Why Fantasy Managers Should Draft Tandems, Not Workhorses

ESPN's fantasy goalie analysis for 2026-27 argues that drafters are still paying for a workhorse starter who has nearly disappeared.

In 2025-26, only 10 goalies held a crease share of 65 percent or more, and only Karel Vejmelka topped 75 percent. From 2009-10 to 2017-18, almost one goalie in four cleared 75 percent. Last season the top 12 fantasy goalies averaged a 63.6 percent share of their team's crease, and a top-24 goalie in a 12-team league averaged 56.55 percent, which left a large share of the work to a second goalie who was often worth rostering.

ESPN's conclusion is that an early pick on a so-called starter buys a share in the low 60s at a premium price, while both goalies from a good tandem cost less and cover more of the favourable starts.

Last season's scoring shows how bunched the position is. Between Jake Oettinger, with 128.8 fantasy points, and Jakub Dobes, with 99.8, sit the goalies ranked fourth through 16th. By ESPN's count, if two of Dobes' worst outings had been quality wins, he would have finished fourth.

Winnipeg is the clearest caution. Connor Hellebuyck publicly requested a trade last month, and the Jets suspended him Wednesday for failing to report to training camp, TSN reported. TSN has also reported that the Jets have not received offers of fair value for the 2025 Vezina and Hart Trophy winner, and Buffalo, Carolina and Utah have been mentioned as possible destinations. ESPN's analyst is still willing to draft him, but says each manager has to decide how much of that risk to take on.

ESPN's team-by-team look at tandems worth targeting starts with Buffalo, where Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (41.1 percent crease share, 92.4 fantasy points) and Alex Lyon (40.4 percent, 86.4 points) are not an even split. ESPN calls Luukkonen the rising starter on a division winner and a legitimate mid-tier pick, with Lyon as the veteran insurance. That changes quickly if Hellebuyck is traded to Buffalo.