Sleeper of the Week

For my second installment of this season’s Sleeper of the Week, I’ll focus on goalies, which is historically one of the most difficult positions to fill. Not only do most teams use only one goalie almost exclusively, but Yahoo! leagues will forfeit all goalie categories if you do not fulfill the required minimum starts. This brings us to this week’s sleeper: Manny Legace.

Throughout his career, Legace has been a journeyman 1A/1B goalie. He has bounced from the powerhouse Red Wings’ starter, all the way to the below average Blues’ back up to Curtis Sanford at the end of last season. He has injury problems and he’s getting older. All of this should lead you in the other way right? Upon closer examination however, he played phenomenally after head coach Brian Murray took over a few months into last season. He went 18-5-3 with five shutouts between December 16 and February 20, but then he went down with injury. Even with the sub-par start, he finished the season with a surprisingly strong 2.59 GAA and 9.07 SV%. The team’s top five defensemen make a strong season all the more likely with last year’s first overall pick, Erik Johnson, joining an impressive core of Eric Brewer, Barret Jackman, Christian Backman, and Jay McKee. Free agent Paul Kariya fills out an improved top six of Dough Weight, Brad Boyes, Lee Stempniak, Keith Tkachuck, and Martin Rucinski.

Legace is certainly one sleeper I would not let fall to someone else. He’s likely the most underrated goalie, if not player, in the draft. As long as he stays healthy, he’ll be a great #3 goalie and perhaps a #2 if you are desperate.

(20 votes, average: 3.55 out of 5)  Loading ... Questions or comments for Ryan? Post them in the Cafe Forums! Want to see your own fantasy wisdom published? Check out the Cafe's Pencil & Paper section!