That Boston's Tim Thomas and Vancouver's Roberto Luongo both reach the Stanley Cup Finals this spring for the first time in their respective careers, with each having won 12 games in the playoffs so far and each toting identical 2.29 goals against averages and two shutouts into the Finals, just adds to the great debate of which goalie---each a Vezina Trophy finalist---was really the more valuable pick in fantasy hockey this season.
Really we are talking about splitting hairs here because both netminders provided terrific numbers for their fantasy hockey owners this past season---as well as for the poolies who selected them in their playoff pools this past April.
But it is a fun debate, one that I have heard played out numerous times already among fantasy hockey friends of mine.
Thomas led the NHL with a 2.00 goals against average in the regular season along with a league-record .938 save percentage. He also was second in the league with 9 shutouts.
Luongo led the NHL with 38 wins, ranked second with a 2.11 goals against average, and fourth with a .928 save percentage, which pulls him almost into a dead heat with Thomas as far as fantasy hockey value.
However what helps Thomas pull away in this debate is that Luongo only had four shutouts on the season---the fourth key fantasy hockey category for goaltenders---far short of the number provided by Thomas.
And what also helps the Thomas argument is that while Luongo was likely a first or second round pick in most fantasy hockey drafts---and surely lived up to all expectations---Thomas, coming off a down season a year ago and thought to be losing his spot to Tuukka Rask in Boston, was likely selected much lower in fantasy hockey drafts and thus greatly outperformed all expectations, while allowing his owners to have selected other top performers before he was chosen.
So Thomas' value this season was higher than Luongo's based on the disparity where each was most often selected in fantasy hockey drafts.
Next season that won't be the case, as much, because Thomas will surely be selected much higher in fantasy hockey drafts.
But for now it adds to a great fantasy hockey debate, one that will rage on throughout what should be an exciting Stanley Cup Final.
Send your fantasy hockey questions and comments to jimcerny@gmail.com