Panthers' Jacob Markstrom is a terrific pickup idea in keeper leagues with Jose Theodore out long-term and possibly not re-signing next season. (Reuters)
Fantasy owners had not one, but two, new starting goalie options to chew on this past week with the long-term injuries to Hurricanes’ Cam Ward and Jose Theodore of the Panthers. Both occurred last weekend, meaning that fast-acting owners may already have jumped on Dan Ellis or Jacob Markstrom. But if not, which one do you target? Now, I’ve played enough hockey to know that, when you don’t have faith in the guy between the pipes, you have to tighten up defensively, so it’s not surprising to see both Ellis and Markstrom (Thursday’s early exit aside) producing better stats than the injured No. 1s. However, a team’s true colors eventually bleed through and I expect both goalies to regress at some point. But, if you are in a redraft league or are contending, Ellis, 32, is the less risky bet. He has succeeded as a No. 1 NHL netminder in the past, owns a 2.53 GAA and .923 S% in seven games this year and, more importantly, plays for the better team.
