The Crease Chronicles: Three Goalies & a Bag of Lost Marbles

Ouuu…yeah...you like that don't you? You're a filthy little fantasy manager. Mmm.. ok, now here comes that finger you've been waiting for…

Oh, sorry. Didn't notice you there. I was just rosterbating after my team's week one performance. Come on in and grab a seat. 

I'll start this rosterbation session off by introducing some bounce back goalies this season that I just happen to have drafted in one of my leagues. I’m going to refer to these big, strong men as my Gargles. The first set of marbles that are going to get some gargling this year is, Igor Shesterkin. After a down year last season, Prince Igor is looking like the Tendy he was always hyped up to be. The 2.86 GAA and .905 save percentage were very underwhelming numbers for Shesterkin, albeit, that did happen to come with 27 wins and 6 shutouts in 61 games last season. This year, expect an uptick in all categories. Playing the vast majority of games for a Rangers team looking to improve on last year's poor performance, I’m thinking a potential Vezina candidate year is on the way with his play to start the season. A 0.67 GAA and .976 save percentage over 3 game's is a small sample size, but expect great things from Shesterkin this time around, and some tonsils to be touched. Especially when you consider he currently leads the league in goals saved above expected (7.4!)

Goaltending is definitely a huge part of any championship team. Real life or fantasy. That being said, my second Gargle is going to Juuse Saros. Someone has definitely been shinning those marbles this off season, because he is looking cool and refreshed in the crease in the early going. Another goalie who had a disappointing season in 2024-25, to the tune of a 2.98 GAA and a .895 save percentage, everything should be coming up Milhouse this go around for the Fin. He stood on his head 2 out of the first 3 games thus far, and being Nashville’s Bona Fide starter, expect a bounce back season here. Through a small sample size of games, the Juice man is tied for 3^rd in the league in goals saved above expected. Hopefully you had the foresight/skin to snag Saros in the middle rounds of your draft.

Not everyone is Gargle worthy, unfortunately. So, let's get into Dozy's Gorble to start the season. Freddy “Fingers” Andersen has not looked sharp to start the campaign. He does play in a good system, and is expected to get a lot of playing time to start the season with Pyotr Kochetkov on the IR with a lower body injury. Appearing in only 34, 16 and 22 games the last 3 seasons, Andersen is one of the most injury prone goalies out there. Combined with the fact that he's getting older, don't expect even half a season out of him. Let’s be honest, it’s quite possible he gets injured before Kochetkov returns to action in a week or two. If the numbers aren't going to be there, and the injuries are going to happen, it's safe to say Freddy will be a Gorble this season. Do not have high expectations for "Fingers" to play enough to impact your week-to-week match ups, but if you want to occupy one of those IR spots on your team, he is your man. 

So be careful with your marbles out there folks…these goalies are liable to make you lose them.

Stay sleepy zzz

-Dozy