Welcome to 2025-26 Goalie Tiers, in which we anonymously poll some of the brightest minds in goaltending in an attempt to rank NHL goalies by true talent.
Stats such as save percentage and goals against average can be misleading because they are heavily influenced by the defensive play in front of the netminder. An 11-person panel of voters was tasked with grading each goalie’s true ability, regardless of situation. The panel is comprised of eight goalie coaches (current and former NHL coaches, and private coaches who work with NHLers) and three retired NHL goalies. We grant anonymity to encourage honesty and participation.
These experts view the position through uniquely trained eyes. They were asked to rate each goalie on a scale of 1 to 5, with one being best and five being worst, based on how they expect them to play this season — and not necessarily their long-term projection. They considered how well each netminder reads plays, tracks pucks, stays on angle, controls rebounds, inspires the team in front of them and everything else that comes with the position. The ratings were then averaged, and the goalies were sorted into tiers.
The beauty of the position is that it’s more of an art than a science. There’s more than one way to stop a puck. Some panelists emphasize consistency and technique. Some lean more on athleticism or big-game performances. The best goalies in the world tend to have some combination of it all.
Rankings are fun. As sports fans, we love to assign numbers and orders to everything. The goal of this project isn’t just to get grades from the panelists. It’s to get their honest opinions on the goalie’s games. What makes them great? What sets them apart?
We hope this serves as a season preview of the top goalies in the world as much as it is a power ranking. Part of what makes goaltending great is how unique each goalie’s strategy of stopping the puck can be. We’ll dive into each with expert insights into their strengths and weaknesses.
Here are the goalies, ranked 1 through 38 and broken into five tiers.
Tier Tier 1 — World Class Tier 2 — High-Level Starter Tier 3 — Strong Tandem Starter Tier 4 — Unproven or Tandem Goalies Tier 5 — 1B or Quality Backups
Team ANA BOS BUF CAR CBJ CGY CHI COL DAL DET EDM FLA LA MIN MTL NJ NSH NYI NYR OTT PHI PIT SEA SJ STL TBL TOR UTA VAN VGK WPG WSH
Age 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 35 36 37
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Tier 1 — World Class
An elite goalie capable of transcending the play in front of him and single-handedly winning games with regularity. Someone who can elevate their team and be the centerpiece for a championship.
Average tier ranking: 1.00
Despite the Rangers’ struggles as a team last season, Shesterkin remains the best goalie in the world in the eyes of most panelists. For the second straight year, he was the only goalie to receive unanimous Tier 1 grades.
“I think he’s the most talented goalie in the league,” a retired goalie said. “His edgework. His mobility. His demeanor. To me, he’s the complete package.”
Last season, Shesterkin faced 504 high-danger shots, by far the most in the NHL. Despite playing behind a bottom-five defense, he still managed to save 28.59 goals above expected.
“He makes a lot of quality saves every night that kind of go under the radar because he makes so many of them,” an NHL goalie coach said. “The amount of work he gets every night, without him being really good, most nights they have no chance.”
Coaches still love Shesterkin’s ability to elevate his play in clutch moments. Even with the Rangers missing the playoffs last season, Shesterkin’s 48.6 postseason GSAx since 2021 still leads all goalies. His combination of hockey IQ, freakish athleticism and precise technique puts him at the top of the goaltending mountain.
“He’s so flexible, but then he morphs back into his structure,” a retired goalie said. “He doesn’t do the splits and then end up on his back rolling around. He does the splits and somehow gets back to his butterfly. It’s weird. It’s impressive. It’s unfair to everybody else.”
Last year’s ranking: Tier 1
Tier 1 — World Class
NYR
29
Average tier ranking: 1.09
The 2024-25 regular season was a celebration of Hellebuyck’s unmatched consistency, ending with him adding more trophies to his already impressive resume. The playoffs were a nightmare, and some panelists struggled to reconcile the stark contrast of the two.
On one hand, Hellebuyck is lapping the field in nearly every regular-season statistic. His 176 goals saved above expected since he entered the league in 2015-16 are 55 clear of the next-closest goalie. His 558 starts over that span are also far and away the most.
“He reads the game so well,” a goalie coach said. “He just sees it, anticipates it and makes it look easy because he’s already prepared for it. It’s bizarre how well he reads the game. Then you add in huge size, and he’s everything you want in a goalie. He’s elite.”
On the other hand, Hellebuyck’s .874 save percentage in the playoffs over the last three years ranks last among the 19 goalies with at least 10 starts. At this point, the sample size has grown too large to completely ignore, and one goalie coach said he wouldn’t want him between the pipes for a playoff game.
Despite several voicing concerns, Hellebuyck still received Tier 1 votes from all but one of the panelists. His consistency during the long grind of the regular season, year after year, is what many coaches dream of.
“I don’t think the team matters or the system,” a retired goalie said. “His structure is really, really simple, and he can replicate it every single night.”
Last year’s ranking: Tier 1
Tier 1 — World Class
WPG
32
Average tier ranking: 1.09
After a down 2023-24 season coming off of back surgery, Vasilevskiy bounced back with a stellar 2024-25 and was a Vezina Trophy finalist for the fifth time in the last eight years.
“He’s just the freaking man,” one goalie coach said. “He’s so special, so dominant.”
Vasilevskiy is now on the other side of age 30, and coaches around the league noticed a change in his style. He has worked hard to be more efficient with his movements and play within his structure when possible, only using his otherworldly athleticism when absolutely necessary.
“Last year he pulled a Tiger Woods,” one goalie coach said. “He rebuilt a big part of his game while still in his prime. Structurally, he looked a little bit different and a lot more efficient.”
Vasilevskiy implemented those changes during the season. With a full year and summer under his belt, expectations are even higher entering 2025-26. And while last season ended with a disappointing first-round playoff exit, Vasilevskiy’s long, impressive playoff resume still gives the panelists confidence.
“He’s on the short list of guys you want in a do-or-die game, where you think this guy will win it for me,” a retired goalie said.
Last year’s ranking: Tier 1
Tier 1 — World Class
TBL
31
Average tier ranking: 1.09
In the eyes of our panel, four goalies clearly stood above the rest. Despite just turning 37, Bobrovsky is still among them.
“He’s like Benjamin Button, aging backward right now,” one goalie coach said with a laugh.
Bobrovsky has dominated the playoffs over the last three years, saving 41.25 goals above expected (15.86 above the next-closest goalie). His regular-season stats have been mostly mediocre, but when the pressure is on, Bobrovsky has been nearly unbeatable.
“When the chips are down, I don’t know if there’s another goalie I want in the net more than him,” a goalie coach said. “He just finds ways to win games. Big saves in big moments, he makes them.”
“Even if you take away the Stanley Cups, just watch him and he’s unreal,” a retired goalie said.
Bobrovsky enters this season as the fourth-oldest goalie in the NHL, but that doesn’t concern most of the panelists.
“He’s an absolute maniac in terms of fitness, and he’s always been that way,” one retired goalie said. “He takes really good care of himself, and he’s really focused and driven.”
He’s also entering the final year of the $70 million contract he signed with Florida in 2019.
“I think he’s got two more years of really good goaltending left in him,” one goalie coach said. “From there, it’s up to him whether he still wants to play or not.”
Last year’s ranking: Tier 1
Tier 1 — World Class
FLA
37
Tier 2 — High-Level Starter
A top-10 starter who is considered franchise-quality. A goalie capable of handling the vast majority of starts for a good team, and succeeding in a workhorse role.
Average tier ranking: 1.45
The panelists were split down the middle on Oettinger, with six giving him a Tier 1 grade and the remaining five putting him in Tier 2.
“He’s a workhorse,” a retired goalie said. “He’s big and smooth with his movements. We’re still waiting for him to break through with a really good Dallas team and be the difference.”
For those hesitant to grade Oettinger at Tier 1, the biggest reason was that he hasn’t taken over games in the playoffs as much as they’d like. His game is defined by consistency rather than high peaks and low valleys. Over the last three seasons, Oettinger trails only Hellebuyck for the most regular-season wins and Bobrovsky for the most in the postseason. He’s only 26 but already has more playoff experience than most of the goalies in the league.
“He makes things look simple and he’s not that flashy goalie that jumps off the page at you,” another retired goalie said.
The 6-foot-6 Minnesota native uses his exceptional understanding of angles to place his big frame in all of the right spots, giving shooters essentially no net to shoot at.
“He’s playing chess when other guys are playing checkers,” a goalie coach said. “The way he processes what he sees in front of him is very different. He has a lot of layers to how he wants to play, and knows his limitations as an athlete. He actually will cheat plays to purposely make the shooters go where he wants them to go.”
Oettinger is entering the first year of his eight-year contract extension with a cap hit of $8.25 million, and should be a great value for the Stars moving forward. A Vezina and/or the Stanley Cup seem within his grasp, and either would vault him into Tier 1 status.
Last year’s ranking: Tier 2
Tier 2 — High-Level Starter
DAL
26
Average tier ranking: 1.64
This ranking may come as a bit of a surprise considering Sorokin’s relatively middling statistics over the last two season, but experts agree he’s still an incredible goalie whose stats are more indicative of the poor play in front of him.
“He’s very well-composed because of his play-reading ability,” one goalie coach said. “He’s not overwhelmingly big or fast. There’s nothing where you’re like, ‘Oh wow, he’s incredible,’ but he reads the game well and he’s really well-positioned.”
After two straight seasons (2021-22 and 2022-23) with a .924 save percentage, Sorokin’s numbers have slipped considerably over the last two seasons.
“He is the highest of the 2s,” a retired goalie said. “He can be unbelievable for stretches. I think he sometimes wears down because he plays such an active style. He really has to exert himself.”
Multiple panelists said they could see Sorokin winning a Vezina Trophy with even minor improvements to the play in front of him. His biggest strengths are his reads, quick feet and hands, and ability to fight through traffic. His most noticeable weakness is his rebound control, which can be inconsistent. At the end of the day, Sorokin is still viewed as an elite netminder by much of the goalie coaching community.
“He’s a stud,” one coach said. “I hope his talents don’t get wasted while they try to fix everything. Hopefully they get better quickly enough, so the league can see how good he is.”
Last year’s ranking: Tier 2
Tier 2 — High-Level Starter
NYI
30
Average tier ranking: 1.91
Binnington is a tricky goalie to grade because most of the panel agrees he doesn’t play with the level of consistency expected from most world-class goalies, but at the same time, he is on the short list of goalies they’d want in net for a big game. Because of that, he received grades ranging from Tier 1 to Tier 3 depending on each panelist’s preferences.
“I have to give him a 3, and yet, do you want him in a big game? Yeah,” one goalie coach said.
“He’s a fiery and competitive human being who has played very well in huge games,” another coach said.
“He’s a guy who needs the pressure,” a retired goalie said. “I don’t want to say he’s bored, but he almost plays better when the pressure is on, and that’s a huge attribute as a goalie.”
Of the 75 goalies to play at least 100 games over the last seven seasons (since Binnington entered the league), he ranks 37th in save percentage (.907) and 17th in GSAx (36.97). He was also sensational in the 2018 Stanley Cup run for St. Louis and played lights-out in the 4 Nations Face-Off gold-medal game for Team Canada in February.
“I think (the Blues) are going to adopt that defensive mindset that Boston had when Jim Montgomery was there, and I think that’s going to put Binnington over the top statistically speaking, and into that realm of a Tier 1,” one goalie coach predicted.
Last year’s ranking: Tier 2
Tier 2 — High-Level Starter
STL
32
Average tier ranking: 2.09
Last season included a disastrous start to Swayman’s reign as Boston’s franchise goalie, but several panelists believe the circumstances played a big factor. The compounded pressure of losing goalie partner Linus Ullmark, plus signing a mega contract extension and Boston losing several key players in front of him, was a recipe for the worst season of Swayman’s short NHL career.
“That doesn’t change the fact that he’s a great goalie,” one retired netminder said. “It’s just something that he had to figure out mentally. You’re not part of the greatest tandem in the league anymore. You’re the guy. You don’t have Ullmark as a security blanket. It doesn’t mean he can’t play goalie, it just means he has to take a little time to figure out how to deal with that.”
Swayman’s game is all about control. When he’s on, he does an excellent job of staying ahead of the play and controlling angles and rebounds, and he rarely puts himself in scramble situations. Word is Swayman had an exceptional summer of training that included backstopping Team USA to a gold medal in the IIHF World Championships (with a shutout in the final). While there’s doubt from a few panelists, most believe a bounce-back season is in store for the 26-year-old.
Last year’s ranking: Tier 2
Tier 2 — High-Level Starter
BOS
26
Average tier ranking: 2.09
Saros’ statistics have been on a steady decline for three straight seasons, and 2024-25 was his first with a sub-.900 save percentage in his nine-year career. Enough panelists still believe in his talent enough to grade him highly, but there is some concern for Saros as he enters his 30s.
“I still think he’s a really good goalie,” one goalie coach said. “His athleticism, speed and skating ability are unparalleled. He actually handles the puck a lot better than people give him credit for. He’s not getting a ton of help back there.”
The Predators’ defense was a mess last season, making it especially tough on Saros to predict where the chances would come from.
“A goalie needs the team in front of him to be able to make consistent reads,” a goalie coach explained. “Every team plays a system with weaknesses, and there are certain types of plays that the team gives up. Goalies are able to cheat slightly toward certain situations. Last season, Saros got in a situation where everything was coming at him. It was all over the place, and it became very difficult to read.”
The vast majority of panelists graded Saros as a Tier 2 goalie, with one still giving him a Tier 1 ranking and two panelists downgrading him to Tier 3.
“He has athleticism for days, but the team in front of him faltered so much that he struggled,” one coach said. “I still believe in the kid.”
“I haven’t seen enough success in the playoffs,” another coach remarked. “It’s progressively gone downhill lately.”
Last year’s ranking: Tier 1
Tier 2 — High-Level Starter
NSH
30
Average tier ranking: 2.18
Following a dream rookie season, the projections for Wolf are overwhelmingly positive.
“I really, really love the goalie,” one coach said. “He’s a 2 for me right now, but he’s definitely trending up that list and could become a 1. He’s going to be a workhorse.”
“I think he’s nasty,” a retired goalie said. “I think he’s going to keep going up, too.”
There’s still some hesitation to grade Wolf high because of the lack of sample size. He’s the youngest goalie this high in these rankings, and has only started 69 games in the NHL.
“With his ability to compete and process, it’s going to go a very long way, but he’s also a guy I think teams may figure out how to score on,” one goalie coach said.
Wolf has been doubted his entire career because of his height. At 6 feet, he was the third-shortest goalie to play in the NHL last season, but he’s proving it doesn’t prevent him from stopping the puck at a high level.
“He has the athleticism to make it as a small goalie in this league, but he also combines it with a very controlled, methodical game,” one coach explained. “That’s exciting. He’s not a small goalie who is just getting there through sheer Cirque du Soleil, because that will only get you so far. He has a methodology on top of fantastic athletic ability.”
Last year’s ranking: Tier 4
Tier 2 — High-Level Starter
CGY
24
Tier 3 — Strong Tandem Starter
A goalie in the top half of the league who is talented enough to start on a good team, but may need a strong backup to play in tandem with. Many are still proving themselves as workhorses, or are aging out of that role, but are still a strong 1A.
Average tier ranking: 2.27
“He’s obviously tremendously talented, but he’s always hurt,” one retired goalie said.
That has been the story of Demko’s career through the first eight years. He’s a big, athletic goalie capable of making jaw-dropping saves, but hasn’t stayed healthy long enough to make any sort of run in Vancouver.
“There have just been way too many injuries to rely on him,” a goalie coach said. “I’ve always thought the potential was there to be one of the best, but eventually you have to have the results.”
The Canucks bet on Demko this offseason, signing him to a three-year, $25.5 million extension that begins in 2026-27. His injury history is the biggest reason that deal wasn’t longer, considering he’s played at a Vezina-caliber level when on the ice. He has started only 106 total games over the last three years.
“The amount he’s in and out of his RVH (reverse vertical horizontal position), and the power he has, I don’t think he makes it through a season without injuries,” a goalie coach said. “When he’s in the net, he’s good, but you’re holding your breath.”
Last year’s ranking: Tier 2
Tier 3 — Strong Tandem Starter
VAN
29
Average tier ranking: 2.36
Dostál’s 2024-25 breakout season was impressive. He started a career-high 49 games and saved 22.49 goals above expected, which ranked 10th in the NHL while he played behind arguably the worst defense in the league.
“He’s the total package,” one goalie coach said.
The average tier score of 2.36 doesn’t match the optimism nearly every panelist has for his game. As much as we try to ignore the outside circumstances surrounding each goalie, the uncertainty around the Ducks’ future as a team still seemed to suppress Dostál’s scores.
“The team in front of him won’t allow him to win a Vezina yet, but he’s a kid that is going to win a Vezina in his career,” a goalie coach said. “I think he’s a top-five goalie in the league, and I think the contract that Anaheim just signed him to is a steal.”
Anaheim anointed Dostál as its new franchise goalie by trading John Gibson to Detroit this offseason and signing Dostál to a five-year, $32.5 million contract. He has excellent hockey IQ and play-reading skills, and uses depth management to challenge shooters as well as any goalie in the league.
“This guy seems like he’s going to be like a Juuse (Saros),” one coach said. “He’s a horse. I think they have a good goalie there.”
Last year’s ranking: New to Goalie Tiers
Tier 3 — Strong Tandem Starter
ANA
25
Average tier ranking: 2.36
A year ago, Kuemper was tied for 26th in these rankings. Then he returned to Los Angeles, rejuvenated his career and looked as good as ever behind a strong Kings defense.
“He had a heck of a year and I didn’t see that coming,” a retired goalie said. “I think a lot of it had to do with L.A., but he did it. He played well when he had to, and in the playoffs he had some outrageously good games.”
There’s no doubt the defensive system in Los Angeles benefits the goalies. We’ve seen nearly every netminder who passes through experience an uptick in statistics — from Kuemper to Cam Talbot and Joonas Korpisalo. It’s why only two panelists gave Kuemper a Tier 1 grade befitting his numbers from last season, while more than half still placed him in Tier 3.
To Kuemper’s credit, he was good when he was called upon. He led the entire NHL with a .863 save percentage on high-danger shots.
“He was in the top five last year, but I think that was a little bit more than what he is,” one goalie coach said. “I think he’s a damn good goalie. I just think he’s best suited in a tandem situation.”
Last year’s ranking: Tier 4
Tier 3 — Strong Tandem Starter
LA
35
Average tier ranking: 2.36
Last season, Blackwood went from facing 40 shots per game behind one of the worst teams in hockey in San Jose to being the bona fide franchise goalie for a Cup contender in Colorado. He now has a five-year, $26.25 million contract with the Avalanche, and the sky-high expectations that come with it.
“It’s just a different pressure, so it’s something you have to get used to and deal with,” one retired goalie said. “It’s almost just about discovering that nothing actually changes.”
Blackwood had stellar moments last season, including early in the first-round playoff series against Dallas. His physical tools are on par with the best in the world, but his consistency must improve for him to make the jump to Tier 1 or Tier 2.
“I think he can be a workhorse because of his physical build and makeup, and I think he can play well at the right moments,” one former goalie said. “There is a bit of immaturity in his game in terms of timeliness and giving up some bad goals, but that can be ironed out the more he plays.”
Blackwood’s strength and lateral explosion are elite. He gets to pucks that few goalies can, and could graduate into the elite tier if he sharpens the finer points of his game.
“He’s grown up a lot,” a goalie coach said. “He is figuring out how to be a starting goaltender, and be repeatable. The team in front of him is going to help him quite a bit, and I think he’s going to have a big season.”
Last year’s ranking: Tier 4
Tier 3 — Strong Tandem Starter
COL
28
Average tier ranking: 2.45
Thompson’s first season in Washington was excellent. He ranked inside the top 10 in save percentage (.910) and GSAx (24.9), and saved the fourth-most goals above expected in the playoffs (8.46). If not for an injury in the second half of the season, he would’ve been in conversation for the Vezina.
“He fits into that Oettinger, (Filip) Gustavsson, Binnington cluster,” one goalie coach said of Thompson. “We’ve seen it for one year, and hopefully he continues to do it. I like his game. He’s a gamer.”
The first goalie to play in the NHL after playing in U Sports (Canadian university hockey) since 1990, Thompson has made a career of proving people wrong. He’ll have to continue that, as there are still some doubts about his game.
“I don’t know that he’s as good as his numbers suggest he was last year, but he’s good,” one retired goalie said. “I’m a little skeptical if he can do it again.”
The apprehension stems from Thompson’s unorthodox style. He crouches really low, making himself look small to the shooter, and explodes wildly from side to side, and many believe that style makes it difficult to achieve consistency.
The “jack in the box style,” as one goalie coach put it, has worked for Thompson. He has incredibly active hands, attacking the puck with his gloves from all positions rather than passively trying to block, and he makes a lot of saves because of it. His proponents in the panel lauded both him and the Capitals for not trying to coach him into a cookie-cutter goalie.
“I view him as a great, competitive athlete,” a goalie coach said. “If you try to make someone like that into a technical-based goalie, you won’t have a good goalie. So letting him be what he is while helping him along the way, I think they’ve done a really good job of that in Washington.”
Last year’s ranking: New to Goalie Tiers
Tier 3 — Strong Tandem Starter
WSH
28
Average tier ranking: 2.45
Markström is the second-oldest goalie inside the top 20 in these rankings (behind only Bobrovsky), but he showed last season that he still has some good hockey left in the tank. He was particularly impressive in the playoffs, keeping the Devils in games despite them clearly being overmatched by Carolina.
“Big, physical goalie,” a goalie coach said. “He’s starting to age a little bit, but he’s such a professional.”
Never the most consistent performer, Markström is a streaky goalie who can be incredible when he’s on, with a combination of size and athleticism. That said, his game does have limitations.
“I think his hands are average,” one goalie coach said. “I see a guy who drops a lot of pucks and doesn’t catch things well, which limits you from being a top guy.”
The hulking Swede will turn 36 in January, but still has a high ceiling. If the Devils can stay healthy, and he can get hot at the right time, there’s plenty of belief he’s good enough to go deep into the playoffs.
Last year’s ranking: Tier 2
Tier 3 — Strong Tandem Starter
NJ
35
Average tier ranking: 2.45
Last season was an odd one for Ullmark. His supporters, who believed he would succeed outside of Boston’s system, were vindicated when Ullmark put up good numbers while leading Ottawa to the playoffs for the first time in eight years. His skeptics, who question whether he’s ever proven himself a true workhorse starter, were equally vindicated because he was often injured and started only 43 games.
“I think he’s best suited when he has a good guy with him, so he can get a little rest,” one goalie coach said. “He had good stretches last season, but also stretches where he was just OK or even below average.”
Ullmark is currently paired with youngster Leevi Merilainen, who played great in limited opportunities last season. Most believe the truth about Ullmark is somewhere in the middle — not as good as his magical Vezina season in 2022-23, but also not just a product of Boston’s defense that year.
“He’s had some great years,” a retired goalie said. “I don’t see him getting back to Vezina form, but he’s solid.”
Last year’s ranking: Tier 2
Tier 3 — Strong Tandem Starter
OTT
32
Average tier ranking: 2.64
This is quite a jump up the rankings for Montembeault, who slotted in at No. 26 last year. His 30.79 GSAx ranked third in the entire NHL last season, behind only Hellebuyck and Toronto’s Anthony Stolarz.
“He makes the most out of his talent,” a goalie coach said. “He’s an intense human being.”
What stands out most about Montembeault’s game in the eyes of several panelists is his ability to stand on his head and singlehandedly win a game.
“There aren’t many guys in the league who, I think, can just steal a game with a 50-save shutout, and he’s one of those guys,” a retired goalie said.
“He always surprises me,” another retired goalie said. “I just want to see how that team can do. He’s close to a Tier 2 for me.”
Montembeault makes acrobatic saves from his back, but some panelists felt the structure of his game can lead to him needing to make more of those types of stops than necessary.
“I don’t like his consistency, and I also don’t feel he manages traffic or the game really well,” a goalie coach said. “When I watch him play, he is surprised a lot.”
At a cap hit of only $3.15 million for the next two seasons, there’s no doubt Montembeault is an incredible value for a Canadiens team hoping to take the next step after last year’s playoff appearance.
Last year’s ranking: Tier 4
Tier 3 — Strong Tandem Starter
MTL
28
Average tier ranking: 2.73
Hill set a new career high with 50 starts in 2024-25, answering some questions about his ability to handle a starter’s workload. He followed it up with his worst playoff performance yet, leaving him in this group of nebulous goalies about whom no one seems particularly confident, in one direction or another.
“He’s the guy who confuses me the most, to be honest,” one retired goalie said of Hill. “In the end, I think he’s a pretty good goalie on a really good team, and there’s nothing wrong with that.”
“He won the Cup, but I just don’t see him as a structurally consistent goaltender,” one goalie coach said.
Even after the second-round exit at the hands of Edmonton, Hill’s .917 postseason save percentage over the last three seasons still ranks second behind Shesterkin among goalies with at least 15 starts.
“He’s one of the goalies I want standing in net come playoff time,” one goalie coach said.
Last year’s ranking: Tier 3
Tier 3 — Strong Tandem Starter
VGK
29
Average tier ranking: 2.73
This is a big season for Gustavsson, who signed a five-year, $34 million extension with Minnesota on Friday. He’ll be shouldering the expectations that accompany that deal, after having lost the safety blanket of having Marc-Andre Fleury as his partner, and now he will be the clear No. 1 ahead of rookie Jesper Wallstedt – who will still be hungry to prove he is Minnesota’s future in the crease.
Several panelists put Gustavsson in Tier 2 and believe he’s more than ready for the moment.
“Easily one of my favorite goalies in the league,” one goalie coach said. “He’s in the right spot all the time. It’s unreal. Such a great positional goalie.”
“He’s not quite Carey Price, but he’s a big guy who doesn’t get out of control,” a retired goalie said. “He doesn’t have to make these acrobatic splits saves. He’s very calculating, good positionally and doesn’t let things get through him.”
Other panelists are still waiting to see him reach another level. One goalie coach said Gustavsson has shown plenty of consistency, but hasn’t taken over games as often as he’d like from a player with that type of talent. He’s proven he’s a capable starting goalie, but many believe he has the talent to be more.
Last year’s ranking: Tier 3
Tier 3 — Strong Tandem Starter
MIN
27
Average tier ranking: 2.73
Stolarz got his first real opportunity as a No. 1 goalie last season in Toronto, and aside from the injuries, it went incredibly well. He finished tied for the league lead with a .926 save percentage, and was second behind only Hellebuyck with 31.2 GSAx.
“He has good feet for a guy his size,” a goalie coach said. “He’s imposing. He’s big. He’s physical. He has a good glove.”
At his best, Stolarz is one of the most intimidating goalies in the league to score on. He’s massive, uses good angles to maximize his net coverage and fights hard to stop pucks outside of his structure when the play breaks down.
“He has average athleticism, but over-average competitiveness,” one coach said. “He sells out and never quits on a puck.”
Durability remains the biggest question for Stolarz. He made a career-high 33 starts last season, and will need even more if he’s going to jump into a higher tier.
“To me, he’s still a mid-level starter, but the potential to be high-level is there,” a goalie coach said. “I just don’t know if he’s going to be healthy enough to get there.”
Last year’s ranking: New to Goalie Tiers
Tier 3 — Strong Tandem Starter
TOR
31
Tier 4 — Unproven or Tandem Goalies
A goalie in the bottom half of the league who is either young and still trying to earn their higher-tier status, or is better suited as a true tandem netminder at this point in their career.
Average tier ranking: 3.00
While he comes in relatively low in these rankings, Vejmelka has some admirers in the goalie community.
“He’s an animal,” one coach said. “He’s so strong and so flexible. He’s underappreciated and hidden in Utah. If he was on a better team…”
“He has some little things that he does naturally that are really good,” another coach said. “He presents really well to the shooter. He looks big.”
Vejmelka is a big, athletic goalie with plenty of raw talent. Last season, he hit the 50-start threshold for the first time in his four-year NHL career, and set a new career high with a .904 save percentage. Utah started him in 23 consecutive games from February to April, and several coaches remarked they’d like to see him in more of a rotation.
“He has tremendous upside, but he still has to prove it for me,” one retired goalie said.
Last year’s ranking: New to Goalie TIers
Tier 4 — Unproven or Tandem Goalies
UTA
29
Average tier ranking: 3.00
Daccord’s rise from a 2015 seventh-round draft pick out of Arizona State into a legitimate starter in the NHL has been fun to watch. Over the last two seasons, he has made 101 starts and ranked fifth in save percentage (.911) and eighth in GSAx (36.16).
“He’s another kid who just keeps proving people wrong,” a goalie coach said. “He just keeps grinding away and has gotten better and better.”
Daccord is one of the best in the world with the puck on his stick. He actually played forward until he was 13, and still zips the puck around the ice to help Seattle with breakouts.
“His athleticism, puck-handling and swagger,” one retired goalie said when asked what stands out about Daccord’s game. “He’s got some cockiness in a good way, where he just doesn’t feel like he’s going to get scored on.”
Daccord projects to handle a heavy workload yet again for Seattle, but most coaches agree he would be better suited in a tandem.
“I do think we’re at the ceiling for him right now,” one coach said. “He’s a good goalie who is able to help a team.”
Last year’s ranking: Tier 3
Tier 4 — Unproven or Tandem Goalies
SEA
29
Average tier ranking: 3.18
Woll’s situation is complicated by the fact that he is currently away from the team because of a personal matter. So, this ranking is intended to assess Woll’s game, and not to comment on his potential availability.
Woll was considered a Tier 3 goalie by all but two panelists, who graded him a Tier 4 mostly due to his lengthy injury history. His 41 starts last season set a new career high.
“He’s shown flashes but can’t stay healthy long enough to really take over the net and make it a no-doubter,” one retired goalie said. “I like the talent. I like the package.”
“You have to give me a year as a healthy starting goaltender,” another goalie said. “I like the potential and the talent, but I don’t think we’ve seen enough for him to be a 2.”
When he’s been on the ice, Woll has been good. He’s yet to post a save percentage below the league average and has also shown well in the playoffs under less-than-ideal circumstances on multiple occasions. A couple of panelists said they think Woll’s ceiling is higher than Stolarz’s, but he just hasn’t shown enough to commit to a higher grade.
Last year’s ranking: Tier 4
Tier 4 — Unproven or Tandem Goalies
TOR
27
Average tier ranking: 3.27
The trade of Connor Ingram to Edmonton complicates things, but for now, we’ll stick with what the Oilers currently have. Adding to the complications, Skinner was the most polarizing goalie on the list, receiving a Tier 2 grade from two panelists and a Tier 4 grade from five of them.
“The guy has been to back-to-back Cup finals,” said the retired goalie who gave Skinner a Tier 2 grade. “He’s played a lot of games. If you did a blind resume and didn’t attach his name to it, I’m sure everyone would say he’s a 2.”
Over the last three seasons, Skinner has the sixth-most regular-season wins (62) and second-most playoff wins (21) in the NHL. However, his .901 save percentage ranks 36th out of 52 goalies with at least 50 starts over that span.
“Sometimes you don’t know what you’re going to get for long stretches,” one goalie coach said. “It could be like a month or so where you’re like, ‘Where did he go?’ If you’re going to be a top guy, you don’t disappear for a month.”
Skinner isn’t the fleetest of foot and doesn’t have the best lateral mobility, but he uses his 6-foot-4, 230-pound frame to cover a lot of net. Oilers general manager Stan Bowman has voiced his confidence in Skinner at every opportunity.
“What I like about him is the mental side,” one coach pointed out. “He bounces back. If there’s a guy in the league who’s taken more s— than him, I don’t know who it is. And yet he bounces back and has a great attitude.”
Last year’s ranking: Tier 3
Tier 4 — Unproven or Tandem Goalies
EDM
26
Average tier ranking: 3.27
Andersen has been consistently awesome for the vast majority of his 12-year NHL career. His 98.74 GSAx ranks fourth in the NHL since 2013, behind only Hellebuyck, Shesterkin and Sorokin. As is the case with several goalies in this tier, he just hasn’t been able to stay healthy.
“Availability is obviously the biggest issue, which prevents him from going higher,” a retired goalie said. “He’s rock-solid to elite when he plays. I don’t know how much is the system versus him, but you know what you’re going to get.”
Andersen missed most of last season with a medical issue, but returned for the playoffs and played incredibly well. He received a Tier 3 grade from eight panelists and a Tier 4 grade from the other three, but nearly all agreed his talent level is higher.
“Freddie is a 2 when he’s healthy,” one goalie said. “How do you rate that? When he’s healthy, he’s great.”
He’s 36 and playing on a one-year deal he signed with Carolina in May, hoping for another deep playoff run and the Cup that has eluded him.
Last year’s ranking: Tier 3
Tier 4 — Unproven or Tandem Goalies
CAR
36
Average tier ranking: 3.27
Kochetkov is 10 years younger than his goalie partner Andersen, but ended up with an identical average score. The method of getting there was different: Kochetkov was put into Tier 4 by more panelists, but was given a Tier 2 grade by one retired goalie who loved his upside.
“I think he’s really good,” the goalie said. “He’s explosive as hell. If you can rein him in a little bit, his ability can be a super asset. He gets a little too far out and running around a little too much, but if someone can rein him in…
“He’ll throw poke checks out. He’s a little unorthodox. I like seeing guys who play the game and aren’t just a robot. I like some of the looks he gives once in a while.”
Kochetkov’s unpredictable style was a theme in conversations across the panel, with some liking it more than others.
“The way he reads the game is wild,” a goalie coach explained. “The poke checks that he throws out, and the things he does. He’s so unpredictable. He’s got a (Dominik) Hašek mentality to him. He’s got a wild aspect to him that I really do admire.”
Several agreed Kochetkov has the talent to take over the clear No. 1 spot in Carolina, which would be ideal for the Hurricanes as Andersen ages.
Overall ranking: New to Goalie Tiers
Tier 4 — Unproven or Tandem Goalies
CAR
26
Average tier ranking: 3.27
Gibson was finally traded this offseason after 12 years in Anaheim, and the most consistent opinion on the panel was that they don’t really know what to expect.
“I’m curious to see how he does,” a retired goalie said. “I’m torn on him. It’s hard to say with his injuries. I just don’t know. It has been so long since he’s had to play meaningful hockey. He’s a little unorthodox in the way he plays, but I’m curious to see what he does in a different situation.”
Gibson’s .911 save percentage last season was his highest in six years, and he should have a better defense in front of him in Detroit, even if only slightly. There are concerns that his inconsistencies haven’t just been the result of playing for the Ducks, but also are based on his playing style, which is a bit of a throwback.
“He has flashes of brilliance and flashes of looking very average,” one coach said. “He doesn’t have a lot of consistency in the way he plays the game and the way he approaches situations.”
Last year’s ranking: Tier 3
Tier 4 — Unproven or Tandem Goalies
DET
32
Average tier ranking: 3.36
It was an eventful 2024 for Knight, who returned to hockey after more than a year and a half away from the sport and was traded to Chicago, where he eventually signed a three-year, $17.5 million extension that signaled he is the Blackhawks’ goalie of the future.
“Obviously, there are going to be bumps for him in Chicago, but I liked that move a lot,” one retired goalie said. “They finally got a franchise goalie whom they can let develop. He’s a strong kid. He’s super focused. He has all of the tools.”
Knight’s numbers over his 15 starts in Chicago weren’t particularly impressive, but he showed flashes of brilliance and is still only 24. The Blackhawks also have Arvid Soderblom, who started 33 games last season.
“All of the talent in the world,” one goalie coach said of Knight. “He should be the 1A in a tandem, but I believe in him.”
There wasn’t unanimous optimism about Knight’s future, with some panelists hoping to see a higher compete level in his game. He’s an exceptionally technical goalie, but one coach said he’d like to see him break from that robotic structure more often. Perhaps Chicago’s commitment with the contract extension could give him the freedom to do just that.
Last year’s ranking: New to Goalie Tiers
Tier 4 — Unproven or Tandem Goalies
CHI
24
Average tier ranking: 3.36
Like with Wolf entering last year — who was also ranked 29th by the panel — there’s plenty of optimism about Askarov’s future, but some skepticism about how it will go in his rookie season.
“He has a really high ceiling,” one goalie coach said. “I just don’t know if it will materialize. He’s got game-changing talent and ability.”
“I think he’s going to be good, but he has some holes in his game,” one retired goalie said. “He reminds me a little bit of Blackwood. An athletic freak who has all of the tools, and we just have to see if he can mentally and situationally dial it in.”
Askarov dominated the AHL with a .923 save percentage last season, and was even better for the Barracuda in the Calder Cup playoffs. He had mixed results in his 12 NHL starts, but he was the only Sharks goalie to finish the season with a positive GSAx. Some coaches had concerns that he’s not quite ready for a heavy workload as a rookie.
“I don’t know if his hands are good enough,” one coach said. “He has electric feet and athleticism. … He’s probably the most polarizing prospect that I’ve seen come through the league.”
Last year’s ranking: New to Goalie Tiers
Tier 4 — Unproven or Tandem Goalies
SJ
23
Average tier ranking: 3.36
Last season, the Canucks gave Lankinen far more responsibility than he had previously seen in his five-year NHL career, and he succeeded. The Finn played a career-high 51 games and saved a career best 9.3 goals above expected.
The panel was split nearly down the middle between Tier 3 and Tier 4 grades for Lankinen. The most common opinion was that he’s an exceptional backup and could be more if he played elsewhere.
“He’s exactly what he needs to be, but I didn’t understand the five-year deal,” one goalie coach said.
Vancouver signed Lankinen to an extension worth $4.5 million per season. Along with Demko’s new deal, the Canucks will have $13 million committed to the crease starting in 2026.
Last year’s ranking: New to Goalie Tiers
Tier 4 — Unproven or Tandem Goalies
VAN
30
Average tier ranking: 3.45
Coaches and goalies still love Luukkonen’s talent, but as he enters his fourth full season in the NHL, the optimism that he’ll reach his ceiling is beginning to wane.
“He’s had flashes, and I think there are tools there, but I keep waiting, and it just hasn’t come together for a full season yet,” one retired goalie said.
Luukkonen was injured for parts of 2024-25 and had statistically the worst season of his career. He dropped from 16th in these rankings a year ago to outside of the top 30.
“I love this guy, but he’s hurt again, already,” one goalie coach said, referring to the lower-body injury that has forced Luukkonen to miss all of training camp and most of the preseason. “I think he’s amazing, but we just haven’t seen it yet.”
After a breakout 2023-24, Luukkonen regressed last season. With all of the physical tools to succeed, what’s holding him back?
“I like the athleticism, and he has improved more than I expected him to, but I think his athleticism is what’s getting him by right now,” one coach said. “It worries me how he reads the game.”
Last year’s ranking: Tier 3
Tier 4 — Unproven or Tandem Goalies
BUF
26
Average tier ranking: 3.55
After a dominant season in the AHL, Greaves is one of the most exciting potential breakout goalie candidates entering this season. Still only 24, he will be a full-time NHL player for the first time after Columbus traded Daniil Tarasov to Florida.
“He’s a young goalie that has high compete and work ethic,” one goalie coach said. “He’s gotten a ton better. Right now, he’s best suited in a backup role as he builds.”
That may not last long, though. Blue Jackets longtime starter Elvis Merzļikins struggled again last season, and Greaves has looked excellent in his limited NHL opportunities. He went 7-2-2 as a starter in 2024-25 with a .938 save percentage and an incredible 14.46 GSAx.
Greaves is a bit undersized at 6-feet, 190 pounds, but he makes up for it with speed and athleticism, and he never quits on a puck.
“He has the potential to be Columbus’s best option as the season goes along,” a goalie coach said.
Last year’s ranking: New to Goalie Tiers
Tier 4 — Unproven or Tandem Goalies
CBJ
24
Tier 5 — 1B or Quality Backups
Lower quality goalies who are better suited as the secondary option in a tandem, or as a pure backup.
Average tier ranking: 3.82
Nothing has been easy for Ersson in the NHL. He wasn’t exactly eased in with the Flyers, starting 49 games as a rookie in 2023-24, and 45 last season. It hasn’t gone particularly well, but the panelists see reason for optimism.
“I like him, and I think there’s something there,” one goalie coach said.
“I think he’s a starting goalie in the NHL, but he’s probably at the bottom of the starting goalies,” another coach said.
Being one of the best 32 goalies in the NHL is no small feat. A few coaches believe Ersson would have a lot more success in a smaller role.
“If he was on a good team, he would be a really good backup,” one coach said. “Play 30 games type of situation.”
“He’d be a good backup, or a good 1B at times,” a retired goalie concurred. “I think he’s miscast as a full-time starter.”
Last year’s ranking: New to Goalie Tiers
Tier 5 — 1B or Quality Backups
PHI
25
Average tier ranking: 3.91
The Capitals had some of the best goaltending in the NHL last season, and a lot of it had to do with how perfectly each goalie fit into their role.
“He’s perfectly slotted where they have him in Washington,” one goalie coach said of Lindgren. “Charlie is a really good goalie. I honestly think he’s probably a 4. He’s a starting goalie on a bottom-tier team, but he’s best suited to be a 1B.”
Lindgren’s numbers took a step back last season following a stellar 2023-24.
“I’ll give him credit as a 3 because he did start for them the year before and he had a pretty good year,” another goalie coach said.
Lindgren has all of the qualities of a perfect 1B goalie in the NHL. His teammates rave about his character, and he has performed well when needed. Most of the panelists believe that is his ceiling, though.
“There’s some randomness to him,” a retired goalie said. “He’s a nice goalie, but if you’re going to go far, I don’t know if I’d want him playing the majority of games.”
Last year’s ranking: Tier 3
Tier 5 — 1B or Quality Backups
WSH
31
Average tier ranking: 4.09
Jarry has had an excellent NHL career, playing in two All-Star Games and receiving Vezina votes in each of those seasons, but at this point, it has been a while since we’ve seen him at the top of his game.
“At his best he can be a 2, but he’s just so volatile,” one goalie coach said, “but he has talent.”
Jarry still has three years left on his current deal, which carries a cap hit of $5.75 million. He was waived to the AHL in January, amidst the worst season of his career.
Multiple coaches believe far too much blame was placed at Jarry’s feet for the shortcomings in Pittsburgh last season, and that he’d play at a higher level in a different situation.
“Not putting a guy in any position to succeed, that’s for sure,” one coach said. “He came back at the end of the year and he played pretty darn good for them.”
There’s also some excitement for what Arturs Silovs can do in Pittsburgh after being traded from Vancouver.
“I think Silovs has a great ceiling,” a goalie coach said. “There’s still a lot of stuff about his game that you’re unsure about. He’s almost like Binnington in that he’s opportunistic. You see a super-talented individual who can turn it on at the right time.”
Last year’s ranking: Tier 3
Tier 5 — 1B or Quality Backups
PIT
30
Average tier ranking: 4.18
For the second straight year, Merzļikins slots into the bottom two in these rankings. There were stretches of 2024-25 when he played well, but inconsistency still plagues his game.
“He’s been a bit too volatile over the last few years,” one retired goalie said. “He’s a starting goalie, but I think he’s a lower-end starting goalie.”
Several panelists pointed out that Merzļikins’ reactionary style with a lot of moving pieces makes it incredibly difficult to achieve a high level of consistency.
“The way he plays, he’s not capable of being consistent,” a retired goalie said. “Even when he’s playing great, it looks like he’s walking a tightrope.”
Last year’s ranking: Tier 4
Tier 5 — 1B or Quality Backups
CBJ
31
Average tier ranking: 4.64
Pickard’s late-career resurgence has been one of the best stories in the crease over the last two years. He went from starting only six total NHL games from 2019 to 2022, to playing in 13 playoff games for the Oilers (including three in the Stanley Cup Final).
As much as everyone has enjoyed Pickard’s storybook arc, they’re also realistic about the limitations of his game.
“What he did in the playoffs was very admirable,” one retired goalie said. “It was more than admirable. It was f—ing heroic. He made himself a local legend, but Picks isn’t a starting goalie in the NHL.”
Pickard received Tier 5 grades from seven of the panelists, with most admiring his playoff performances but admitting they wouldn’t feel confident with him starting more than a handful of games.
“He’s a 5, but he’s a 5 with an asterisk because he might be the best one in the league,” a goalie coach said.
It will be interesting to see if Pickard hangs onto the No. 2 spot in Edmonton after the Oilers claimed Connor Ingram from Utah. Ingram hasn’t played since entering the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program in March, but was cleared from the program in August and is ready to continue his career.
Ingram’s best season — when he saved 17.68 goals above expected over 50 games in 2023-24 — was considerably better than any of Pickard’s 10 seasons, so the ceiling is certainly higher.
Last year’s ranking: New to Goalie Tiers
Tier 5 — 1B or Quality Backups
EDM
33
(Illustration: Will Tullos / The Athletic; Photos: Sam Hodde, André Ringuette, Mark LoMoglio / Getty Images)
Oct 6, 2025
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