Carey Price - The future is NOW

If you are in a standard 10 category NHL rotisserie league than you understand the importance of owning an elite goaltender.

When searching for a goaltender to build your franchise around ability is just not enough. Roberto Luongo has all world abilities, but if you invested in him as a 20 year old you had to go through 1 season with him getting shellacked on the Islanders, then 5 more facing more rubber than Jenna Jameson.

It took Luongo five seasons to post more than 30 wins. He put up elite numbers, but didn't become the fantasy stud he is now until his arrival in Vancouver. Keri Lehtonen, Rick Dipietro and Marc Andre Fleury were all highly regarded prospects who begun their careers with a bad to mediocre team.

Not many goaltenders have the ability and are able to make the leap to the NHL early in their careers with an elite level team. But those who do are worth their weight in fantasy gold. The ability to dominate individual categories as well as be the unquestioned starter who can carry you to 40+ wins yearly is a lynchpin to future fantasy success.

I understand that most have heard of the hype on Carey Price and I am sure that some were glad that he crashed and burned in the 2008 Playoffs. But a terrible finish should not alter one's view on his overall performance. The 2007-08 season should be viewed for what it was, one of the greatest performances by a 20 year old goaltender in NHL history. Upon closer inspection it becomes increasingly clear that what Price accomplished last season has been very understated.

Twenty year old goalies who start 40+ games in the NHL are a rare breed. Only eight twenty year old goalies have started more than 40 games since 1968 and only fifteen have started more than one playoff game. Only four have gone on to win a playoff round. (Roy, Burke, Moog and Carey Price).

Future peers like Martin Brodeur and Mikka Kipprusoff were toiling in the AHL, Europe or other professional leagues. The majority of his peers did not reach the NHL until their early to mid twenties. This removes them entirely from the discussion.

Only thirty-six 20 year old goaltenders have played more than 10 games at the NHL level since 1967. When you narrow that criteria to goalies who have won 10 or more games, you are left with only 16 NHL goalies since expansion.

The gold standard among the final sixteen are Patrick Roy in 1986 and Tom Barrasso in 1984. Patrick Roy's run to the 1986 Conn Smythe trophy is legendary and Barrasso's jump from high school hockey to the Calder and Vezina trophy stand alone.

Price's season cannot match up to the weight of those two seasons, but if all categories are weighted equally, Price stands alone.

Ranking each category among the thirty-six goaltenders shines a brilliant light on Price's 2008 campaign. I ranked each individual in games played, shutouts, goals against average, wins, winning percentage, save percentage and playoff wins. (click below).

Price ranked in the top ten in every category, while he finished top five in five categories.

Add in his World Junior MVP, CHL goalie of the year and the AHL playoff MVP award in 2007 and the kid screams can't miss. A fantastic start has made every owner who invested in him very happy in 2009.

Owners should hold onto him like they would Sidney Crosby or Dion Phaneuf. He will ascend to the fantasy king of the crease quicker than you may think. He is been pretty dominant in his first 50 games, it is downright scary to see how he will dominate the league when he matures and understands the players tendencies, and nuances of the pro game. He is almost untouchable in a keeper league. Go out and trade for him if possible and count your fantasy rings.