The NHL trade deadline passed last Friday without a single goalie changing jerseys. Teams are now locked into their goalie tandems for the stretch run and will be jockeying for position in what\u2019s shaping up to be a tight playoff chase in both conferences.<\/p>\n
Which teams are set up best in the crease for this final stretch? Today, we will rank them 1-32 based on their top two netminders.<\/p>\n
While statistics obviously are a big factor in this ranking \u2014 results matter, above all \u2014 we will also be considering how these goaltenders have looked on film, and take their career-long performances into consideration. At this point in the season, we have 60-plus games of sample size, so their performance in 2025-26 alone will be weighted heavily, but we can\u2019t completely ignore their priors.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s also worth mentioning that the leaguewide average save percentage this season is down to .896, which is the lowest it has been in 33 years. The numbers that qualify as \u201cgood\u201d goaltending keep dropping by the year as the league becomes more offense-oriented.<\/p>\n
Deciding how much weight to give each of the goalies when evaluating tandems can be tricky. For this exercise, goalies capable of handling a heavy workload are given more weight within their tandem than goalies who play closer to a 50-50 split. In those cases, the impact of the backup is minimized but not ignored entirely. Conversely, tandems with two goalies performing at a high level are boosted in this ranking.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s how every goalie tandem in the league has stacked up in 2025-26:<\/p>\n
1. New York Islanders<\/strong><\/p>\n 24-14-2<\/p>\n<\/td>\n .913<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 28.1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n 13-9-3<\/p>\n<\/td>\n .897<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 6.4<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n No team has been carried by its goaltending more than the Islanders. They\u2019ve allowed the most high-danger chances in the NHL, and Ilya Sorokin has stopped a higher percentage of them than any goalie in the league.<\/p>\n Sorokin\u2019s ridiculous .879 save percentage on high-danger shots is far and away the best. For perspective, the league average on those shots is .813, and yet Sorokin\u2019s save percentage on those shots alone is higher than the total save percentage for 22 goalies this year, including Sergei Bobrovsky (.876), Frederik Andersen (.873) and Jordan Binnington (.868).<\/p>\n Sorokin is putting up video-game numbers, and his film is just as impressive. He\u2019s one of the strongest goalies in the league, especially in his core. The way he maintains his shape as he slides and rotates to stay square to the puck is unmatched. He should be the heavy favorite to win his first Vezina Trophy.<\/p>\n Behind him, David Rittich has been solid. He gives the Islanders a chance to win on most nights, which is all you really ask from a veteran backup, especially with a star such as Sorokin ahead of him.<\/p>\n 2. Minnesota Wild<\/strong><\/p>\n 24-10-6<\/p>\n<\/td>\n .914<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 6.8<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n 14-6-5<\/p>\n<\/td>\n .913<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 3.2<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n There was chatter that Minnesota might shop Jesper Wallstedt at the deadline to improve at center. By opting to keep the rookie, the Wild preserved arguably the most balanced, talented duo of goalies in the NHL.<\/p>\n Filip Gustavsson has been excellent, with only one regulation loss in his last 11 starts. Minnesota has opened up games and traded chances more than in past seasons, and Gustavsson has handled the change really well. He regularly makes saves look easier than they should with his superb positioning.<\/p>\n Wallstedt has cooled since a red-hot start, but he\u2019s still showing the makings of a franchise goalie. The better the opponent, the better Wallstedt has been. He still needs to develop to reach his potential as one of the league\u2019s elite, but being a big-game goalie is an awesome trait to build on.<\/p>\n 3. Colorado Avalanche<\/strong><\/p>\n 24-4-5<\/p>\n<\/td>\n .916<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 12.7<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n 18-7-1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n .908<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 10.2<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n The Colorado Lumber Yard has the highest combined save percentage in the NHL. The team in front of them deserves its fair share of credit for that stat, but there\u2019s no doubt Scott Wedgewood and Mackenzie Blackwood have been a massive part of Colorado\u2019s success.<\/p>\n It will be interesting to see how the Avalanche deploy them in the postseason. With his size and athleticism, Blackwood still has the higher ceiling between the two, but he hasn\u2019t been as sharp since returning from injury in mid-January. Meanwhile, Wedgewood is having a career year. His feet are so quick, and his depth management and angles have been great all season.<\/p>\n 4. Washington Capitals<\/strong><\/p>\n 22-18-4<\/p>\n<\/td>\n .912<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 24.8<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n 8-7-3<\/p>\n<\/td>\n .881<\/p>\n<\/td>\n -3.2<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Last season, Logan Thompson proved what he could do when given the opportunity to be a starter. This season, he\u2019s been given even more responsibility, already having set a new career-high for starts, and he\u2019s responded by elevating his play even further.<\/p>\n Thompson is aggressive and reactive. He surprises shooters with unorthodox save selections and is great when the play breaks down and he has to be an athlete. His 24.8 goals saved above expected are second in the NHL behind only Sorokin (28.1). Only he and Andrei Vasilevskiy have cracked the top five in that stat in both of the last two seasons.<\/p>\n Charlie Lindgren\u2019s numbers are down from a year ago, but he\u2019s still an excellent backup goalie. The dynamic between these two full-right goalies is exactly what every NHL team hopes for. The Capitals\u2019 goaltending department is a well-oiled machine, from top to bottom.<\/p>\n 5. Buffalo Sabres<\/strong><\/p>\n 18-8-3<\/p>\n<\/td>\n .914<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 14.5<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n 15-7-2<\/p>\n<\/td>\n .905<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 4.2<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n The Sabres\u2019 dynamic offensive attack has received most of the praise for the team\u2019s recent stretch, but the goaltending has quietly been just as good. Alex Lyon is playing on his fifth team in six years, and may have found a home in Buffalo.<\/p>\n He plays with aggressive depth and challenges shooters at the top of his crease. That style leads to the streaky, hot-and-cold type of performances we\u2019ve seen from him for years. When he\u2019s reading the play and anticipating well, he gives very little net to shoot at, and this season he\u2019s been doing that consistently.<\/p>\n Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen got off to a slow start and has dealt with injuries, but he\u2019s had some stellar outings since the Olympic break. Right now, the Sabres have two goalies in great form to choose from every night.<\/p>\n 6. Tampa Bay Lightning<\/strong><\/p>\n 29-11-3<\/p>\n<\/td>\n .913<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 17.8<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n 10-9-1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n .884<\/p>\n<\/td>\n -7.7<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n This is a tandem ranking, but Vasilevskiy has been so good that he\u2019s essentially a one-man tandem. The Big Cat has looked as sharp as ever, and should be a lock to be a Vezina finalist for the sixth time in the last nine seasons.<\/p>\n Vasilevskiy has changed his style over the years, becoming quieter and more efficient in his movements. He still has the lateral explosion to make highlight-reel saves, but positions himself so that they aren\u2019t required nearly as often.<\/p>\n Jonas Johansson is a great teammate \u2014 which is an underrated skill for backup goalies \u2014 and uses his size well. His numbers aren\u2019t great, but he does the job the Lightning ask of him, and does it with a $1.25 million cap hit.<\/p>\n 7. Boston Bruins<\/strong><\/p>\n 25-13-3<\/p>\n<\/td>\n .906<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 20.5<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n 11-9-3<\/p>\n<\/td>\n .892<\/p>\n<\/td>\n -2.9<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n No team allows more expected goals per game than the Bruins, but Jeremy Swayman has singlehandedly kept Boston in the Eastern Conference playoff race. The 27-year-old may have disappointed in the first year of his mega extension, but he has lived up to the contract this year.<\/p>\n Swayman\u2019s .905 save percentage isn\u2019t overly impressive at first glance, but the quality of shots he has faced is sky-high, and that\u2019s shown by his 20.7 goals saved above expected (which trail only Sorokin and Thompson).<\/p>\n Joonas Korpisalo hasn\u2019t been able to overcome his environment to quite the same level, but his film is more impressive than his numbers suggest. This tandem is the only reason Boston has a chance at a postseason.<\/p>\n 8. Seattle Kraken<\/strong><\/p>\n 18-15-5<\/p>\n<\/td>\n .903<\/p>\n<\/td>\n -0.3<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n 11-8-3<\/p>\n<\/td>\n .913<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 8.7<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n By most underlying metrics, the Kraken are a bottom-five team in the NHL. They rank last in the NHL in even-strength shot share (45.13 percent) and expected goal share (44.01 percent) behind bottom-feeders such as the New York Rangers, Chicago Blackhawks and Vancouver Canucks.<\/p>\n Yet the Kraken currently sit in the final wild-card spot in the West, and they have their goalies to thank for it. Joey Daccord and Philipp Grubauer\u2019s combined save percentage of .907 is the fifth-highest of any tandem in the league. Daccord isn\u2019t having his strongest season, but his numbers are still well above the league average.<\/p>\n Grubauer\u2019s resurgence has been the major difference for Seattle. He has cooled lately, but he has still been one of the best backups in the league.<\/p>\n 9. Winnipeg Jets<\/strong><\/p>\n 16-17-9<\/p>\n<\/td>\n .902<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 12.3<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n 10-9-1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n .893<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 1.1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n It\u2019s been a down year for Connor Hellebuyck, but only if you ignore the Olympics. All of his NHL numbers are well below his typical, lofty standards, but he\u2019s still around the top 10 in most metrics.<\/p>\n Eric Comrie struggled to hold things together when Hellebuyck missed time for his knee surgery in November, which is why the Jets are this low in the ranking, but when Hellebuyck is healthy and starting more often than any goalie in the world, Comrie is a fine backup.<\/p>\n 10. New York Rangers<\/strong><\/p>\n 20-12-6<\/p>\n<\/td>\n .913<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 16.9<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n 5-15-2<\/p>\n<\/td>\n .892<\/p>\n<\/td>\n -4.1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n The Rangers topped these rankings in December, but Igor Shesterkin\u2019s lengthy absence, combined with Jonathan Quick\u2019s drop off, caused them to slip to 10th this time.<\/p>\n Shesterkin is still one of the most talented goalies in the world, and has looked it since returning from the injury. When he\u2019s able to shoulder his usual workload, Quick is an excellent backup, but at 40, it was unrealistic to expect him to maintain those numbers playing every other night, especially behind a team as bad defensively as the Rangers.<\/p>\n 11. Dallas Stars<\/strong><\/p>\n 26-10-5<\/p>\n<\/td>\n .899<\/p>\n<\/td>\n -2.1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n 14-4-5<\/p>\n<\/td>\n .912<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 13.2<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Jake Oettinger has been serviceable, but he certainly hasn\u2019t played at the Vezina-caliber you might expect, especially considering how good the Stars have defended in front of him.<\/p>\n His overall numbers aren\u2019t impressive, but Oettinger has made some clutch stops near the end of close games, and it\u2019s why he has the third-most wins (26) in the NHL.<\/p>\n Luckily for Dallas, Casey DeSmith has picked up some of the slack. The smooth-skating New Hampshire-native has been one of the better backups in the league for some time, and that\u2019s no different this year. DeSmith ranks ninth in the league with 13.2 GSAx despite making only 23 starts.<\/p>\n 12. Calgary Flames<\/strong><\/p>\n 18-24-3<\/p>\n<\/td>\n .897<\/p>\n<\/td>\n -3.6<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n 7-8-4<\/p>\n<\/td>\n .917<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 16.9<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Devin Cooley has been one of the best goalies in the NHL, which is something no one expected to be written in 2026. The 28-year-old had started only six games in the NHL before this season, but leads the league in save percentage (.917) and goals saved above expected per 60 minutes (0.795).<\/p>\n Cooley hasn\u2019t exactly shouldered the brunt of the workload, with Dustin Wolf\u2019s 44 starts ranking third in the league, but what he\u2019s been able to do in a limited role is still incredible.<\/p>\n It\u2019s even more impressive when you consider the team he\u2019s playing behind. The Flames have been a mess defensively, which is why Wolf is getting a bit of a pass for his sophomore slump. Cooley playing lights-out behind the same team is a cause for a bit of concern, but Wolf\u2019s future is still bright. He has all of the tools.<\/p>\n 13. Utah Mammoth<\/strong><\/p>\n 30-17-2<\/p>\n<\/td>\n .899<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 10.9<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n 4-9-3<\/p>\n<\/td>\n .889<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 0.3<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n It\u2019s time Karel Vejmelka\u2019s name starts getting mentioned along with Hellebucyk and Vasilevskiy in conversations about workhorse starters. The big Czech has started and won more games than any goalie in the NHL this season.<\/p>\n He plays big, doesn\u2019t open holes and forces shooters to score around him. Utah relies on him heavily, and he has delivered. Vitek Van\u011b\u010dek has also been solid for the Mammoth and has gotten better as the season has progressed.<\/p>\n 14. Detroit Red Wings<\/strong><\/p>\n 24-14-2<\/p>\n<\/td>\n .906<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 12.0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n 12-8-5<\/p>\n<\/td>\n .891<\/p>\n<\/td>\n -6.8<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n After a bumpy start, John Gibson has settled in nicely behind the Red Wings. The veteran has been particularly good on mid-range shots from the slot and provides a steadying presence behind a young team fighting for a playoff spot for the first time in years.<\/p>\n Since Dec. 10, Gibson is 18-6-1 with a .927 save percentage, which leads all goalies over that span. Even 13 seasons into his NHL career, he still makes some of the most spectacular saves you\u2019ll see.<\/p>\n 15. Carolina Hurricanes<\/strong><\/p>\n 25-4-1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n .899<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 6.6<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n 10-11-5<\/p>\n<\/td>\n .872<\/p>\n<\/td>\n -7.6<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Brandon Bussi is shattering every \u201cfastest goalie to (fill in the blank) wins\u201d record in the book, with an incredible 25 victories in the first 30 games of his NHL career. He\u2019s athletic and aggressive, and crowds shooters as well as any goalie in the league. It\u2019s a perfect match behind a Hurricanes team that takes time and space away from the opposition.<\/p>\n Frederik Andersen, 36, is clearly slowing down, so Bussi\u2019s emergence has been very necessary for Carolina. He may not be starter-caliber at this point, but Andersen is still a reliable backup who can be trusted in big spots.<\/p>\n 16. Anaheim Ducks<\/strong><\/p>\n 26-14-2<\/p>\n<\/td>\n .893<\/p>\n<\/td>\n -0.2<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n 7-6-1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n .896<\/p>\n<\/td>\n -0.2<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Luk\u00e1\u0161 Dost\u00e1l is another goalie whose film impresses more than his raw numbers. Anaheim plays high-event games with dangerous chances both ways, and the goalies\u2019 statistics suffer because of that.<\/p>\n Still, Dost\u00e1l is one of the biggest reasons the Ducks currently sit atop the Pacific Division. He\u2019s up there with Hellebuyck in terms of play-reading and hockey IQ, and also has the agility to make the flashy backdoor stops.<\/p>\n After Petr Mrazek struggled early in the season, Ville Husso has stepped in and given Anaheim stronger starts in relief of Dost\u00e1l.<\/p>\n 17. Columbus Blue Jackets<\/strong><\/p>\n 20-12-8<\/p>\n<\/td>\n .907<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 13.2<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n 13-9-2<\/p>\n<\/td>\n .884<\/p>\n<\/td>\n -6.2<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Jet Greaves is legit. He\u2019s a great skater with good instincts for when to challenge, and has one of the fastest glove hands in the league. He has run with this opportunity and proven he\u2019s the clear top goalie in Columbus.<\/p>\n Elvis Merz\u013cikins is having another season on par with his last few. He still has great games. They don\u2019t happen as often as you\u2019d like for a starter, but as a backup, he\u2019s above average. His contract is another story, but on the ice, Merz\u013cikins has been good.<\/p>\n 18. Pittsburgh Penguins<\/strong><\/p>\n 14-8-8<\/p>\n<\/td>\n .898<\/p>\n<\/td>\n -1.0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n 8-5-4<\/p>\n<\/td>\n .891<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 6.5<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n The Penguins have made some smart goalie moves and are set in the crease, both in the present and future. They traded for Arturs \u0160ilovs over the summer, and he has played really well. They also unloaded Tristan Jarry\u2019s contract to Edmonton in exchange for Stuart Skinner, who has also played well and gives the club more flexibility as a pending free agent.<\/p>\n And then there\u2019s prospect Sergei Murashov, who isn\u2019t part of this ranking but is tearing up the AHL and establishing himself as the clear franchise goalie of the future.<\/p>\n 19. Chicago Blackhawks<\/strong><\/p>\n 16-18-8<\/p>\n<\/td>\n .908<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 10.6<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n 6-10-3<\/p>\n<\/td>\n .876<\/p>\n<\/td>\n -6.1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Spencer Knight led the entire NHL in GSAx for the first month-plus of the season, but those numbers have slowly been chipped away at while playing behind one of the worst defensive teams in hockey. Knight has still impressed on film. There is a noticeable calmness and patience to his game. He trusts his angles and doesn\u2019t bite on fakes because he\u2019s confident in his net coverage.<\/p>\n Arvid S\u00f6derblom hasn\u2019t had as much success. He has the physical tools and shows flashes of brilliance, sliding around the crease and covering the bottom of the net exceptionally well. He also gets caught deep in his crease on occasion, and the numbers haven\u2019t been good.<\/p>\n Another bright spot for Chicago is how Drew Commesso has looked in limited opportunities. He has the pedigree and the skills, and has now shown glimpses of his potential in the NHL.<\/p>\n 20. San Jose Sharks<\/strong><\/p>\n 19-17-3<\/p>\n<\/td>\n .886<\/p>\n<\/td>\n -9.6<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n 11-9-3<\/p>\n<\/td>\n .900<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 0.5<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Yaroslav Askarov\u2019s stats have slipped quite a bit over the second half of the season. It\u2019s his first time experiencing the grind of a full NHL season, and he isn\u2019t the most consistent goalie yet. That, while playing behind a team as porous as the Sharks, can lead to blow-up games that really hurt season-long stats.<\/p>\n Having said that, on nights when Askarov is at the top of his game, he still looks like one of the best in the world. His hands still have room for improvement, but he covers the bottom of the net at a world-class level with his excellent flexibility and edgework.<\/p>\n Alex Nedeljkovic has been steady for the Sharks all season. The veteran is an ideal backup for Askarov, which is why San Jose recently signed him to a two-year extension.<\/p>\n 21. Florida Panthers<\/strong><\/p>\n 23-19-1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n .876<\/p>\n<\/td>\n -12.2<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n 9-10-2<\/p>\n<\/td>\n .901<\/p>\n<\/td>\n -0.5<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n As is the case with most of the Florida Panthers, it hasn\u2019t been a good season for Sergei Bobrovsky. He\u2019s on pace to set new career lows in both save percentage and GSAx, despite still looking like his usual, dynamic self on film. Fatigue from the last three runs to the Stanley Cup Final likely is setting in, and the fact that he\u2019s played the fourth-most games in the NHL at 37 hasn\u2019t helped.<\/p>\n Daniil Tarasov has looked like a better goalie than he did in Columbus. He presents well to the shooter and stays connected in his stance. Sitting behind Bobrovsky may be the best thing to happen to his development. He has shown real signs that he could be the heir apparent for the Panthers.<\/p>\n 22. Los Angeles Kings<\/strong><\/p>\n 15-13-10<\/p>\n<\/td>\n .897<\/p>\n<\/td>\n -1.2<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n 11-9-5<\/p>\n<\/td>\n .903<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 6.2<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n The Kings\u2019 goaltending department of Bill Ranford and Mike Buckley \u2014 who also coached Team USA\u2019s goalies at the Olympics \u2014 has done an exceptional job over the years of identifying undervalued goalies and helping them reach their potential.<\/p>\n They did it with Darcy Kuemper last season, trading for his contract, which was viewed as bloated after a down year in Washington, and helping him return to form. He was a finalist for the Vezina and stood on his head in the playoffs.<\/p>\n This season, Kuemper hasn\u2019t been quite as good, but Anton Forsberg has picked up some of the slack. He\u2019s looking more composed than he did in Ottawa and is looking like yet another success story.<\/p>\n 23. New Jersey Devils<\/strong><\/p>\n 19-15-1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n .888<\/p>\n<\/td>\n -6.7<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n 12-15-1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n .907<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 6.7<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n It hasn\u2019t been the most consistent season for Jacob Markstr\u00f6m, but it appears the Olympics did wonders for his confidence and form. He ended up being Sweden\u2019s No. 1 goalie in Italy, and has looked great ever since.<\/p>\n Markstr\u00f6m will give up the occasional soft goal because his structure isn\u2019t as uniform as most goalies at this level, but his combination of size and athleticism is rare and allows him to make saves many goalies simply can\u2019t.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Jake Allen continues to be one of the most reliable backups in the NHL. Not only is he able to perform well with limited starts, but he\u2019s also capable of handling the net when Markstr\u00f6m misses time.<\/p>\n 24. Philadelphia Flyers<\/strong><\/p>\n 20-11-6<\/p>\n<\/td>\n .903<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 9.0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n 9-10-5<\/p>\n<\/td>\n .859<\/p>\n<\/td>\n -17.6<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Dan Vlada\u0159 has been a stalwart for the Flyers this season. The giant, Czech netminder appears to have finally put it all together in his sixth NHL season. He has already surpassed his previous career high in starts and is handling the new role well. Vlada\u0159\u2019s lateral movement looks smoother and quicker than in years past, maximizing his size. He\u2019s arguably been the most important player on the team.<\/p>\n Sam Ersson\u2019s struggles are odd. He played admirably as Philadelphia\u2019s starter over the past couple of seasons, but most in the goalie industry felt he was better suited as a strong backup. Now he\u2019s in that role \u2014 behind a team that defends better \u2014 and his numbers have all plummeted.<\/p>\n 25. Montreal Canadiens<\/strong><\/p>\n 21-6-4<\/p>\n<\/td>\n .892<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 1.1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n 10-8-4<\/p>\n<\/td>\n .872<\/p>\n<\/td>\n -4.9<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n The Canadiens\u2019 tandem of Jakub Dobe\u0161 and Sam Montembeault ranks 28th in the league with a combined save percentage of only .883, but on film, they\u2019ve been better. Dobe\u0161 has had a bit of a roller-coaster season, alternating between stellar outings and disastrous ones, but he\u2019s had more highs than lows lately.<\/p>\n Statistically, this has been the worst season of Montembeault\u2019s seven-year NHL career. He has looked just a fraction of a second behind the play at times. He\u2019s playing a lot less than he\u2019s used to, which could be a factor.<\/p>\n 26. Nashville Predators<\/strong><\/p>\n 23-19-6<\/p>\n<\/td>\n .893<\/p>\n<\/td>\n -10.7<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n 6-8-2<\/p>\n<\/td>\n .888<\/p>\n<\/td>\n -4.8<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Visually, Juuse Saros still looks like an elite goalie. His footwork and speed maneuvering around the crease are world-class. And yet, his numbers are terrible for a second straight season.<\/p>\n The Predators are partially to blame, but this could also be a lesson in why some teams shy away from undersized goalies. When they\u2019re on their game, they can be as good as any of the 6-foot-4 monsters. But when they\u2019re off their game, fewer pucks hit them by happenstance, and the statistics can crater more easily.<\/p>\n Saros and Wolf are examples of that this season. They\u2019re both incredibly talented and capable of being elite, but smaller goalies playing behind bad teams have no margin for error.<\/p>\n 27. Vegas Golden Knights<\/strong><\/p>\n 6-6-3<\/p>\n<\/td>\n .859<\/p>\n<\/td>\n -15.5<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n 16-9-6<\/p>\n<\/td>\n .893<\/p>\n<\/td>\n -0.9<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n This has been a disastrous season for Adin Hill, who is in the first year of a six-year, $37.5 million contract extension he signed last March. He started slowly, then got hurt and missed two and a half months, and hasn\u2019t quite looked himself since returning.<\/p>\n Hill isn\u2019t the most technically precise goalie, but he\u2019s big, athletic and competes with traffic in front of him. He has looked passive at times, which is very unlike him. He has elevated his game in the playoffs in each of the last three seasons, and Vegas desperately needs that to happen again.<\/p>\n Akira Schmid has been solid but unspectacular in relief. The calm, composed Swiss goalie has been the one constant in net for Vegas, with Hill and Carter Hart both going in and out of the lineup.<\/p>\n 28. Toronto Maple Leafs<\/strong><\/p>\n 13-11-4<\/p>\n<\/td>\n .905<\/p>\n<\/td>\n -4.5<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n 7-9-3<\/p>\n<\/td>\n .890<\/p>\n<\/td>\n -9.6<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n This duo was a pleasant surprise for Toronto in 2024-25, outplaying most tandems, but has crashed this year \u2014 along with a Maple Leafs team that took a major step back.<\/p>\n Both Joseph Woll and Anthony Stolarz have dealt with injuries. In actuality, the best goalie in Toronto this season has been the young Swede, Dennis Hildeby. At 6-foot-7, he is the tallest goalie in the NHL, but moves like a much smaller man. With Woll and Stolarz both signed for the next several seasons, it will be interesting to see if the Maple Leafs shuffle things this offseason to give Hildeby more opportunity going forward.<\/p>\n 29. St. Louis Blues<\/strong><\/p>\n 9-18-6<\/p>\n<\/td>\n .868<\/p>\n<\/td>\n -23.0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n 16-11-4<\/p>\n<\/td>\n .905<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 6.3<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Jordan Binnington played relatively well for Team Canada at the Olympics, and it has carried over with two solid starts for the Blues since returning, but he still ranks last out of 92 goalies to play in the NHL this season in goals saved above expected, and near the bottom in save percentage. It\u2019s just not Binnington\u2019s year.<\/p>\n Joel Hofer, on the other hand, has turned around after a slow start and is playing perhaps the best hockey of his career over the last three months. He has a .920 save percentage over his last 24 appearances, and has looked great. Hofer is big, technically sound, and is still only 25. He\u2019s making a strong case to be the Blues\u2019 No. 1 goalie as soon as next season.<\/p>\n 30. Vancouver Canucks<\/strong><\/p>\n 7-21-5<\/p>\n<\/td>\n .877<\/p>\n<\/td>\n -11.2<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n 4-5-2<\/p>\n<\/td>\n .899<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 2.4<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n The stat that best sums up the Canucks\u2019 goaltending this season is that Thatcher Demko leads the team in wins despite the fact that he hasn\u2019t played since January and that his last victory came on Dec. 19.<\/p>\n Demko struggled with several injuries and underwent season-ending hip surgery in January, and his three-year, $25.5 million contract extension doesn\u2019t even kick in until next season.<\/p>\n Kevin Lankinen, who is a solid backup, has struggled to carry the load with Demko out. It shows why many were shocked at the five-year, $22.5 million deal the Canucks signed him to last February. On the bright side, it looks like the Canucks may have something in Nikita Tolopilo.<\/p>\n 31. Edmonton Oilers<\/strong><\/p>\n 9-6-1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n .891<\/p>\n<\/td>\n -2.0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n 7-5-1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n .863<\/p>\n<\/td>\n -5.9<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n The Oilers have started four different goalies this season, and none have a save percentage north of .900 or positive goals saved above expected. Edmonton\u2019s defending certainly plays its part in that, but the goalies haven\u2019t played well enough themselves either.<\/p>\n Since he was traded to Edmonton, Tristan Jarry has posted a .900 save percentage or better in only four of his 14 starts. For comparison, he did it eight times in 14 starts with the Penguins prior to the trade.<\/p>\n Edmonton needs to defend better, but the Skinner-for-Jarry swap does not appear to be the answer the Oilers were looking for in net.<\/p>\n 32. Ottawa Senators<\/strong><\/p>\n 19-8-7<\/p>\n<\/td>\n .884<\/p>\n<\/td>\n -19.0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n 8-10-1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n .860<\/p>\n<\/td>\n -17.3<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Ottawa\u2019s Linus Ullmark and Leevi Meril\u00e4inen have combined for -36.3 GSAx. Not only is that the worst in the NHL, but it\u2019s also more than twice as bad as the next closest tandem (Binnington and Hofer combine for -16.7 GSAx).<\/p>\n The Senators have been one of the best defensive teams in hockey this season. The biggest reason they\u2019re currently outside a playoff position is the goaltending. Ullmark has picked it up lately, but he\u2019s still slow reacting to rebounds at times, and his .773 save percentage on high-danger shots is among the worst in the league.<\/p>\n If the Senators are going to make a run at the playoffs and beyond, it will require a major turnaround in the crease.<\/p>\n \u2014 All GSAx data via MoneyPuck<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The NHL trade deadline passed last Friday without a single goalie changing jerseys. Teams are now locked into…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":650253,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[42],"tags":[3115,3103,1720,3113,3107,291,2995,3110,1320,2993,2997,1323,2081,3112,3104,3111,2994,1301,1302,293,3105,3108,1334,1328,2999,62,2996,3106,1304,67,132,68,2082,3114,3116,3109,292],"class_list":{"0":"post-650252","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-florida-panthers","20":"tag-los-angeles-kings","21":"tag-minnesota-wild","22":"tag-montreal-canadiens","23":"tag-nashville-predators","24":"tag-new-jersey-devils","25":"tag-new-york-islanders","26":"tag-new-york-rangers","27":"tag-nhl","28":"tag-ottawa-senators","29":"tag-philadelphia-flyers","30":"tag-pittsburgh-penguins","31":"tag-san-jose-sharks","32":"tag-seattle-kraken","33":"tag-sports","34":"tag-st-louis-blues","35":"tag-tampa-bay-lightning","36":"tag-toronto-maple-leafs","37":"tag-united-states","38":"tag-unitedstates","39":"tag-us","40":"tag-utah-mammoth","41":"tag-vancouver-canucks","42":"tag-vegas-golden-knights","43":"tag-washington-capitals","44":"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\/650252","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=650252"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/650252\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/650253"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=650252"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=650252"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=650252"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}GoalieRecordSave %GSAx<\/tr>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n GoalieRecordSave %GSAx<\/tr>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n GoalieRecordSave %GSAx<\/tr>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n GoalieRecordSave %GSAx<\/tr>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n GoalieRecordSave %GSAx<\/tr>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n GoalieRecordSave %GSAx<\/tr>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n GoalieRecordSave %GSAx<\/tr>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n GoalieRecordSave %GSAx<\/tr>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n GoalieRecordSave %GSAx<\/tr>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n GoalieRecordSave %GSAx<\/tr>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n GoalieRecordSave %GSAx<\/tr>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n GoalieRecordSave %GSAx<\/tr>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n GoalieRecordSave %GSAx<\/tr>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n GoalieRecordSave %GSAx<\/tr>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n GoalieRecordSave %GSAx<\/tr>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n GoalieRecordSave %GSAx<\/tr>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n GoalieRecordSave %GSAx<\/tr>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n GoalieRecordSave %GSAx<\/tr>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n GoalieRecordSave %GSAx<\/tr>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n GoalieRecordSave %GSAx<\/tr>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n GoalieRecordSave %GSAx<\/tr>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n GoalieRecordSave %GSAx<\/tr>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n GoalieRecordSave %GSAx<\/tr>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n GoalieRecordSave %GSAx<\/tr>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n GoalieRecordSave %GSAx<\/tr>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n GoalieRecordSave %GSAx<\/tr>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n GoaliesRecordSave %GSAx<\/tr>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n GoalieRecordSave %GSAx<\/tr>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n GoalieRecordSave %GSAx<\/tr>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n GoaliesRecordSave %GSAx<\/tr>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n GoalieRecordSave %GSAx<\/tr>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n GoalieRecordSave %GSAx<\/tr>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n