NHL’s Top 10 Goalies for 2026-27 – Preseason Update

At the beginning and midway point of every season, The Hockey Writers put together lists of the top 10 players for each position, as well as coaches. It goes without saying that it is a very tough list to do given how subjective it is, but nevertheless, we are going to take another shot at it, with this list ranking the top 10 goalies in the NHL entering the 2026-27 season.

These lists are a combination of how goalies have fared throughout their respective careers, though their performance through the 2025-26 season also plays a big factor. While the top-tier names always seem to stay in place, there are always newcomers who seem to earn spots on this list. That has been the case here once again. With that said, here are the top 10 goalies in the NHL entering the 2026-27 campaign.

10. Jakub Dobes

For some, seeing Jakub Dobes’ name on this list may seem a tad ridiculous. After all, the 25-year-old has only logged 59 games at the NHL level, 43 of which came this past season. On top of that, his 2.78 goals against average (GAA) and his .901 save percentage (SV%) appear rather average at best.

With Dobes, however, a deeper dive into his stats show just how good he was last season. The Czech goaltender finished ninth amongst all NHL goalies last season with a 31.47 goals saved above expected (GSAx). That, paired with an excellent playoff performance, suggests he’s just scratching the surface on what could be a very bright future.

9. Scott Wedgewood

Once thought of as nothing more than a journeyman goaltender, Scott Wedgewood has emerged as a starter for the Colorado Avalanche. It remains to be seen whether it was simply just an incredible season or a sign of what’s to come, but nobody can deny just how good the 34-year-old was in 2025-26.

Though Wedgewood split the net nearly equally with MacKenzie Blackwood last season, he was the far superior of the two, posting a 2.02 GAA along with a .921 SV%. As a result, he handled most of the postseason work for the Avs, and was even being viewed as a dark horse candidate to crack Canada’s roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics.

8. Jesper Wallstedt

Like Wedgewood, Jesper Wallstedt didn’t serve as a clear-cut starter for the Minnesota Wild last season. In fact, he actually played just 35 games, serving as somewhat of a backup to Filip Gustavsson. That completely changed by the time the playoffs got underway, leading to many believing Wallstedt is the main guy moving forward for the Wild.

Other Positional Rankings

• Centers
• Left Wingers
• Right Wingers
• Defensemen

While Gustavsson is a very good goalie in his own right, Wallstedt, who was selected 20th overall in 2021, really appears to be coming into his own. He put up a 2.58 GAA along with a .916 SV% last season as a rookie, showing just how much potential he has moving forward.

7. Jake Oettinger

Jake Oettinger hasn’t blossomed into the category of truly elite goalies like most thought he was on his way to becoming, but he’s still been one of the best for several years. That said, the 27-year-old wasn’t at his best in 2025-26, posting a .899 SV% through 54 regular season games.

While Oettinger wasn’t flat-out horrendous this past season, it was a step in the wrong direction after a strong 2024-25 campaign. He’s got all the skill in the world to put up Vezina Trophy-like numbers, but another season like we saw in 2025-26 could see him fall off this list entirely.

6. Logan Thompson

There may not be a goalie more underrated in the NHL today than Logan Thompson. The undrafted 29-year-old was exceptional during his time with the Vegas Golden Knights, and has been arguably even better with the Washington Capitals over the past two seasons.

Thompson, who played in a career-high 58 games this past season, finished the year with a 2.44 GAA and a .912 SV%. Even more impressive, he was first amongst all NHL netminders with a 61.32 GSAx. Another season like that will undoubtedly see him crawl into the top five of this list, if not higher.

5. Jeremy Swayman

The Boston Bruins were in desperate need of a bounce-back season from Jeremy Swayman in 2025-26, and he certainly delivered. Coming off what was the worst season of his career, the American-born netminder responded with a 2.55 GAA and a .908 SV% in 55 games. He also ranked third in GSAx at 52.27.

That 2025-26 season is exactly what fans have come to expect from Swayman, who is undoubtedly one of the best goalies in the world. After finishing third in Vezina Trophy voting this past season, the 27-year-old will be looking to win the prestigious award for the first time in his career in 2026-27.

4. Igor Shesterkin

The New York Rangers have been a mess as of late, but that hasn’t stopped Igor Shesterkin from continuing on as one of the best goalies in the world. The 30-year-old had another great season in what’s been an incredible career thus far, posting a 2.50 GAA and a .912 SV% in 51 appearances.

Shesterkin finished the 2025-26 season fifth amongst all goalies with a 35.54 GSAx, while his 22.2 goals saved above average (GSAA) ranked third. While it remains to be seen whether the Rangers can get things back on track in 2026-27, it’s a near guarantee that Shesterkin will continue to be among the league’s best.

3. Connor Hellebuyck

The 2025-26 season made Connor Hellebuyck look a little bit human, after all. After winning back-to-back Vezina Trophies in 2023-24 and 2024-25, Hellebuyck largely disappointed with the Winnipeg Jets this past season, posting a 2.86 GAA along with a .895 SV%. Statistically speaking, it was by far and away his worst NHL season to date.

In Hellebuyck’s defence, he reminded everybody just how good he is at the 2026 Winter Olympics, as he starred for the US in their gold medal victory. A bounce-back is all but certain, though which team that will be for remains to be seen, as the 33-year-old recently went public with a trade request.

2. Ilya Sorokin

While Ilya Sorokin certainly can’t be classified as underrated, it does feel as though his career has been a little overshadowed playing for the struggling New York Islanders. The 31-year-old has been an elite goalie for the organization since entering the NHL in 2020-21, but you can’t help but wonder how much better his stats could be playing behind a better roster.

The 2025-26 season saw Sorokin finish second in Vezina Trophy voting after posting a 2.68 GAA and a .906 SV% through 55 appearances. Meanwhile, his 52.29 GSAx was second in the league, indicating just how valuable he was to the Islanders. He’s finished eighth or better in Vezina Trophy voting in each of the past five seasons, and should be right in the mix again in 2026-27.

1. Andrei Vasilevskiy

Those who thought Andrei Vasilevskiy may be on the decline after a disappointing 2023-24 season have been proven wrong. The 32-year-old has gotten right back to being his elite self in each of the past two seasons, the most recent of which saw him win his second Vezina Trophy.

Vasilevskiy appeared in 58 games this past season, posting a 2.27 GAA along with a .912 SV%. He also recorded a pristine 39-15-4 record, while finishing fourth among all goalies with a 39.93 GSAx. With another lengthy offseason to both recover and train, fans should expect another phenomenal season from Vasilevskiy in 2026-27.