 GSAA (4th in NHL)
- 21.46 GSAx (2nd to only Hellebuyck)
- Averaging 1.7 fantasy points per game
Sam Montembeault, Montreal Canadiens
The Habs may be bringing up the rear in the Eastern Conference, but Montembeault is helping them stay competitive on a nightly basis. The 28-year-old sports a respectable 2.92 GAA and 8.13 GSAx. He’s averaging a solid 1.6 fantasy points per game. Stream him against weaker opponents and enjoy the spoils.
Diamonds in the Rough
A few other goalies on disappointing teams also warrant attention in deeper fantasy formats:
- Joey Daccord (SEA) – Ranks 9th in NHL in total fantasy points with 58.6
- Yaroslav Askarov (SJ) – Sharks’ top prospect shining in first NHL stint
- Arvid Soderblom (CHI) – 3 straight wins, 15+ fantasy points in last week
The moral of the story? While wins are at a premium for netminders on bottom-feeding clubs, don’t sleep on the other fantasy categories. These hidden gems can provide a huge boost to your GAA, SV%, and total fantasy points – especially in rotisserie leagues. Savvy managers would be wise to kick the tires on these undervalued assets before they start gaining more attention.
