Top 40 Goalies Dominik Hasek is back in net for the Red Wings, but Martin Brodeur of the Cup-champion Devils is rated No. 1 by SI's Pierre McGuire
1 MARTIN BRODEUR
Devils
AGE: 31
41-23-9, 2.02, .914*
[performance is expected to improve]
STRENGTHS: Best puckhandling goalie in the game; outstanding
technique.
WEAKNESS: Sometimes exposes the five hole too early.
2 DOMINIK HASEK
Red Wings
AGE: 38
Did Not Play
[performance is expected to remain the same]
STRENGTHS: Acrobatic and flexible; makes the big saves when
needed.
WEAKNESS: Nearing 40 and idle for a year, his reflexes are a
concern.
3 MARTY TURCO
Stars
AGE: 28
31-10-10, 1.72, .932
[performance is expected to improve]
STRENGTHS: Excellent reflexes; terrific skater handles the puck
almost as well as Brodeur.
WEAKNESS: Gambles too much when playing the puck near his crease.
4 NIKOLAI KHABIBULIN
Lightning
AGE: 30
30-22-11, 2.47, .911
[performance is expected to remain the same]
STRENGTHS: Outstanding positioning; patience forces shooters to
make the first move.
WEAKNESS: Sometimes loses focus in key situations.
5 ED BELFOUR
Maple Leafs
AGE: 38
37-20-5, 2.26, .922
[performance is expected to remain the same]
STRENGTHS: Reads the play well; takes away the lower part of the
net.
WEAKNESS: Can be beaten high to the glove side, especially on
rebounds.
6 J.S. GIGUERE
Mighty Ducks
AGE: 26
34-22-6, 2.30, .920
[performance is expected to improve]
STRENGTHS: Always in position because of superior technique;
physically imposing in uniform.
WEAKNESS: Can be beaten to his glove hand.
7 ROBERTO LUONGO
Panthers
AGE: 23
20-34-7, 2.71, .918
[performance is expected to improve]
STRENGTHS: Combines a big body (6'3", 205 pounds) with remarkable
quickness.
WEAKNESS: Positioning--needs to be more square to shooters.
8 JOSE THEODORE
Canadiens
AGE: 27
20-31-6, 2.90, .908
[performance is expected to improve]
STRENGTHS: Extremely quick; anticipates the play very well.
WEAKNESS: Sometimes goes down early, making him vulnerable to
high shots.
9 EVGENI NABOKOV
Sharks
AGE: 28
19-28-8, 2.71, .906
[performance is expected to improve]
STRENGTHS: Shots hit him because of his positioning; excellent
glove hand.
WEAKNESS: Prone to allowing soft goals despite appearing to be in
position to stop them.
10 PATRICK LALIME
Senators
AGE: 29
39-20-7, 2.16, .911
[performance is expected to improve]
STRENGTHS: Fights through traffic to see pucks; directs rebounds
away from the slot and out of danger.
WEAKNESS: Puckhandling ability.
11 OLAF KOLZIG
Capitals
AGE: 33
33-25-6, 2.40, .919
[performance is expected to drop off]
STRENGTHS: A big man (6'3") who aggressively challenges shooters;
uses his stick smartly to break up plays.
WEAKNESS: Does not control rebounds well.
12 CURTIS JOSEPH
Red Wings
AGE: 36
34-19-6, 2.49, .912
[performance is expected to drop off]
STRENGTHS: Quickness; particularly sharp early in games.
WEAKNESS: Gambles too much, especially when playing the puck.
13 JEFF HACKETT
Flyers
AGE: 35
15-17-2, 2.86, .911
[performance is expected to remain the same]
STRENGTHS: Reads the play well, seldom gets caught out of
position; controls rebounds.
WEAKNESS: Gets thrown off his game when he's jostled around the
net.
14 SEAN BURKE
Coyotes
AGE: 36
12-6-2, 2.12, .930
[performance is expected to drop off]
STRENGTHS: Rarely allows soft goals; good positioning.
WEAKNESSES: Gives up rebounds in the slot after making the
initial save; prone to injury.
15 TOMMY SALO
Oilers
AGE: 32
29-27-8, 2.71, .899
[performance is expected to remain the same]
STRENGTH: Stays square to the shooter and plays angles well.
WEAKNESSES: Can get easily rattled; allows too many soft goals.
16 ROMAN CECHMANEK
Kings
AGE: 32
33-15-10, 1.83, .925
[performance is expected to remain the same]
STRENGTH: Most aggressive netminder in the game--he loves to
challenge shooters.
WEAKNESSES: Gets caught out of position too often; has flamed
out in playoffs.
17 CHRIS OSGOOD
Blues
AGE: 30
21-17-6, 2.95, .892
[performance is expected to drop off]
STRENGTHS: Good lateral movement; bounces back after poor plays.
WEAKNESS: Too passive in the crease--gets pushed around a lot.
18 MARTIN BIRON
Sabres
AGE: 26
17-28-6, 2.56, .908
[performance is expected to improve]
STRENGTH: Outstanding glove hand.
WEAKNESSES: Puckhandling ability is not up to par; allows too
many goals early in games.
19 TOMAS VOKOUN
Predators
AGE: 27
25-31-11, 2.20, .918
[performance is expected to improve]
STRENGTHS: Good positioning; mentally tough and anticipates plays
very well.
WEAKNESS: Puckhandling ability is among the league's worst.
20 JOCELYN THIBAULT
Blackhawks
AGE: 28
26-28-7, 2.37, .915
[performance is expected to remain the same]
STRENGTHS: Controls pucks that rebound off his upper body; takes
away lower part of net.
WEAKNESS: Stamina--starts the season strong but fades under a
heavy workload.
21 MANNY FERNANDEZ
Wild
AGE: 29
19-13-2, 2.24, .924
[performance is expected to improve]
STRENGTH: Among the league's best at controlling rebounds and
keeping them from slot.
WEAKNESS: Vulnerable on shots to the top corners of the net.
22 MIKE DUNHAM
Rangers
AGE: 31
21-26-7, 2.50, .916
[performance is expected to drop off]
STRENGTHS: Very composed in the net; seems to play better when
facing lots of shots.
WEAKNESSES: Puckhandling ability; durability--has been prone to
injuries.
23 JOHN GRAHAME
Lightning
AGE: 28
17-14-6, 2.52, .909
[performance is expected to improve]
STRENGTH: Poise--doesn't get rattled easily.
WEAKNESSES: Durability is questionable; does not battle through
traffic to see initial shots.
24 DAN CLOUTIER
Canucks
AGE: 27
33-16-7, 2.42, .908
[performance is expected to improve]
STRENGTH: Athleticism--has all the tools to excel.
WEAKNESS: Consistency--makes tough saves look routine and routine
saves look tough.
25 ROMAN TUREK
Flames
AGE: 33
27-29-9, 2.57, .902
[performance is expected to drop off]
STRENGTH: Takes away the lower part of the net.
WEAKNESSES: In the past conditioning was not as good as it should
be; yields soft goals at the wrong times.
26 RICK DIPIETRO
Islanders
AGE: 22
2-5-2, 2.97, .894
[performance is expected to improve]
STRENGTHS: Skating and puckhandling ability is similar to Marty
Turco's.
WEAKNESS: Flops too much, taking himself out of position.
27 DWAYNE ROLOSON
Wild
AGE: 34
23-16-8, 2.00, .927
[performance is expected to remain the same]
STRENGTHS: Plays angles well and challenges shooters;
puckhandling ability.
WEAKNESS: Allows too many short-side goals when his positioning
is off.
28 KEVIN WEEKES
Hurricanes
AGE: 28
14-24-9, 2.55, .912
[performance is expected to improve]
STRENGTH: One of the best athletes to play the position.
WEAKNESS: Fundamentals, such as when to challenge the shooter and
when to stay in the net.
29 FELIX POTVIN
Bruins
AGE: 32
17-20-3, 2.66, .894
[performance is expected to drop off]
STRENGTH: Nicknamed the Cat because he has top-notch reflexes.
WEAKNESSES: Plays too deep in the crease; high shots often elude
him.
30 DAVID AEBISCHER
Avalanche
AGE: 25
7-12-0, 2.43, .916
[performance is expected to improve]
STRENGTH: Strict butterflyer who drops down and takes away the
lower part of the net.
WEAKNESS: Opens the five hole too quickly.
31 PASI NURMINEN
Thrashers
AGE: 27
21-19-5, 2.88, .906
[performance is expected to improve]
STRENGTHS: Solid fundamentally; good positioning.
WEAKNESS: Passive in the crease--must challenge shooters more.
32 MARC DENIS
Blue Jackets
AGE: 26
27-41-8, 3.09, .903
[performance is expected to improve]
STRENGTHS: Good quickness moving around the crease; sees the puck
well through traffic.
WEAKNESS: Mental toughness questionable.
33 BYRON DAFOE
Thrashers
AGE: 32
5-11-1, 4.36, .862
[performance is expected to drop off]
STRENGTHS: Acrobatic; good positioning.
WEAKNESSES: Sometimes roams too far from the net; durability--has
been prone to injuries.
34 MANNY LEGACE
Red Wings
AGE: 30
14-5-4, 2.18, .925
[performance is expected to remain the same]
STRENGTHS: Top competitor who excels off the bench in mid-game.
WEAKNESS: At only 5'9" and 162 pounds, can wear down easily.
35 BRENT JOHNSON
Blues
AGE: 26
16-13-5, 2.47, .900
[performance is expected to improve]
STRENGTHS: Good size and mobility; handles the puck well.
WEAKNESS: Positioning--especially when teams attack off the rush.
36 BRIAN BOUCHER
Coyotes
AGE: 26
15-20-8, 3.02, .894
[performance is expected to remain the same]
STRENGTHS: Outstanding glove hand; very quick feet get him out of
trouble.
WEAKNESSES: Prone to allowing soft goals; sometimes is too
impatient.
37 RYAN MILLER
Sabres
AGE: 23
6-8-1, 2.63, .902
[performance is expected to improve]
STRENGTHS: Excellent size (6'2" and 166 pounds) and mobility;
fundamentally sound.
WEAKNESS: Doesn't challenge shooters enough.
38 SEBASTIEN CARON
Penguins
AGE: 23
7-14-2, 2.64, .916
[performance is expected to improve]
STRENGTHS: Side-to-side quickness; reliable glove hand.
WEAKNESS: Lack of strength--gets easily jostled around the
crease.
39 JOHAN HEDBERG
Canucks
AGE: 30
14-22-4, 3.14, .895
[performance is expected to remain the same]
STRENGTHS: Anticipates the play very well; excellent reflexes.
WEAKNESS: Allows too many short-side goals because of poor
positioning.
40 ROBERT ESCHE
Flyers
AGE: 25
12-9-3, 2.20, .907
[performance is expected to remain the same]
STRENGTHS: Poise--doesn't get rattled in big moments despite
being young.
WEAKNESS: Needs to control rebounds better, especially around the
crease.
*Statistics are for the 2002-03 season and represent a
goaltender's record (wins-losses-ties), goals-against average
and save percentage. Arrows denote whether the goaltender's
2003-04 performance is expected to improve, drop off or remain
the same. ROOKIES NOT INCLUDED
SIX COLOR PHOTOS: DAVID E. KLUTHO (6)
FOUR COLOR PHOTOS: J. MCISAAC/B. BENNETT STUDIOS (4)
FOUR COLOR PHOTOS: LOU CAPOZZOLA (4)
FOUR COLOR PHOTOS: ICON SMI (4)
FOUR COLOR PHOTOS: BILL WIPPERT (4)
TWO COLOR PHOTOS: DILIP VISHWANAT/TSN/ICON SMI (2)
COLOR PHOTO: SCOTT AUDETTE
COLOR PHOTO: ROBERT BECK
COLOR PHOTO: ANDREW D. BERNSTEIN
COLOR PHOTO: DARREN CARROLL
COLOR PHOTO: SHELLY CASTELLANO/ICON SMI
COLOR PHOTO: GREG FIUME/NEWSPORT
COLOR PHOTO: FREESTYLE/OSHC
COLOR PHOTO: S. LEVY/B. BENNETT STUDIOS
COLOR PHOTO: D. MACMILLAN/B. BENNETT STUDIOS
COLOR PHOTO: L. MEYER/B. BENNETT STUDIOS
COLOR PHOTO: J. PULVER/B. BENNETT STUDIOS
COLOR PHOTO: SCOTT ROVAK/TSN/ICON SMI
COLOR PHOTO: J. RUSSELL/B. BENNETT STUDIOS
COLOR PHOTO: DAMIAN STROHMEYER
COLOR PHOTO: GERRY THOMAS
COLOR PHOTO: JEFF VINNICK
