It's interesting how Ryan Miller has fallen completely out of the discussion. On a terrible Buffalo team, he was facing a ton of high quality scoring chances a night and played stellar. His entire career he's been consistently an elite goalie. He got traded and had a bad 2 months to end the season and all of a sudden the first 75% of the regular season and his entire career don't matter? This really is a "what have you done for me lately" kind of league.
- rangerdanger94

That's goalies for ya.

I think Bishop has the potential to be a true #1 for a lot of years, and showed us that with outstanding play this year.... but he isn't ready for the top 10 list, yet. He was a great backup for a while, as well as a fill-in starter and has had one outstanding year as a true starter. Too small of a sample size.

And what about Varly?

Niemi sucks.

Here is an honest question. Looking at the all time list, how far down would Lundqvist/Quick fall. Despite both being special talents, would either break the top 25?

So JJ, what is your definition of "now"?

Everyone brings up hardware. Well then why isn't Marty Brodeur the #1 on the list.

To me "Now" can only mean last season as that's the only sample that can count as now.

So you look at the best goalies last season.

Lets be honest, just because a goalie won the cup 3 years ago, doesn't mean he's as good as then.

This goes for Miller, Lou, M.A. Fleury, Niemmi.

I think you have the list pretty accurate. I think Lundqvist is #1. He just took his team to the finals by stealing games.

I think narrowly behind him is Price.

People can't have it both ways. They can't say "LA is the best balanced team" and then claim their goalie, Dman, and star player. Same with Chicago. They have a good #1 goalie that does the job, but doesn't steal games.

In the Olympics Lundqvist took his team to silver. They didn't have the best lineup, but the best goalie. Price won the gold, but he had a hell of a team, so his 15 saves weren't the reason why.

This applies to Rask, Amazing team in front of him, but when they let him down, he's not stealing games. Great goalie though.

To me, the "Now" top 5 are

Lundqvist (technically perfect) (and if I put price there, people will fuss about being bias)
Price (great technician, steals games, plays the puck so well)
Varlamov (41-14-6 on a bad "puck possession" team that finished last prior year
Bobrovsky (he steals games for COLUMBUS 'nuff said)
Rask (He is a very very good goalie, when Big Z retires, he will be tested for real)

Lundqvist
Rask
Price
Quick
Miller
Rinne
Bishop
Varlamov
Luongo
Bernier


This list is based solely on who I think is better, individually, when all things are equal. Weighted heavily towards recent play, I gave some credit for past play, like Miller and Luongo. I don't care about hardware.
Bernier played a ton of minutes while also facing, by far, the highest shots against/game totals in the NHL, as is evident by the Leafs' defense.

Quick
Rask
Price
Rinne
Hank
Varly
Leht
Howard


Not finishing it.

The lack of Billy Smith is stupefying.

So JJ, what is your definition of "now"?

Everyone brings up hardware. Well then why isn't Marty Brodeur the #1 on the list.

To me "Now" can only mean last season as that's the only sample that can count as now.

So you look at the best goalies last season.

Lets be honest, just because a goalie won the cup 3 years ago, doesn't mean he's as good as then.

This goes for Miller, Lou, M.A. Fleury, Niemmi.

I think you have the list pretty accurate. I think Lundqvist is #1. He just took his team to the finals by stealing games.

I think narrowly behind him is Price.

People can't have it both ways. They can't say "LA is the best balanced team" and then claim their goalie, Dman, and star player. Same with Chicago. They have a good #1 goalie that does the job, but doesn't steal games.

In the Olympics Lundqvist took his team to silver. They didn't have the best lineup, but the best goalie. Price won the gold, but he had a hell of a team, so his 15 saves weren't the reason why.

This applies to Rask, Amazing team in front of him, but when they let him down, he's not stealing games. Great goalie though.

To me, the "Now" top 5 are

Lundqvist (technically perfect) (and if I put price there, people will fuss about being bias)
Price (great technician, steals games, plays the puck so well)
Varlamov (41-14-6 on a bad "puck possession" team that finished last prior year
Bobrovsky (he steals games for COLUMBUS 'nuff said)
Rask (He is a very very good goalie, when Big Z retires, he will be tested for real)
- l3ig_l2ecl

Crow indeed stold both STL and Minni series this year as well as at least one DET last year

Crow indeed stold both STL and Minni series this year as well as at least one DET last year
- Cup-Bearer

I wouldn't say he stole the series, but he definitely stole game 3. Miller wasn't very good.

I wouldn't say he stole the series, but he definitely stole game 3. Miller wasn't very good.
- Yeah Boyes

This^

Crow indeed stold both STL and Minni series this year as well as at least one DET last year
- Cup-Bearer

He's had some great games and series in the playoffs, and some bad ones. More good than bad. He's generally speaking not a guy you can count on to steal games. IMO, when he's on, he's very good and in that tier right below the top 5 guys. When he's not, he can be somewhere between average and pretty bad. To me, he is def in the top 15, with or without a great defense in front of him.

How did Kent Simpson not make the list?!?!

Here is an honest question. Looking at the all time list, how far down would Lundqvist/Quick fall. Despite both being special talents, would either break the top 25?
- Cup-Bearer

1 Vezina between the two of them.

Nope, not on top 25 of all time.

Not even close.

Although they are still building their resumes.

Have to say that Roy doesn't rate as number one. I'd put Broduer, Hasek Plante, Sawchuk, Hall, Durnan ahead of him. Dryden is also not up there as high as 4th. Maybe not even top 10. You're also leaving out Hainsworth, Brimsek, Rayner, guys who played on awful teams at times and have been widely acknowledged as excellent goalies by their peers of the day. And where do you rate Broda, Joseph, Lumley, Chabot, Connell, Bower, Worsley?

Will make for a fun debate. But Roy #1, nope, not in my mind.
- Old Pappy

Joseph?

C'mon.

He will never make it to the HHOF. He's not in this conversation.

How did Kent Simpson not make the list?!?!
- FourFeathers773

'Cause Ted Dent won't let him off the bench in Rockford.

If the Blues finish ahead of Chicago again will it lead to a meltdown on your part?
- carcus

No, because we all know how it ends for the Blues in the playoffs.

On the top 10 of all time, since you didn't mention NHL of all time, I would have included Tretiak at #6.

Patrick Roy wouldn't make #1.

Martin Brodeur would be one. I would give Fuhr, Hainesworth, Lumley and Joseph consideration before Patrick Roy.

Roy makes #1 for me on the all-time most overrated list.

No, because we all know how it ends for the Blues in the playoffs.
- Ogilthorpe2

Eventually things change, right?

Patrick Roy wouldn't make #1.

Martin Brodeur would be one. I would give Fuhr, Hainesworth, Lumley and Joseph consideration before Patrick Roy.

Roy makes #1 for me on the all-time most overrated list.
- skidmark

huh.......

This is where I fail to understand sarcasm vs stupidity.

Eventually things change, right?
- carcus

Ask a Sharks fan.

Patrick Roy wouldn't make #1.

Martin Brodeur would be one. I would give Fuhr, Hainesworth, Lumley and Joseph consideration before Patrick Roy.

Roy makes #1 for me on the all-time most overrated list.
- skidmark

Fuhr over Roy? Maybe a fun argument to have over beers.

Hainsworth over Roy? See above.

Lumley over Roy? No.

Joseph over Roy? Please put down the crack pipe. That's just silly.

Ask a Sharks fan.
- Ogilthorpe2

No. I have been around longer than sharks fans.

I really like our team.........minus the goaltending. I am still worried about that, but hopeful that Allen can step in and do a great job.

I can't wait for 6628 to chime in. He either redeems me or makes mincemeat.
- John Jaeckel

Hey there, if I disagree with any of it I wouldn't number them. But there's no question they are all deserving of being on the lists. Because of the different styles and equiptment it's tough to compare eras. I give extra love to the guys who were unique in the face of competition and copycat coaching. hasek, Espo, Plante, maybe even Tretiak all score high there. All these guys are consistent. If i had to have a #1 Dryden all time. Currently like watching Rinna and Bishop more than most. I am looking forward to seeing if jimmy Waite goes a little hybrid with Crawford. Quick is prolly the most alert goalie today. All time goalie to party with would be Tony O or Cheevers. And just because, i don't laugh at Anderson anymore. much more consistent than when he was younger. I think he should find a contender to play maybe 30 or so games for and he can stick around a long while.