Creating Controversy: Best Backup in The NHL

Around the NHL, it is always the starters that get the attention.

Well this week I would like to find out who the best backup goalie in the NHL is. To do this, I will start off by listing all the backup goaltenders.* I will then narrow down to the best 15, then the best five, then the best two—and finally, the winner will be announced.

*If he was backup of any team as of the end of last season, or injured last season, but is in a battle right now, than he is still considered the backup goaltender—e.g. Ottawa Senators: Alex Auld.

*If the player was a starter all year last season, but was traded, and is battling another '07-08 season starter, than he is considered the backup. E.X.: Chicago: Cristobal Huet.

All 30 NHL backup goaltenders:

Anaheim Ducks: Jonas Hiller

Atlanta Thrashers: Johan Hedberg

Boston Bruins: Manny Fernandez

Buffalo Sabres: Patrick Lalime

Calgary Flames: Curtis McElhinney

Carolina Hurricanes: Michael Leighton

Chicago Blackhawks: Cirstobal Huet

Colorado Avalanche: Andrew Raycroft

Columbus Blue Jackets: Fredrik Norrena

Dallas Stars: Tobias Stephan

Detroit Red Wings: Ty Conklin

Edmonton Oilers: Dwayne Roloson

Florida Panters: Craig Anderson

LA Kings: Erik Ersberg

Minnesota Wild: Josh Harding

Montreal Canadiens: Jaroslav Halak

Nashville Predators: Pekka Rinne

New Jersey Devils: Kevin Weeks

NY Islanders: Joey MacDonald

NY Rangers: Steve Valiquette

Ottawa Senators: Alex Auld

Philadelphia Flyers: Antero Niittymaki

Phoenix Coyotes: Mikael Tellqvist

Pittsburgh Penguins: Dany Sabourin

St. Luis Blues: Chris Mason

San Jose Sharks: Brian Boucher

Tampa Bay Lightning: Olaf Kolzig

Toronto Maple Leafs: Curtis Joseph

Vancouver Canucks: Curtis Sanford

Washington Capitals: Brent Johnson

Top 15 backup goaltenders:

1. Anahiem - Jonas Hiller

2. Atlanta - Johan Hedberg

3. Boston - Manny Fernandez

4. Carolina - Michael Leighton

5. Chicago - Cristobal Huet

6. Colorado - Andrew Raycroft

7. Detroit - Ty Conklin

8. Edmonton - Dwayne Roloson

9. Florida - Craig Anderson

10. Montreal - Jaroslav Halak

11. New Jersey - Kevin Weeks

12. Ottawa - Alex Auld

13. Philadelphia - Antero Niittymaki

14. San Jose - Brian Boucher

15. Toronto - Curtis Joseph

Top 5 NHL backup goalies

1. Carolina - Micheal Leighton

2. Chicago - Cristobal Huet

3. Florida - Craig Anderson

4. San Jose - Brian Boucher

5. Ottawa - Alex Auld

Top two NHL backups

1. Ottawa - Alex Auld

2. San Jose - Brian Boucher

The best backup goalie in the NHL is...

1. San Jose - Brian Boucher

So far this season with the Sharks, in two games Brain Boucher has a goals-against average of 0.00, a save percentage a perfect 1.000, two wins, and two shutouts. This   definitely makes him the best backup goalie in the NHL. And with Evgeni Nabokov as the starter, San Jose has the best one-two punch in the NHL.