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<\/p>\nWelcome 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.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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 \u2014 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.<\/p>\n
The beauty of the position is that it\u2019s more of an art than a science. There\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
Rankings are fun. As sports fans, we love to assign numbers and orders to everything. The goal of this project isn\u2019t just to get grades from the panelists. It\u2019s to get their honest opinions on the goalie\u2019s games. What makes them great? What sets them apart?<\/p>\n
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\u2019s strategy of stopping the puck can be. We\u2019ll dive into each with expert insights into their strengths and weaknesses.<\/p>\n
Here are the goalies, ranked 1 through 38 and broken into five tiers.<\/p>\n
Tier Tier 1 \u2014 World Class Tier 2 \u2014 High-Level Starter Tier 3 \u2014 Strong Tandem Starter Tier 4 \u2014 Unproven or Tandem Goalies Tier 5 \u2014 1B or Quality Backups<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
Age 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 35 36 37<\/p>\n
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Loading<\/p>\n
Try changing or resetting your filters to see more.<\/p>\n
Tier 1 \u2014 World Class<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Average tier ranking: 1.00<\/b><\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think he\u2019s the most talented goalie in the league,\u201d a retired goalie said. \u201cHis edgework. His mobility. His demeanor. To me, he\u2019s the complete package.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe makes a lot of quality saves every night that kind of go under the radar because he makes so many of them,\u201d an NHL goalie coach said. \u201cThe amount of work he gets every night, without him being really good, most nights they have no chance.\u201d<\/p>\n
Coaches still love Shesterkin\u2019s ability to elevate his play in clutch moments. Even with the Rangers missing the playoffs last season, Shesterkin\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s so flexible, but then he morphs back into his structure,\u201d a retired goalie said. \u201cHe doesn\u2019t do the splits and then end up on his back rolling around. He does the splits and somehow gets back to his butterfly. It\u2019s weird. It\u2019s impressive. It\u2019s unfair to everybody else.\u201d<\/p>\n
Last year’s ranking: Tier 1<\/b><\/p>\n
Tier 1 \u2014 World Class<\/p>\n
NYR<\/p>\n
29<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
Average tier ranking: 1.09<\/b><\/p>\n
The 2024-25 regular season was a celebration of Hellebuyck\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe reads the game so well,\u201d a goalie coach said. \u201cHe just sees it, anticipates it and makes it look easy because he\u2019s already prepared for it. It\u2019s bizarre how well he reads the game. Then you add in huge size, and he\u2019s everything you want in a goalie. He\u2019s elite.\u201d<\/p>\n
On the other hand, Hellebuyck\u2019s .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\u2019t want him between the pipes for a playoff game.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think the team matters or the system,\u201d a retired goalie said. \u201cHis structure is really, really simple, and he can replicate it every single night.\u201d<\/p>\n
Last year’s ranking: Tier 1<\/b><\/p>\n
Tier 1 \u2014 World Class<\/p>\n
WPG<\/p>\n
32<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Average tier ranking: 1.09<\/b><\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s just the freaking man,\u201d one goalie coach said. \u201cHe\u2019s so special, so dominant.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cLast year he pulled a Tiger Woods,\u201d one goalie coach said. \u201cHe rebuilt a big part of his game while still in his prime. Structurally, he looked a little bit different and a lot more efficient.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u2019s long, impressive playoff resume still gives the panelists confidence.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s on the short list of guys you want in a do-or-die game, where you think this guy will win it for me,\u201d a retired goalie said.<\/p>\n
Last year’s ranking: Tier 1<\/b><\/p>\n
Tier 1 \u2014 World Class<\/p>\n
TBL<\/p>\n
31<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Average tier ranking: 1.09<\/b><\/p>\n
In the eyes of our panel, four goalies clearly stood above the rest. Despite just turning 37, Bobrovsky is still among them.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s like Benjamin Button, aging backward right now,\u201d one goalie coach said with a laugh.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen the chips are down, I don\u2019t know if there\u2019s another goalie I want in the net more than him,\u201d a goalie coach said. \u201cHe just finds ways to win games. Big saves in big moments, he makes them.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEven if you take away the Stanley Cups, just watch him and he\u2019s unreal,\u201d a retired goalie said.<\/p>\n
Bobrovsky enters this season as the fourth-oldest goalie in the NHL, but that doesn\u2019t concern most of the panelists.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s an absolute maniac in terms of fitness, and he\u2019s always been that way,\u201d one retired goalie said. \u201cHe takes really good care of himself, and he\u2019s really focused and driven.\u201d<\/p>\n
He\u2019s also entering the final year of the $70 million contract he signed with Florida in 2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think he\u2019s got two more years of really good goaltending left in him,\u201d one goalie coach said. \u201cFrom there, it\u2019s up to him whether he still wants to play or not.\u201d<\/p>\n
Last year’s ranking: Tier 1<\/b><\/p>\n
Tier 1 \u2014 World Class<\/p>\n
FLA<\/p>\n
37<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Tier 2 \u2014 High-Level Starter<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Average tier ranking: 1.45<\/b><\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a workhorse,\u201d a retired goalie said. \u201cHe\u2019s big and smooth with his movements. We\u2019re still waiting for him to break through with a really good Dallas team and be the difference.\u201d<\/p>\n
For those hesitant to grade Oettinger at Tier 1, the biggest reason was that he hasn\u2019t taken over games in the playoffs as much as they\u2019d 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\u2019s only 26 but already has more playoff experience than most of the goalies in the league.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe makes things look simple and he\u2019s not that flashy goalie that jumps off the page at you,\u201d another retired goalie said.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s playing chess when other guys are playing checkers,\u201d a goalie coach said. \u201cThe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Last year’s ranking: Tier 2<\/b><\/p>\n
Tier 2 \u2014 High-Level Starter<\/p>\n
DAL<\/p>\n
26<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Average tier ranking: 1.64<\/b><\/p>\n
This ranking may come as a bit of a surprise considering Sorokin\u2019s relatively middling statistics over the last two season, but experts agree he\u2019s still an incredible goalie whose stats are more indicative of the poor play in front of him.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s very well-composed because of his play-reading ability,\u201d one goalie coach said. \u201cHe\u2019s not overwhelmingly big or fast. There\u2019s nothing where you\u2019re like, \u2018Oh wow, he\u2019s incredible,\u2019 but he reads the game well and he\u2019s really well-positioned.\u201d<\/p>\n
After two straight seasons (2021-22 and 2022-23) with a .924 save percentage, Sorokin\u2019s numbers have slipped considerably over the last two seasons.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe is the highest of the 2s,\u201d a retired goalie said. \u201cHe can be unbelievable for stretches. I think he sometimes wears down because he plays such an active style. He really has to exert himself.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a stud,\u201d one coach said. \u201cI hope his talents don\u2019t get wasted while they try to fix everything. Hopefully they get better quickly enough, so the league can see how good he is.\u201d<\/p>\n
Last year’s ranking: Tier 2<\/b><\/p>\n
Tier 2 \u2014 High-Level Starter<\/p>\n
NYI<\/p>\n
30<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Average tier ranking: 1.91<\/b><\/p>\n
Binnington is a tricky goalie to grade because most of the panel agrees he doesn\u2019t 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\u2019d want in net for a big game. Because of that, he received grades ranging from Tier 1 to Tier 3 depending on each panelist\u2019s preferences.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have to give him a 3, and yet, do you want him in a big game? Yeah,\u201d one goalie coach said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a fiery and competitive human being who has played very well in huge games,\u201d another coach said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a guy who needs the pressure,\u201d a retired goalie said. \u201cI don\u2019t want to say he\u2019s bored, but he almost plays better when the pressure is on, and that\u2019s a huge attribute as a goalie.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think (the Blues) are going to adopt that defensive mindset that Boston had when Jim Montgomery was there, and I think that\u2019s going to put Binnington over the top statistically speaking, and into that realm of a Tier 1,\u201d one goalie coach predicted.<\/p>\n
Last year’s ranking: Tier 2<\/b><\/p>\n
Tier 2 \u2014 High-Level Starter<\/p>\n
STL<\/p>\n
32<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Average tier ranking: 2.09<\/b><\/p>\n
Last season included a disastrous start to Swayman\u2019s reign as Boston\u2019s 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\u2019s short NHL career.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat doesn\u2019t change the fact that he\u2019s a great goalie,\u201d one retired netminder said. \u201cIt\u2019s just something that he had to figure out mentally. You\u2019re not part of the greatest tandem in the league anymore. You\u2019re the guy. You don\u2019t have Ullmark as a security blanket. It doesn\u2019t mean he can\u2019t play goalie, it just means he has to take a little time to figure out how to deal with that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Swayman\u2019s game is all about control. When he\u2019s 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\u2019s doubt from a few panelists, most believe a bounce-back season is in store for the 26-year-old. <\/p>\n
Last year’s ranking: Tier 2<\/b><\/p>\n
Tier 2 \u2014 High-Level Starter<\/p>\n
BOS<\/p>\n
26<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Average tier ranking: 2.09<\/b><\/p>\n
Saros\u2019 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI still think he\u2019s a really good goalie,\u201d one goalie coach said. \u201cHis athleticism, speed and skating ability are unparalleled. He actually handles the puck a lot better than people give him credit for. He\u2019s not getting a ton of help back there.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Predators’ defense was a mess last season, making it especially tough on Saros to predict where the chances would come from.<\/p>\n
\u201cA goalie needs the team in front of him to be able to make consistent reads,\u201d a goalie coach explained. \u201cEvery 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe has athleticism for days, but the team in front of him faltered so much that he struggled,\u201d one coach said. \u201cI still believe in the kid.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI haven\u2019t seen enough success in the playoffs,\u201d another coach remarked. \u201cIt\u2019s progressively gone downhill lately.\u201d<\/p>\n
Last year’s ranking: Tier 1<\/b><\/p>\n
Tier 2 \u2014 High-Level Starter<\/p>\n
NSH<\/p>\n
30<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Average tier ranking: 2.18<\/b><\/p>\n
Following a dream rookie season, the projections for Wolf are overwhelmingly positive.<\/p>\n
\u201cI really, really love the goalie,\u201d one coach said. \u201cHe\u2019s a 2 for me right now, but he\u2019s definitely trending up that list and could become a 1. He\u2019s going to be a workhorse.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI think he\u2019s nasty,\u201d a retired goalie said. \u201cI think he\u2019s going to keep going up, too.\u201d<\/p>\n
There\u2019s still some hesitation to grade Wolf high because of the lack of sample size. He\u2019s the youngest goalie this high in these rankings, and has only started 69 games in the NHL.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith his ability to compete and process, it\u2019s going to go a very long way, but he\u2019s also a guy I think teams may figure out how to score on,\u201d one goalie coach said.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s proving it doesn\u2019t prevent him from stopping the puck at a high level.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe has the athleticism to make it as a small goalie in this league, but he also combines it with a very controlled, methodical game,\u201d one coach explained. \u201cThat\u2019s exciting. He\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Last year’s ranking: Tier 4<\/b><\/p>\n
Tier 2 \u2014 High-Level Starter<\/p>\n
CGY<\/p>\n
24<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Tier 3 \u2014 Strong Tandem Starter<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Average tier ranking: 2.27<\/b><\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s obviously tremendously talented, but he\u2019s always hurt,\u201d one retired goalie said.<\/p>\n
That has been the story of Demko\u2019s career through the first eight years. He\u2019s a big, athletic goalie capable of making jaw-dropping saves, but hasn\u2019t stayed healthy long enough to make any sort of run in Vancouver.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere have just been way too many injuries to rely on him,\u201d a goalie coach said. \u201cI\u2019ve always thought the potential was there to be one of the best, but eventually you have to have the results.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u2019t longer, considering he\u2019s played at a Vezina-caliber level when on the ice. He has started only 106 total games over the last three years.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe amount he\u2019s in and out of his RVH (reverse vertical horizontal position), and the power he has, I don\u2019t think he makes it through a season without injuries,\u201d a goalie coach said. \u201cWhen he\u2019s in the net, he\u2019s good, but you\u2019re holding your breath.\u201d<\/p>\n
Last year’s ranking: Tier 2<\/b><\/p>\n
Tier 3 \u2014 Strong Tandem Starter<\/p>\n
VAN<\/p>\n
29<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Average tier ranking: 2.36<\/b><\/p>\n
Dost\u00e1l\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s the total package,\u201d one goalie coach said.<\/p>\n
The average tier score of 2.36 doesn\u2019t 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\u2019 future as a team still seemed to suppress Dost\u00e1l\u2019s scores.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe team in front of him won\u2019t allow him to win a Vezina yet, but he\u2019s a kid that is going to win a Vezina in his career,\u201d a goalie coach said. \u201cI think he\u2019s a top-five goalie in the league, and I think the contract that Anaheim just signed him to is a steal.\u201d<\/p>\n
Anaheim anointed Dost\u00e1l as its new franchise goalie by trading John Gibson to Detroit this offseason and signing Dost\u00e1l 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis guy seems like he\u2019s going to be like a Juuse (Saros),\u201d one coach said. \u201cHe\u2019s a horse. I think they have a good goalie there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Last year’s ranking: New to Goalie Tiers<\/b><\/p>\n
Tier 3 \u2014 Strong Tandem Starter<\/p>\n
ANA<\/p>\n
25<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Average tier ranking: 2.36<\/b><\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe had a heck of a year and I didn\u2019t see that coming,\u201d a retired goalie said. \u201cI 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
There\u2019s no doubt the defensive system in Los Angeles benefits the goalies. We\u2019ve seen nearly every netminder who passes through experience an uptick in statistics \u2014 from Kuemper to Cam Talbot and Joonas Korpisalo. It\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
To Kuemper\u2019s credit, he was good when he was called upon. He led the entire NHL with a .863 save percentage on high-danger shots.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was in the top five last year, but I think that was a little bit more than what he is,\u201d one goalie coach said. \u201cI think he\u2019s a damn good goalie. I just think he\u2019s best suited in a tandem situation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Last year’s ranking: Tier 4<\/b><\/p>\n
Tier 3 \u2014 Strong Tandem Starter<\/p>\n
LA<\/p>\n
35<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Average tier ranking: 2.36<\/b><\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just a different pressure, so it\u2019s something you have to get used to and deal with,\u201d one retired goalie said. \u201cIt\u2019s almost just about discovering that nothing actually changes.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think he can be a workhorse because of his physical build and makeup, and I think he can play well at the right moments,\u201d one former goalie said. \u201cThere 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Blackwood\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s grown up a lot,\u201d a goalie coach said. \u201cHe 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\u2019s going to have a big season.\u201d<\/p>\n
Last year’s ranking: Tier 4<\/b><\/p>\n
Tier 3 \u2014 Strong Tandem Starter<\/p>\n
COL<\/p>\n
28<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Average tier ranking: 2.45<\/b><\/p>\n
Thompson\u2019s 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\u2019ve been in conversation for the Vezina.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe fits into that Oettinger, (Filip) Gustavsson, Binnington cluster,\u201d one goalie coach said of Thompson. \u201cWe\u2019ve seen it for one year, and hopefully he continues to do it. I like his game. He\u2019s a gamer.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u2019ll have to continue that, as there are still some doubts about his game.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know that he\u2019s as good as his numbers suggest he was last year, but he\u2019s good,\u201d one retired goalie said. \u201cI\u2019m a little skeptical if he can do it again.\u201d<\/p>\n
The apprehension stems from Thompson\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
The \u201cjack in the box style,\u201d 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI view him as a great, competitive athlete,\u201d a goalie coach said. \u201cIf you try to make someone like that into a technical-based goalie, you won\u2019t have a good goalie. So letting him be what he is while helping him along the way, I think they\u2019ve done a really good job of that in Washington.\u201d<\/p>\n
Last year’s ranking: New to Goalie Tiers<\/b><\/p>\n
Tier 3 \u2014 Strong Tandem Starter<\/p>\n
WSH<\/p>\n
28<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Average tier ranking: 2.45<\/b><\/p>\n
Markstr\u00f6m 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cBig, physical goalie,\u201d a goalie coach said. \u201cHe\u2019s starting to age a little bit, but he\u2019s such a professional.\u201d<\/p>\n
Never the most consistent performer, Markstr\u00f6m is a streaky goalie who can be incredible when he\u2019s on, with a combination of size and athleticism. That said, his game does have limitations.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think his hands are average,\u201d one goalie coach said. \u201cI see a guy who drops a lot of pucks and doesn\u2019t catch things well, which limits you from being a top guy.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u2019s plenty of belief he\u2019s good enough to go deep into the playoffs.<\/p>\n
Last year’s ranking: Tier 2<\/b><\/p>\n
Tier 3 \u2014 Strong Tandem Starter<\/p>\n
NJ<\/p>\n
35<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Average tier ranking: 2.45<\/b><\/p>\n
Last season was an odd one for Ullmark. His supporters, who believed he would succeed outside of Boston\u2019s 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\u2019s ever proven himself a true workhorse starter, were equally vindicated because he was often injured and started only 43 games.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think he\u2019s best suited when he has a good guy with him, so he can get a little rest,\u201d one goalie coach said. \u201cHe had good stretches last season, but also stretches where he was just OK or even below average.\u201d<\/p>\n
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 \u2014 not as good as his magical Vezina season in 2022-23, but also not just a product of Boston\u2019s defense that year.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s had some great years,\u201d a retired goalie said. \u201cI don\u2019t see him getting back to Vezina form, but he\u2019s solid.\u201d<\/p>\n
Last year’s ranking: Tier 2<\/b><\/p>\n
Tier 3 \u2014 Strong Tandem Starter<\/p>\n
OTT<\/p>\n
32<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Average tier ranking: 2.64<\/b><\/p>\n
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\u2019s Anthony Stolarz.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe makes the most out of his talent,\u201d a goalie coach said. \u201cHe\u2019s an intense human being.\u201d<\/p>\n
What stands out most about Montembeault\u2019s game in the eyes of several panelists is his ability to stand on his head and singlehandedly win a game.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere aren\u2019t many guys in the league who, I think, can just steal a game with a 50-save shutout, and he\u2019s one of those guys,\u201d a retired goalie said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe always surprises me,\u201d another retired goalie said. \u201cI just want to see how that team can do. He\u2019s close to a Tier 2 for me.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t like his consistency, and I also don\u2019t feel he manages traffic or the game really well,\u201d a goalie coach said. \u201cWhen I watch him play, he is surprised a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n
At a cap hit of only $3.15 million for the next two seasons, there\u2019s no doubt Montembeault is an incredible value for a Canadiens team hoping to take the next step after last year\u2019s playoff appearance.<\/p>\n
Last year’s ranking: Tier 4<\/b><\/p>\n
Tier 3 \u2014 Strong Tandem Starter<\/p>\n
MTL<\/p>\n
28<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Average tier ranking: 2.73<\/b><\/p>\n
Hill set a new career high with 50 starts in 2024-25, answering some questions about his ability to handle a starter\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s the guy who confuses me the most, to be honest,\u201d one retired goalie said of Hill. \u201cIn the end, I think he\u2019s a pretty good goalie on a really good team, and there\u2019s nothing wrong with that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe won the Cup, but I just don\u2019t see him as a structurally consistent goaltender,\u201d one goalie coach said.<\/p>\n
Even after the second-round exit at the hands of Edmonton, Hill\u2019s .917 postseason save percentage over the last three seasons still ranks second behind Shesterkin among goalies with at least 15 starts.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s one of the goalies I want standing in net come playoff time,\u201d one goalie coach said.<\/p>\n
Last year’s ranking: Tier 3<\/b><\/p>\n
Tier 3 \u2014 Strong Tandem Starter<\/p>\n
VGK<\/p>\n
29<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Average tier ranking: 2.73<\/b><\/p>\n
This is a big season for Gustavsson, who signed a five-year, $34 million extension with Minnesota on Friday. He\u2019ll 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 \u2013 who will still be hungry to prove he is Minnesota\u2019s future in the crease.<\/p>\n
Several panelists put Gustavsson in Tier 2 and believe he\u2019s more than ready for the moment.<\/p>\n
\u201cEasily one of my favorite goalies in the league,\u201d one goalie coach said. \u201cHe\u2019s in the right spot all the time. It\u2019s unreal. Such a great positional goalie.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s not quite Carey Price, but he\u2019s a big guy who doesn\u2019t get out of control,\u201d a retired goalie said. \u201cHe doesn\u2019t have to make these acrobatic splits saves. He\u2019s very calculating, good positionally and doesn\u2019t let things get through him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Other panelists are still waiting to see him reach another level. One goalie coach said Gustavsson has shown plenty of consistency, but hasn\u2019t taken over games as often as he\u2019d 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.<\/p>\n
Last year’s ranking: Tier 3<\/b><\/p>\n
Tier 3 \u2014 Strong Tandem Starter<\/p>\n
MIN<\/p>\n
27<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Average tier ranking: 2.73<\/b><\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe has good feet for a guy his size,\u201d a goalie coach said. \u201cHe\u2019s imposing. He\u2019s big. He\u2019s physical. He has a good glove.\u201d<\/p>\n
At his best, Stolarz is one of the most intimidating goalies in the league to score on. He\u2019s massive, uses good angles to maximize his net coverage and fights hard to stop pucks outside of his structure when the play breaks down.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe has average athleticism, but over-average competitiveness,\u201d one coach said. \u201cHe sells out and never quits on a puck.\u201d<\/p>\n
Durability remains the biggest question for Stolarz. He made a career-high 33 starts last season, and will need even more if he\u2019s going to jump into a higher tier.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo me, he\u2019s still a mid-level starter, but the potential to be high-level is there,\u201d a goalie coach said. \u201cI just don\u2019t know if he\u2019s going to be healthy enough to get there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Last year’s ranking: New to Goalie Tiers<\/b><\/p>\n
Tier 3 \u2014 Strong Tandem Starter<\/p>\n
TOR<\/p>\n
31<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Tier 4 \u2014 Unproven or Tandem Goalies<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Average tier ranking: 3.00<\/b><\/p>\n
While he comes in relatively low in these rankings, Vejmelka has some admirers in the goalie community.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s an animal,\u201d one coach said. \u201cHe\u2019s so strong and so flexible. He\u2019s underappreciated and hidden in Utah. If he was on a better team…\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe has some little things that he does naturally that are really good,\u201d another coach said. \u201cHe presents really well to the shooter. He looks big.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u2019d like to see him in more of a rotation.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe has tremendous upside, but he still has to prove it for me,\u201d one retired goalie said.<\/p>\n
Last year’s ranking: New to Goalie TIers<\/b><\/p>\n
Tier 4 \u2014 Unproven or Tandem Goalies<\/p>\n
UTA<\/p>\n
29<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Average tier ranking: 3.00<\/b><\/p>\n
Daccord\u2019s 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).<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s another kid who just keeps proving people wrong,\u201d a goalie coach said. \u201cHe just keeps grinding away and has gotten better and better.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cHis athleticism, puck-handling and swagger,\u201d one retired goalie said when asked what stands out about Daccord\u2019s game. \u201cHe\u2019s got some cockiness in a good way, where he just doesn\u2019t feel like he\u2019s going to get scored on.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daccord projects to handle a heavy workload yet again for Seattle, but most coaches agree he would be better suited in a tandem.<\/p>\n
\u201cI do think we\u2019re at the ceiling for him right now,\u201d one coach said. \u201cHe\u2019s a good goalie who is able to help a team.\u201d<\/p>\n
Last year’s ranking: Tier 3<\/b><\/p>\n
Tier 4 \u2014 Unproven or Tandem Goalies<\/p>\n
SEA<\/p>\n
29<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Average tier ranking: 3.18<\/b><\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s shown flashes but can\u2019t stay healthy long enough to really take over the net and make it a no-doubter,\u201d one retired goalie said. \u201cI like the talent. I like the package.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have to give me a year as a healthy starting goaltender,\u201d another goalie said. \u201cI like the potential and the talent, but I don\u2019t think we\u2019ve seen enough for him to be a 2.\u201d<\/p>\n
When he\u2019s been on the ice, Woll has been good. He\u2019s 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\u2019s ceiling is higher than Stolarz\u2019s, but he just hasn\u2019t shown enough to commit to a higher grade.<\/p>\n
Last year’s ranking: Tier 4<\/b><\/p>\n
Tier 4 \u2014 Unproven or Tandem Goalies<\/p>\n
TOR<\/p>\n
27<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Average tier ranking: 3.27<\/b><\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe guy has been to back-to-back Cup finals,\u201d said the retired goalie who gave Skinner a Tier 2 grade. \u201cHe\u2019s played a lot of games. If you did a blind resume and didn\u2019t attach his name to it, I\u2019m sure everyone would say he\u2019s a 2.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cSometimes you don\u2019t know what you\u2019re going to get for long stretches,\u201d one goalie coach said. \u201cIt could be like a month or so where you\u2019re like, \u2018Where did he go?\u2019 If you\u2019re going to be a top guy, you don\u2019t disappear for a month.\u201d<\/p>\n
Skinner isn\u2019t the fleetest of foot and doesn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat I like about him is the mental side,\u201d one coach pointed out. \u201cHe bounces back. If there\u2019s a guy in the league who\u2019s taken more s— than him, I don\u2019t know who it is. And yet he bounces back and has a great attitude.\u201d<\/p>\n
Last year’s ranking: Tier 3<\/b><\/p>\n
Tier 4 \u2014 Unproven or Tandem Goalies<\/p>\n
EDM<\/p>\n
26<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Average tier ranking: 3.27<\/b><\/p>\n
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\u2019t been able to stay healthy.<\/p>\n
\u201cAvailability is obviously the biggest issue, which prevents him from going higher,\u201d a retired goalie said. \u201cHe\u2019s rock-solid to elite when he plays. I don\u2019t know how much is the system versus him, but you know what you\u2019re going to get.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cFreddie is a 2 when he\u2019s healthy,\u201d one goalie said. \u201cHow do you rate that? When he\u2019s healthy, he\u2019s great.\u201d<\/p>\n
He\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
Last year’s ranking: Tier 3<\/b><\/p>\n
Tier 4 \u2014 Unproven or Tandem Goalies<\/p>\n
CAR<\/p>\n
36<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Average tier ranking: 3.27<\/b><\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think he\u2019s really good,\u201d the goalie said. \u201cHe\u2019s 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…<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019ll throw poke checks out. He\u2019s a little unorthodox. I like seeing guys who play the game and aren\u2019t just a robot. I like some of the looks he gives once in a while.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kochetkov\u2019s unpredictable style was a theme in conversations across the panel, with some liking it more than others.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe way he reads the game is wild,\u201d a goalie coach explained. \u201cThe poke checks that he throws out, and the things he does. He\u2019s so unpredictable. He\u2019s got a (Dominik) Ha\u0161ek mentality to him. He\u2019s got a wild aspect to him that I really do admire.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Overall ranking: New to Goalie Tiers<\/b><\/p>\n
Tier 4 \u2014 Unproven or Tandem Goalies<\/p>\n
CAR<\/p>\n
26<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Average tier ranking: 3.27<\/b><\/p>\n
Gibson was finally traded this offseason after 12 years in Anaheim, and the most consistent opinion on the panel was that they don\u2019t really know what to expect.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m curious to see how he does,\u201d a retired goalie said. \u201cI\u2019m torn on him. It\u2019s hard to say with his injuries. I just don\u2019t know. It has been so long since he\u2019s had to play meaningful hockey. He\u2019s a little unorthodox in the way he plays, but I\u2019m curious to see what he does in a different situation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gibson\u2019s .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\u2019t just been the result of playing for the Ducks, but also are based on his playing style, which is a bit of a throwback.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe has flashes of brilliance and flashes of looking very average,\u201d one coach said. \u201cHe doesn\u2019t have a lot of consistency in the way he plays the game and the way he approaches situations.\u201d<\/p>\n
Last year’s ranking: Tier 3<\/b><\/p>\n
Tier 4 \u2014 Unproven or Tandem Goalies<\/p>\n
DET<\/p>\n
32<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Average tier ranking: 3.36<\/b><\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously, there are going to be bumps for him in Chicago, but I liked that move a lot,\u201d one retired goalie said. \u201cThey finally got a franchise goalie whom they can let develop. He\u2019s a strong kid. He\u2019s super focused. He has all of the tools.\u201d<\/p>\n
Knight\u2019s numbers over his 15 starts in Chicago weren\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll of the talent in the world,\u201d one goalie coach said of Knight. \u201cHe should be the 1A in a tandem, but I believe in him.\u201d<\/p>\n
There wasn\u2019t unanimous optimism about Knight\u2019s future, with some panelists hoping to see a higher compete level in his game. He\u2019s an exceptionally technical goalie, but one coach said he\u2019d like to see him break from that robotic structure more often. Perhaps Chicago\u2019s commitment with the contract extension could give him the freedom to do just that.<\/p>\n
Last year’s ranking: New to Goalie Tiers<\/b><\/p>\n
Tier 4 \u2014 Unproven or Tandem Goalies<\/p>\n
CHI<\/p>\n
24<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Average tier ranking: 3.36<\/b><\/p>\n
Like with Wolf entering last year \u2014 who was also ranked 29th by the panel \u2014 there\u2019s plenty of optimism about Askarov\u2019s future, but some skepticism about how it will go in his rookie season.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe has a really high ceiling,\u201d one goalie coach said. \u201cI just don\u2019t know if it will materialize. He\u2019s got game-changing talent and ability.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI think he\u2019s going to be good, but he has some holes in his game,\u201d one retired goalie said. \u201cHe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u2019s not quite ready for a heavy workload as a rookie.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know if his hands are good enough,\u201d one coach said. \u201cHe has electric feet and athleticism. … He\u2019s probably the most polarizing prospect that I\u2019ve seen come through the league.\u201d<\/p>\n
Last year’s ranking: New to Goalie Tiers<\/b><\/p>\n
Tier 4 \u2014 Unproven or Tandem Goalies<\/p>\n
SJ<\/p>\n
23<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Average tier ranking: 3.36<\/b><\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The panel was split nearly down the middle between Tier 3 and Tier 4 grades for Lankinen. The most common opinion was that he\u2019s an exceptional backup and could be more if he played elsewhere.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s exactly what he needs to be, but I didn\u2019t understand the five-year deal,\u201d one goalie coach said.<\/p>\n
Vancouver signed Lankinen to an extension worth $4.5 million per season. Along with Demko\u2019s new deal, the Canucks will have $13 million committed to the crease starting in 2026.<\/p>\n
Last year’s ranking: New to Goalie Tiers<\/b><\/p>\n
Tier 4 \u2014 Unproven or Tandem Goalies<\/p>\n
VAN<\/p>\n
30<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Average tier ranking: 3.45<\/b><\/p>\n
Coaches and goalies still love Luukkonen\u2019s talent, but as he enters his fourth full season in the NHL, the optimism that he\u2019ll reach his ceiling is beginning to wane.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s had flashes, and I think there are tools there, but I keep waiting, and it just hasn\u2019t come together for a full season yet,\u201d one retired goalie said.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love this guy, but he\u2019s hurt again, already,\u201d 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. \u201cI think he\u2019s amazing, but we just haven\u2019t seen it yet.\u201d<\/p>\n
After a breakout 2023-24, Luukkonen regressed last season. With all of the physical tools to succeed, what\u2019s holding him back?<\/p>\n
\u201cI like the athleticism, and he has improved more than I expected him to, but I think his athleticism is what\u2019s getting him by right now,\u201d one coach said. \u201cIt worries me how he reads the game.\u201d<\/p>\n
Last year’s ranking: Tier 3<\/b><\/p>\n
Tier 4 \u2014 Unproven or Tandem Goalies<\/p>\n
BUF<\/p>\n
26<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Average tier ranking: 3.55<\/b><\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a young goalie that has high compete and work ethic,\u201d one goalie coach said. \u201cHe\u2019s gotten a ton better. Right now, he\u2019s best suited in a backup role as he builds.\u201d<\/p>\n
That may not last long, though. Blue Jackets longtime starter Elvis Merz\u013cikins 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe has the potential to be Columbus\u2019s best option as the season goes along,\u201d a goalie coach said.<\/p>\n
Last year’s ranking: New to Goalie Tiers<\/b><\/p>\n
Tier 4 \u2014 Unproven or Tandem Goalies<\/p>\n
CBJ<\/p>\n
24<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Tier 5 \u2014 1B or Quality Backups<\/p>\n
Lower quality goalies who are better suited as the secondary option in a tandem, or as a pure backup.<\/p>\n
Average tier ranking: 3.82<\/b><\/p>\n
Nothing has been easy for Ersson in the NHL. He wasn\u2019t exactly eased in with the Flyers, starting 49 games as a rookie in 2023-24, and 45 last season. It hasn\u2019t gone particularly well, but the panelists see reason for optimism.<\/p>\n
\u201cI like him, and I think there\u2019s something there,\u201d one goalie coach said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think he\u2019s a starting goalie in the NHL, but he\u2019s probably at the bottom of the starting goalies,\u201d another coach said.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf he was on a good team, he would be a really good backup,\u201d one coach said. \u201cPlay 30 games type of situation.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019d be a good backup, or a good 1B at times,\u201d a retired goalie concurred. \u201cI think he\u2019s miscast as a full-time starter.\u201d<\/p>\n
Last year’s ranking: New to Goalie Tiers<\/b><\/p>\n
Tier 5 \u2014 1B or Quality Backups<\/p>\n
PHI<\/p>\n
25<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Average tier ranking: 3.91<\/b><\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s perfectly slotted where they have him in Washington,\u201d one goalie coach said of Lindgren. \u201cCharlie is a really good goalie. I honestly think he\u2019s probably a 4. He\u2019s a starting goalie on a bottom-tier team, but he\u2019s best suited to be a 1B.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lindgren\u2019s numbers took a step back last season following a stellar 2023-24.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll give him credit as a 3 because he did start for them the year before and he had a pretty good year,\u201d another goalie coach said.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s some randomness to him,\u201d a retired goalie said. \u201cHe\u2019s a nice goalie, but if you\u2019re going to go far, I don\u2019t know if I\u2019d want him playing the majority of games.\u201d<\/p>\n
Last year’s ranking: Tier 3<\/b><\/p>\n
Tier 5 \u2014 1B or Quality Backups<\/p>\n
WSH<\/p>\n
31<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Average tier ranking: 4.09<\/b><\/p>\n
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\u2019ve seen him at the top of his game.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt his best he can be a 2, but he\u2019s just so volatile,\u201d one goalie coach said, \u201cbut he has talent.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Multiple coaches believe far too much blame was placed at Jarry\u2019s feet for the shortcomings in Pittsburgh last season, and that he\u2019d play at a higher level in a different situation.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot putting a guy in any position to succeed, that\u2019s for sure,\u201d one coach said. \u201cHe came back at the end of the year and he played pretty darn good for them.\u201d<\/p>\n
There\u2019s also some excitement for what Arturs Silovs can do in Pittsburgh after being traded from Vancouver.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think Silovs has a great ceiling,\u201d a goalie coach said. \u201cThere\u2019s still a lot of stuff about his game that you\u2019re unsure about. He\u2019s almost like Binnington in that he\u2019s opportunistic. You see a super-talented individual who can turn it on at the right time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Last year’s ranking: Tier 3<\/b><\/p>\n
Tier 5 \u2014 1B or Quality Backups<\/p>\n
PIT<\/p>\n
30<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Average tier ranking: 4.18<\/b><\/p>\n
For the second straight year, Merz\u013cikins slots into the bottom two in these rankings. There were stretches of 2024-25 when he played well, but inconsistency still plagues his game.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s been a bit too volatile over the last few years,\u201d one retired goalie said. \u201cHe\u2019s a starting goalie, but I think he\u2019s a lower-end starting goalie.\u201d<\/p>\n
Several panelists pointed out that Merz\u013cikins\u2019 reactionary style with a lot of moving pieces makes it incredibly difficult to achieve a high level of consistency.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe way he plays, he\u2019s not capable of being consistent,\u201d a retired goalie said. \u201cEven when he\u2019s playing great, it looks like he\u2019s walking a tightrope.\u201d<\/p>\n
Last year’s ranking: Tier 4<\/b><\/p>\n
Tier 5 \u2014 1B or Quality Backups<\/p>\n
CBJ<\/p>\n
31<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Average tier ranking: 4.64<\/b><\/p>\n
Pickard\u2019s 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).<\/p>\n
As much as everyone has enjoyed Pickard\u2019s storybook arc, they\u2019re also realistic about the limitations of his game.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat he did in the playoffs was very admirable,\u201d one retired goalie said. \u201cIt was more than admirable. It was f—ing heroic. He made himself a local legend, but Picks isn\u2019t a starting goalie in the NHL.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pickard received Tier 5 grades from seven of the panelists, with most admiring his playoff performances but admitting they wouldn\u2019t feel confident with him starting more than a handful of games.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a 5, but he\u2019s a 5 with an asterisk because he might be the best one in the league,\u201d a goalie coach said.<\/p>\n
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\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n
Ingram\u2019s best season \u2014 when he saved 17.68 goals above expected over 50 games in 2023-24 \u2014 was considerably better than any of Pickard\u2019s 10 seasons, so the ceiling is certainly higher.<\/p>\n
Last year’s ranking: New to Goalie Tiers<\/b><\/p>\n
Tier 5 \u2014 1B or Quality Backups<\/p>\n
EDM<\/p>\n
33<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
(Illustration: Will Tullos \/ The Athletic; Photos: Sam Hodde, Andr\u00e9 Ringuette, Mark LoMoglio \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Oct 6, 2025<\/p>\n
Connections: Sports Edition<\/p>\n
Spot the pattern. Connect the terms<\/p>\n
Find the hidden link between sports terms<\/p>\n
Play today’s puzzle<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Welcome to 2025-26 Goalie Tiers, in which we anonymously poll some of the brightest minds in goaltending in…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":281788,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[42],"tags":[3115,3103,1720,3113,3107,291,2995,3110,1320,2993,2997,3000,1323,2081,3112,3104,3111,2994,1301,1302,293,3105,3108,1334,1328,2999,62,2996,3106,1304,67,132,68,2082,3114,3116,3109,292],"class_list":{"0":"post-281787","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nhl","8":"tag-anaheim-ducks","9":"tag-boston-bruins","10":"tag-buffalo-sabres","11":"tag-calgary-flames","12":"tag-carolina-hurricanes","13":"tag-chicago-blackhawks","14":"tag-colorado-avalanche","15":"tag-columbus-blue-jackets","16":"tag-dallas-stars","17":"tag-detroit-red-wings","18":"tag-edmonton-oilers","19":"tag-fantasy-hockey","20":"tag-florida-panthers","21":"tag-los-angeles-kings","22":"tag-minnesota-wild","23":"tag-montreal-canadiens","24":"tag-nashville-predators","25":"tag-new-jersey-devils","26":"tag-new-york-islanders","27":"tag-new-york-rangers","28":"tag-nhl","29":"tag-ottawa-senators","30":"tag-philadelphia-flyers","31":"tag-pittsburgh-penguins","32":"tag-san-jose-sharks","33":"tag-seattle-kraken","34":"tag-sports","35":"tag-st-louis-blues","36":"tag-tampa-bay-lightning","37":"tag-toronto-maple-leafs","38":"tag-united-states","39":"tag-unitedstates","40":"tag-us","41":"tag-utah-mammoth","42":"tag-vancouver-canucks","43":"tag-vegas-golden-knights","44":"tag-washington-capitals","45":"tag-winnipeg-jets"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":"Validation failed: Text character limit of 500 exceeded"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/281787","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=281787"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/281787\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/281788"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=281787"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=281787"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=281787"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}