top 100 goalies - Lehtonen

stormey wrote:
Still don't see how he's ahead of Toskala. Both bad teams but Tosk was healthier last year...and better. Plus I'd rather have a tender play behind Toronto's D than Atlanta's. Now that's saying something.

Difference of opinion. But upon review, I was hard on Toskala and have adjusted some factors in the formula for him. He's at 118 now and should move up three spots next month.


I think it all boils down to this: Lehtonen is just 24 and still three or four years from his prime. He has the potential to be a Top 5 goalie in the league if he can stay healthy. The POTENTIAL. His potential, in terms of pure talent, is up there with the greats. Toskala's potential is Top 10, but not Top 5.

In fantasy hockey, you can't go after a Top 5 goalie once he gets there. You have to identify what goalie COULD get there and make your move sooner. I'm saying that if you own Toskala, or LeClaire, or Backstrom, or Harding and you cna trade them for Lehtonen - do so. Maybe he'll only be an average goalie, but he is one of the few who could be elite. He was a second overall pick. His SP has improved every season he has played.

You can argue with me, or you can trust me. Injuries are the only thing that could hold him back.

Dobber wrote:

You can argue with me, or you can trust me. Injuries are the only thing that could hold him back.

On this one i'll argue with you Dobber. Looks like that other thread "Filatov or Radulov" has sent me into a debate mode. You should check it out as a Radulov supporter.

In regards to your comment above, injuries are not the only thing that could hold him back. Sometimes it not just the skill of the player that makes them great fantasywise but its the team around them. Lehtonen may be skilled but like DiPietro he may not put up good fantasy stats which is what we really care about around here. I put DiPietro and Lehtonen in the same boat (injuries aside), alot of skill but will never be top 10 goalies fantasywise unless they move to a different team. I'm making this statement with the teams that NYI and ATL have now and what is in thir pipeline. So to conclude injuries are not the only thing that will hold Lehtonen back.

pipeline is no worse than Minnesota's, TB's or Toronto's...in fact, it's better...

First off the pipeline may be worse in Minny, To and Tbay but all 3 teams are better than Atl IMO. Tbay is close to Atl but I'd take Vinny, St.Louis, Prospal, Stamkos and Boyle over Kovi, Enstrom and Bogosian.

Minny is a defensive playoff team that finished 1st in the northwest division and 4th in pts in the superior western conference. If Lehtonen played on Minny he deserves to be ranked where he is.

If Lehtonen played in TO or Tbay I would not rank him where is he.

shall we go ahead and make the change? you know - to crazynuckhockey.com?

If Lehtonen played in TB, then TB would instantly be a better team. Toronto too.

thank you dobber for giving lehtonen the little bit of love he deserves.

he is just 24!

4 years ago, he was the most hyped goalie prospect since patrick roy. he is a fantastic talent, who struggled early in his career the adjustment needed in his conditioning to deal with the workload that the thrash through at him. the fact that his team is so bad has hurt his stock a lot, but i've visited some thrasher's forums and believe me, a healthy majority of the posters there firmly believe that their team would be far worse without him.

i still think that when lehtonen is 28 years old, he will be top 10 if not better.

Dobber wrote:
shall we go ahead and make the change? you know - to crazynuckhockey.com?



Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Like I said I respect your rankings and use it as a guide but personally I dont rank Lehtonen that high. Just pointing out the other side of the argument.

Just kidding Crazynuck, as I'm sure you know

Yes UW, fantasy hockey is fickle. One bad season and any player is written off. Or even half a season. It doesn't take much. But the second overall pick with his track record should be given some slack. Keeper leagues are about balancing results with potential.

I'm not writing Lehtonen off because of one bad season. I have never believed in him and his team situation and injury history are just two more reasons that I dont think he will be a top 10 G.

I think Rask will be better than Bernier and I could eat my humble pie aswell. Only time will tell.

At least we can agree on Price