Top 10 Goalies in the NHL

The top 10 goalies in the NHL right now give their respective teams a chance to win on any given night. Though few among them have won Stanley Cups there is little doubt that will change in the not-too-distant future. With the parity in the NHL these days it is more paramount than ever to have a top-tier goalie and the teams fortunate to have one of the top 10 goalies in the NHL certainly have the envy of their fellows throughout the league who are forced to work much harder to achieve victory. The superstars like Crosby and Ovechkin always seem to get the credit, but any coach or player will tell you that the goalie is, by far, the most important member of any team. Here are my picks for the best in the game today:

10 - Niklas Backstrom

Not to be confused with superstar rookie forward, Nicklas Backstrom, this Finnish goalie is thriving under the defensive system implemented by Minnesota Wild coach, Jacques Lemaire. Though he has only played 2 NHL seasons, at 30 years of age he has the maturity and experience to remain calm under the pressure of the NHL. In his rookie season he posted a stingy 1.97 goals against average, earning him the number one spot on the club. With a 2.31 GAA and a .920 save percentage this year, he handily avoided the sophomore jinx. Yet another reason opposing forwards hate playing the Wild.

9 - Marc-Andre Fleury

Talk about moving up in a hurry. Last year, this guy would have been nowhere in sight of a spot on the list of the top 10 goalies in the NHL. However, after returning from serious injury this past season, and seeing his number one position nearly usurped by Ty Conklin, Fleury served notice to coaches and fans alike that his number one overall draft selection a few years ago was warranted, leading the young Penguins to game six of the Stanley Cup finals this past season.

8 - Ryan Miller

Though he looks like he hasn't eaten a good meal in about a year, this cadaverous goalie is among the elite in the NHL. If not for an absolutely decimated defensive core in the 2006 playoffs he very likely would be polishing a Stanley Cup ring right now. Miller was an absolute horse for the Sabres last season, playing in a whoppiing 76 games. A little reduction in workload would be all he needs to challenge the NHL's best goalies for leadership in the major categories.

7 - J.S. Giguere

Perhaps the most boring goalie to watch in the NHL, there can be little argument against this man's inclusion in the list of the top 10 goalies in the NHL. He captured a Conn Smythe trophy in the 2003 playoffs after bowing out to the New Jersey Devils in game 7 that year, a very rare accolade for a member of the losing team. In 2007 he finally got his Stanley Cup ring. Giguere is arguably the best angle goalie in the league, and always seems to be in position to block the puck with his big upper body. Sure, he might not be as exciting as Kiprusoff or Hasek, but he stops the puck, and last time I checked that was the goalie's most important job.

6 - Miikka Kiprusoff

San Jose obviously didn't know what they had when they traded Kipper to the Calgary Flames in 2003-04. Kiprusoff wasted no time letting them know they'd made a grave mistake, finishing that season with a modern day NHL record 1.69 goals against average. He went on to lead the Calgary Flames to game 7 of the Stanley Cup final that year. Since he'd only played 38 games that year he was snubbed for the Vezina, but when the NHL resumed play after the lockout season, he picked up right where he left off, earning 10 shutouts on his way to a Vezina that year. His numbers have slipped during the past 2 seasons, perhaps due to the huge number of games he has played, but there is no question he is still one of the top 10 goalies in the NHL today.

5 - Marty Turco

No, Marty Turco hasn't had phenomenal playoff success, but year in and year out he has been one of the most consistently spectacular goalies in the league, and even his harshest critics would begrudge a spot on this list. With a miniscule 2.15 career GAA and 207 wins in only 382 games it is easy to overlook his playoff failures. With Dallas finally bringing in some talent again, look for Turco's playoff misery to become a thing of the past.

4 - Evgeni Nabokov

How this guy wasn't awarded the Vezina trophy this past season I'll never know. He won 46 games, had a 2.14 GAA, and posted 6 shutouts while playing a staggering 77 games for the San Jose Sharks this season. San Jose has failed to bring home a Stanley Cup despite a plethora of talent, but that failure can hardly be laid at Nabokov's feet. He has done everything he can to try and get the Sharks to the promise land, but for whatever reason San Jose's offense always seems to dry up in the playoffs. Perhaps when San Jose finally gets a cup this great goalie will finally get the respect he so richly deserves.

3 - Henrik Lundqvist

Coming in at number 3 on the list of the top 10 goalies in the NHL is Swedish superstar, King Henrik. While leading Sweden to a gold medal in the 2006 Olympics in Turin, Lundqvist served notice that the much maligned Swedish goaltending system wasn't completely flawed. Sweden finally has a top-tier goalie to go along with all their talent at the forward position. With Lundqvist between the pipes watch for them to be an international force for years to come. But it isn't just Sweden who is reaping the benefits of Lundqvist's talent. The New York Rangers are finally poised to challenge for the Stanley Cup again. Despite throwing huge wads of cash around they had been a cellar dweller for years, due mainly in part to the void in goal that was left after Mike Richter's forced retirement. Don't be surprised in King Henrik brings the Stanley Cup to the Big Apple in the near future.

2 - Martin Brodeur

Yes, I know he just finished winning the past 2 Vezina trophies, but this year, at least, I think he earned the hardware on reputation. Martin Brodeur is still a phenomenal goalie, but in my opinion I think he has finally been surpassed when it comes to pure ability. Normally I'd still give him the nod based on his performance in big games, but his recent NHL playoff and Olympic performances have shown that Brodeur isn't the goalie he once was in the biggest games. Sorry Marty. The torch has been passed. If the Canadian Olympic team brass is smart they'll make you the number 2 guy going into the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.

1 - Roberto Luongo

The number 1 spot on this list of the top 10 goalies in the NHL goes to a keeper that wasn't even nominated for the Vezina this past season. How can I justify that? Well, first of all there were extenuating personal circumstances that would have impacted any professional athlete's performance. But, all that aside, there simply is no more difficult goalie to score on in the NHL than Roberto Luongo. He combines Giguere's size and puck blocking ability with the athleticism of Marc-Andre Fleury. Early in the season he had a three game shutout streak where he looked like he may never be scored on again. He makes it look that easy. He is a fierce competitor that has never had the benefit of a great team around him. If the Canucks can land Sundin or find comparable offense from other sources watch for Luongo to help Vancouver challenge for the Stanley Cup next spring.