The first week of July is always a busy time in the hockey universe in terms of player movement. He has become a Mini Me of the trading deadline. While the top storylines this year will focus on the likes of Kovalchuk, Gonchar and Hamhuis, in fantasy hockey terms these deals will have little impact on the ranking of those players on your draft list. The real shakeup will come in the fold. Just try to put together a list of the 20 best goalies for next season’s draft today and you’ll find you can’t possibly figure it out right now. The next two weeks will focus on that picture as the RFAs and UFAs find their new homes. Here are the players and situations to watch for as you begin to formulate your early favorites for next year’s draft:

1. Yevgeny Nabokov

Nabokov is the obvious big name in the pool waiting to find a new home. Over the last decade, Nabokov has consistently been one of the best fantasy options in the game. The question that now needs to be answered is how much of that success came from being Shark. We saw last winter how he struggled at the net playing behind a team from Russia that provided little defensive help in front of him. If he landed on a high-flying offensive team with little support, like Washington, his numbers could plummet. The first rumors have the Flyers as a possible destination. If that works out, you can promote Nabokov to the top 3 next season. If Leighton and Boucher can put up numbers similar to Brodeur’s for Philly, Nabokov could contend for the Vezina in orange.

2. Chris Mason

Mason had a very good year for the Blues in 2009-10, so it was a surprise when St. Louis landed Halak earlier this month. That move leaves Mason looking for work, despite finishing near the top of the league in wins and posting above-average numbers in GAA and save percentage. He is in the prime of his career and has been a consistent performer for the last 5 years in the NHL. He’s managed to do well as a starter and part-timer, so he could be added to a team as a 1B option. At this point, he seems like a decent #2 option, but that stock could go up or down next week.

3. Turkish Martin

Since his implied dismissal from the Stars, the general perception is that Turco is a bit over the hill. However, a look at his driver’s license will show that he is actually younger than Brodeur and Thomas, and only has a candle to Kiprisoff and Vokoun. In other words, he doesn’t write off the 9-year Stars veteran just yet. The last two seasons haven’t been good for Turco, but consider his environment. If he finds himself on a playoff-caliber team when he hits free agency, he could once again be a name worth recruiting this fall.

4.Michael Leighton

Depending on what day it was in May and June, you wouldn’t be surprised to see Leighton ranked in the top 10 or top 30. Depending on what the Flyers do in July, you can expect the same kind of volatility in their stock this fall. The Flyers are expected to make a move on the rise, as they do every summer, but don’t be surprised if they decide to give Leighton a shot at a full season. If that works, you can shoot him on your draft list.

5.Capitals of Washington

If things go as expected, Jose Theodore will move into a backup role in another city, leaving Semyon Varlamov and Michal Neuvirth fighting for the rights to a 40-win season. Who takes the prize is unknown. It’s always a good bet to recruit a goalkeeper from the President’s Trophy-winning team, but this may be the exception. Varlamov has yet to prove himself worthy of the job, and Neuvirth has a total of 22 NHL games on his resume. Recruiting a goalie from Washington could be a big bet this fall.

6. Antero Niittymaki

Niittymaki was solid in the net for Tampa Bay last season, despite the turmoil surrounding the team. With Yzerman there to calm things down with the franchise, the Lightning Network may be an attractive place to move forward. Niittymaki has no restrictions, but there doesn’t seem to be a better option for him than where he is now. If he sticks around and claims the No. 1 spot, he could be a decent No. 1 option next year.

Some other names to watch next week:

• Dan Ellis – Ellis lost his job to Pekka Rinne, but he still has the potential to be the No. 1 goalkeeper for years to come. Keep it on your radar.
• Jose Theodore: He’s at DC, but he still has a few games left. He could see him emerging as #1 once again.
• Vesa Toskala – It could be the end of the line for Toskala. He hopes to be a #1 goalkeeper. Maybe in another league…

To view this article in its original context, visit: http://www.landsharkhockey.com/post/2010/06/29/Goalie-Fantasy-FA-Shakedown.aspx