Ranking the NHL’s 32 Starting Goalies – Preseason Update

There’s no argument: we’re in a golden age of goaltending in the National Hockey League right now, but it’s a world of haves and have-nots. The gap between the greats in the game and everybody else feels bigger than it ever has before, and teams that don’t have one of the reliable studs are often scrounging for help (or suffering under an unwise contract handed out too soon).

It’s also a world where the hot hand dominates. Rookies can suddenly look unbeatable, and the goaltending greats can suddenly look like a sieve. We often now see teams make it deep into the playoffs relying heavily on a goalie who wasn’t their starter to start the postseason. Occasionally, that goalie wasn’t even on the roster entering the season.

At The Hockey Writers, we evaluate goaltenders several times a season, accounting for the instability of the position. Goalies change teams and lose their jobs more frequently than many others. Because of changes like that, we regrade goalies regularly. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the methodology for our evaluation.

Methodology

Because of the fleeting nature of goaltender success, our rankings prioritize numbers from the most recent season, in this case, the 2025-26 season. With that said, it would be silly to ignore history or overemphasize a three-month run. Where two goalies are more or less equal, their track record will become a factor in determining a final position. Goalies who have performed at a high level for longer will receive the benefit of the doubt, whereas goalies with great numbers who are relative newcomers may sink a spot or two accordingly. With that said, in this article, you will see many top goalies from recent years further down than you might expect.

A number of statistics are considered. Two metrics were given primary emphasis:

• Save Percentage (SV%): The percentage of shots on net that a goalie stops from becoming a goal
• Goals-Against Average (GAA): The average number of goals the goaltender allows per 60 minute game
• Goalie Point Shares (GPS): An attempt to calculate a goalie’s impact on his team’s place in the standings, where the final number reflects the number of standings points the goalie helped his team gain (not dissimilar from baseball’s “wins above replacement,” aka WAR)
• Quality Start Percentage (QS%): Quality starts are those starts where the goalie’s save percentage surpasses the average save percentage from the league this season. The QS% takes the percentage of games started that are “quality.” Generally, 53% or .530 is considered “average” in this stat. Anything below 50% is poor, and anything above 60% is outstanding.
• Really Bad Starts (RBS): More or less the inverse of a quality start, these are games where the goalie’s SV% doesn’t surpass 85%
• Goals Saved Above Average (GSAA): An advanced statistic measuring a goalie’s performance against league average on the same number of shots. The higher your GSAA, the better your season has been.

Of these statistics, QS% and GSAA have been given particular emphasis, but all will be considered in evaluating goaltenders.

Keep in mind that these rankings are, by nature, fleeting. A few goaltenders, especially those near the top, have cemented their place in goaltending history. But many of these goalies are still fighting to build a reputation. So, without further ado, let’s see who shakes out as the best goaltenders as we enter the 2026-27 NHL season.

32) Kevin Lankinen: Vancouver Canucks

Previous Rank: Unranked

The ongoing injury saga of Thatcher Demko isn’t coming to an end anytime soon. And the question marks around their one-time franchise goaltender led the Vancouver Canucks to offer a five-year, $22.5 million contract to Kevin Lankinen, who was playing very well for them at the time. After one season of that contract, it seems like a classic case of investing in a goaltender at the wrong time. Nothing went right for anyone in Vancouver last season, and Lankinen was dreadful, with an .876 SV%, 3.7 GSAA, and -25.6 GSAA, all the lowest mark of any goalie in the 32 we’ve identified as “starters.” One would assume it can’t get much worse for Vancouver this season. Then again, in the immortal words of Mick McCarthy, “it can.”

31) Yaroslav Askarov: San Jose Sharks

Previous Rank: 28

Last season. Yaroslav Askarov helped a very plucky young San Jose Sharks team surprise a lot of pundits and contend for a playoff spot in the anemic Pacific Division. The 23-year-old has been hockey’s goaltender of the future for quite a while, and his first season as a consistent NHL starter predictably had its ups and downs. But he helped keep the Sharks in a hunt that no one expected them to be late into the season. While his numbers weren’t great, most still view Askarov as a promising young goaltender. Although that hasn’t kept the Sharks from getting involved in the ongoing Connor Hellebuyck saga.

30) Sergei Bobrovsky: Toronto Maple Leafs

Previous Rank: 29

The Toronto Maple Leafs have made some questionable free agent signings in recent seasons, and their decision to add Sergei Bobrovsky on a three-year, $21 million deal this summer certainly numbers among them. There’s no doubt Bobrovsky is a future Hockey Hall of Fame inductee, and one of the most accomplished goaltenders of his generation. But at age 38, it’s doubtful that he can help turn around a Maple Leafs franchise that performed poorly enough last season to win the draft lottery. And the $7 million price tag he’ll carry into his 40s doesn’t help, either. Perhaps it’s a good fit and Bobrovsky will climb back up these rankings – he certainly has surprised before. But right now, it just seems like another odd decision by MLSE and the management in the Six.

29) Stuart Skinner: Winnipeg Jets

Previous Rank: 25

Technically speaking, the Winnipeg Jets still have arguably the best goaltender on the face of the planet on their roster. Unfortunately, it’s doubtful Connor Hellebuyck will ever play another game for the franchise. That’s how tense matters have become between the team and the player as the gold medal netminder demanded a trade earlier this summer. Now, the Jets have brought in Stuart Skinner to fill his massive skates. No one in his right mind could expect Skinner to replace Hellebuyck, but it might be the perfect environment for Skinner to make a comeback in the NHL and put the past few rough seasons behind him.

28) Lukáš Dostál: Anaheim Ducks

Previous Rank: 22

The Anaheim Ducks were the surprise team of the 2025-26 season, making the playoffs for the first time since 2018 and shocking the Edmonton Oilers by eliminating them in the first round. And while Lukáš Dostál didn’t set the world on fire, he didn’t hurt the team much either. His .888 SV% and GAA of 3.10 weren’t fantastic, and he was worse in the playoffs. But he was a workhorse, also been a workhorse, starting 55 games in the regular season. He also earned a spot on Czechia’s Olympic roster. Dostál seems to have a bright NHL future, but a big bounceback season from him could be the key to turning the Ducks from surprise playoff team to a Stanley Cup hopeful.

27) Artūrs Šilovs: Pittsburgh Penguins

Previous Rank: Unranked

After the short-lived Skinner era in Pittsburgh, the Penguins have a few options that could take the starter’s net, but Artūrs Šilovs seems like the front runner right now. The 25-year-old Latvian played 38 games for Pittsburgh last season, and his numbers weren’t inspiring: a .887 SV%, 3.07 GAA, -8.3 GSAA. But he played exceptionally well in three playoff starts, with a .939 SV% and 1.52 GAA, along with 3.6 GSAA. If he can bring anything close to that level of performance this season, it’ll be a steal for the Penguins. If not, it will be easy to move on, as Šilovs is in the final season of his current deal (though he’ll remain a RFA at season’s end).

26) Jacob Markström: Florida Panthers

Previous Rank: 30

Jacob Markström probably wins the trophy of the most interest goaltender reclamation project of the season. The New Jersey Devils surrendered a haul for him just two seasons ago, thinking he was their solution. But after two disappointing seasons in the Garden State, new general manager Sunny Mehta decided to cut bait and send him to the Florida Panthers, who let Bobrovsky walk in free agency.

The Panthers are a well-run organization and expect to continue to be Stanley Cup contenders for a few seasons to come. They’re making a big bet that something of the Vezina runner up from 2021-22 is still inside the now-36-year-old Swedish netminder. If they’re right, they’ve got him at a managable cap hit for this season and next. But if Markström continues to play like he did in New Jersey, it could be a major impediment to the Panthers returning to the promised land.

25) Tristan Jarry: Edmonton Oilers

Previous Rank: 23

The Edmonton Oilers tried to make Tristan Jarry their savior in net last season, and it failed magnificently. In 16 starts, he had an .857 SV%, 3.86 GAA, and minus-16.6 GSAA. The season ended with their most embarrassing playoff performance in recent memory. Over the summer, Edmonton signed Frederik Andersen as their stopgap solution, but he is struggling to come back from another of the many lingering injuries that have plagued him for years. When the season starts, it will be Jarry again, and the Oilers and general manager Stan Bowman, who have seemingly been “one average goaltender away” from a Stanley Cup for half a decade now, will continue to have no answers.

24) Carter Hart: Vegas Golden Knights

Previous Rank: Unranked

Carter Hart’s return to hockey last season wasn’t without controversy, but on the ice, he was a fine netminder. He had a .906 SV%, 2.80 GAA, and .560 QS%, along with 2.3 GSAA. He’s still only 28 years old, and looks to have a long career ahead of him. His contract with the Vegas Golden Knights ends after this season, but it will be interesting to see whether a franchise that has proven it will do anything in the pursuit of victory re-signs him or looks elsewhere long term.

23) Linus Ullmark: Ottawa Senators

Previous Rank: 26

The less said about the extracurricular nonsense surrounding Linus Ullmark last season, the better. Suffice to say that the Lugnvik, Sweden native had a tough year, and it reflected in his results on the ice. His .891 SV% and minus-5.8 GSAA, along with ten RBS, had the Senators just outside the playoffs. On the bright side, Ullmark looked much stronger down the stretch. If he continues to play at his best, the Senators should have a shot to climb back into playoff contention this season, though they’ll have to do it without former captain Brady Tkachuk.

22) Juuse Saros: Nashville Predators

Previous Rank: 17

It’s sometimes hard to separate a goaltender’s decline from that of his team. And we’ll see plenty of examples later on this list of goalies who have had resurgences when they got moved to a new home. With that in mind, it might be time for the Nashville Predators to consider trading Juuse Saros, because his continuing decline isn’t helping either him or the franchise.

Once viewed as one of the best goaltenders in the NHL, Saros has slipped substantially over the last two seasons, and now, he’s suffering from overwork. He faced more shots and allowed more goals than any other netminder last season, although he also made the most saves. The Predators seem unable or unwilling to commit to a direction. A decision about Saros’s future would be a significant part of building a better future in Music City.

21) Darcy Kuemper: Los Angeles King

Previous Rank: 16

Once viewed as a lost cause with the Washington Capitals, Darcy Kuemper has had a real resurgence since they traded him to the Los Angeles Kings. Though his first season was far better than his second, Kuemper still performed far better than he did in Washington, and he even earned a spot on Team Canada. At 36, the man affectionately known as “The Milkman” is in the middle of one of the best eras of his very underrated career. Now, the Kings just want Kuemper to help them make some noise in the playoffs.

20) Joey Daccord: Seattle Kraken

Previous Rank: 18

Last season was the first of a five-year, $25 million contract with Seattle for Joey Daccord, and it seems that the Kraken might finally have found the solution to the goaltending issues that have plagued them throughout the history of their franchise. Was he phenomenal last season? No, but he was solid enough. His .896 SV% and 3.03 GAA are middle of the pack, and he’s managed a .522 QS% and 0.6 GSAA. Daccord just turned 30, meaning the contract should carry him through much of his prime. There are plenty of other questions to answer in the Emerald City, but finally, it looks like goaltending might not be one of them.

19) Brandon Bussi: Carolina Hurricanes

Previous Rank: Unranked

Even if you’re a relatively unproven 28-year-old goaltender entering his second NHL season, when you slam the door shut in Game Six of the Stanley Cup Final with a towering shutout, you desrve a decent place on a list like this. Brandon Bussi doesn’t have a long resume, and the Carolina Hurricanes have a history of moving through goaltending options pretty quickly – though much of that was due to Andersen’s injury issues.

Now, entering a season where they’ll be defending Stanley Cup Champions, Bussi seems primed to be the first option in net – and at just $1.9 million per season for the next three seasons, the Hurricanes would love him to be their cost-effective long-term solution between the pipes.

18) Jake Allen: New Jersey Devils

Previous Rank: Unranked

Jake Allen’s story is almost the opposite of Bussi’s. His career spans nearly a decade and a half, and he once lost his job to a young rookie who would go on to win a Stanley Cup. But through it all, Allen has remained the consummate professional, and over his last two seasons with the New Jersey Devils, he has consistenly been the better option than Markström, who the team decided to trade. With Allen, Nico Daws, and Dave Rittich in house now, the Fredericton, New Brunswick native seems to be the favorite to start entering his age 36 season. If he continues to perform like he has the last two seasons, he will turn a lot of heads and valdiate the Devils’ faith in him.

17) Karel Vejmelka: Utah Mammoth

Previous Rank: 11

The Utah Mammoth have found a gem in Karel Vejmelka, who was an absolute workhorse last season, leading the NHL in minutes. The Trebic, Czechia native had a .896 SV%, 2.75 GAA, .524 QS%, and 0.8 GSAA. He’s already justifying the long extension Utah gave him in 2025. He helped the Mammoth reach the playoffs in just their second season in their new hometown, and now, entering the 2026-27 campaign, both Vejmelka and Utah have their sights set on even bigger goals.

Previous Rank: 24

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was good enough to get the Buffalo Sabres to the postseason last season for the first time since 2011 – and really, that ought to be good enough. But it didn’t stop Buffalo’s front office for almost pulling off a trade for Hellebuyck at the draft. No one can fault an organization that believes they’re close to contending for trying to acquire the best goaltender in the world, but Luukkonen is a pretty decent consolation prize if they don’t end up pulling it off ahead of the season. He had a .909 SV%, 2.52 GAA, 12.1 GSAA and an impressive .618 QS% in 34 starts last season, splitting time with Alex Lyon and Colten Ellis.

15) Daniel Vladař: Philadelphia Flyers

Previous Rank: 19

Daniel Vladař was an unexpected gift for the Philadelphia Flyers last season. The 29-year-old veteran spent the previous four seasons as the backup in Calgary, but the Flyers saw enough in him to sign him as a free agent in the summer of 2025. And the two-year, $6.7 million gamble paid off big time. Vladař was stalwart, with a .906 SV% and 2.42 GAA and 13.1 GSAA. The Flyers needed anyone who could make a save, but Vladař exceeded that bar by miles, even earning a spot on Team Czechia at the Olympics. The fantastic performance saw Vladař earn a massive five-year, $27.5 million contract extension this summer. It was truly a life-changing season for the veteran.

14) Dustin Wolf: Calgary Flames

Previous Rank: 14

There are few goaltenders you’d rather start a new franchise with right now than Dustin Wolf. He took a step back in his sophomore year, not quite the goaltender that set the league on fire and finished as Calder Trophy runner-up as he was the season prior. But he was still fantastic statistically, and he’s just 25-years-old. The sky is the limit for Dustin Wolf’s future, and he very well could climb to the top of this list for many seasons to come.

13) Jakub Dobeš: Montreal Canadiens

Previous Rank: Unranked

Jakub Dobeš finished last season fourth in Calder Trophy voting – and that was before he was a stalwart for the Montreal Canadiens during their unexpected run to the Conference Final. The 25-year-old Czechia native made his mark in just his second (and first full) NHL season, and now, he looks like one of the best young netminders that any team could hope to build a team around.

Dobeš’s regular-season numbers were terrific: .901 SV%, 2.78 GAA, a fantastic .643 QS%, and 7.0 GSAA. And all of those nunmbers improved in his 19 postseason starts. He has entrenched himself as the goaltender of the future with the franchse that has probably the most distinguished history between the pipes of any NHL team.

Previous Rank: 10

After years of trade rumors, the Anaheim Ducks finally dealt John Gibson to the Detroit Red Wings in 2025, and the move was exactly the shot in the arm Gibson’s career needed. He had a .901 SV%, 2.72 GAA, 8.7 GSAA, and four shutouts. Once viewed as one of the best goaltenders in the world, he entered a prolonged slump with Anaheim from 2019-2024. But after posting two strong seasons in a row, things seem to finally be looking up. Now in the final year of his current contract, he’ll be looking to go three in a row and earn one more extended deal in the NHL.

11) Joel Hofer: St. Louis Blues

Previous Rank: Unranked

Joel Hofer undisputably supplanted Jordan Binnington as the St. Louis Blues’ starting netminder last season. He started the majority of games (by a hair) and his numbers were terrific: .909 SV%, 2.61 GAA, .605 QS%, 16.6 GSAA, and 6 shutouts. Even though Binnington improved down the stretch after returning from winning a silver medal with Team Canada, Hofer was even better, and the pair helped the Blues win lots of games in the final weeks of the season that the front office might have prefered they not win. Nevertheless, with Binnington in the final season of his contract and Hofer a RFA after this season, the future is clear, and Hofer is it.

10) Jet Greaves: Columbus Blue Jackets

Previous Rank: 12

The Columbus Blue Jackets haven’t had a good option in net for years, but Jet Greaves seems to be the answer they’ve been looking for. He’s just 25 and is entering his second serious season in the NHL, but he looks like a seasoned veteran for a team that seriously needed a shot in the arm. He finished last season with a .908 SV% and 2.60 GAA, along with a fantastic 18.6 GSAA and .660 QS%. There are a lot of question marks and problems in Columbus right now, but for the first time ages, goaltending isn’t one of them.

9) Jake Oettinger: Dallas Stars

Previous Rank: 6

Jake Oettinger has quietly become one of the best goaltenders in the league, posting several fantastic seasons already in his young career. Still only 27, the Lakeville, Minnesota native had a little bit of a down season, finishing at a .899 SV% with a 2.59 GAA, to go along with 5.4 GSAA. Then again, if that’s a “bad” season, it’s a good sign of just how fantastic a goaltender is.

Oettinger has also become the Stars’ postseason hero at times, though he still wasn’t enough to get them into the Stanley Cup Final. Now in the second season of the eight-year, $66 million extension he signed back in October of 2024, Oettinger has al the tools to get recognized as the best goalie in the world before his career is done.

8) Spencer Knight: Chicago Blackhawks

Previous Rank: 9

Spencer Knight has fully transitioned from “top goaltending prospect” to legitimate top NHL goaltender. His move to the Chicago Blackhawks has paid off in spades, and he’s now maturing alongside Connor Bedard and other youngsters into the core that will define the next era of Blackhawks success. Last season, he has 10.4 GSAA, with a .902 SV% and 2.82 GAA. He also notched three shutouts. Knight has only just turned 25, but he’s earned his spot in the top 10 of the NHL’s goaltenders, as well as his first serious contract extension, which he signed at the start of last season.

7) Scott Wedgewood: Colorado Avalanche

Previous Rank: Unranked

Most goaltenders don’t have their breakout season at age 33, but that’s exactly what Scott Wedgewood did with the Colorado Avalanche. He’d never started more than 28 games with a single team before in his career, but the Avalanche unexpectedly leaned on him to start 43 games, which he did with a fantastic 31-6-6 record and four shutouts. His .921 SV% and 2.02 GAA were the best marks in the league, as was his 28.3 GSAA. For his part, Mackenzie Blackwood was also fantastic, just not quite as good as Wedgewood. Now, Colorado enters the season with one of the better goaltending tandems in the league if Wedgewood can repeat on his incredible season.

6) Jesper Wallstedt: Minnesota Wild

Previous Rank: Unranked

Speaking of great goaltending tandems, the Minnesota Wild will also have one of the best after Filip Gustavsson returns from offseason hip surgery. Even before the surgery though, Jesper Wallstedt had staked his claim to the starter’s net, as he became the Wild’s go-to option during the postseason.

Wallstedt has long been viewed as one of the league’s future stars in net, and last season it all came to fruition when he posted a .915 SV%, 2.61 GAA, .697 QS%, just four RBS to match four shutouts, and a towering 19.6 GSAA despite starting just 33 games. Even more importantly, he became the Wild’s primary option in the playoffs and carried himself very well. Wallstedt will turn 24 early this season, making him one of the youngest goalies on this list. But he seems to be Minnesota’s future – the only question now is how long Gustavsson and Wallstedt can coexist as a tandem before one is traded or departs.

5) Logan Thompson: Washington Capitals

Previous Rank: 4

Logan Thompson has finished fourth in Vezina Trophy voting two seasons running, showing just how good a decision the Washington Capitals made when they surrendered just a pair of third-round picks to acquire him from the Vegas Golden Knights. Unbelievably, the 2025-26 season was an improvement on the season prior, as he managed 25.8 GSAA, more than twice what he did in 2024-25. His SV%, GAA, and QS% all improved as well, and he doubled his total shutouts. He also represented Team Canada, starting one game for the silver medalists. Thompson will turn 30 this season, but that’s relatively young for goaltenders these days. He should have a bright future ahead of him.

4) Igor Shesterkin: New York Rangers

Previous Rank: 5

Igor Shesterkin is the highest-paid goaltender in the NHL, but in the last few seasons, he hasn’t quite pushed inside the most elite tier on the ice. He’s obviously extraordinarily good, and arguably had his best season since his 2021-22 Vezina Trophy campaign, at least measured by GSAA, of which he had 22.9. Of course, no team can expect a goalie to post the otherworldly numbers he managed that season, but the Rangers need Shesterkin to be their best player. He has been, but not by a wide enough margin to paper over the team’s other issues. Whether that’s his problem or the front office’s is up for debate. What’s not up for debate is that Shesterkin is clearly a top five goaltender in the NHL – he just hasn’t quite broken into that perennial Vezina conteder career.

3) Jeremy Swayman: Boston Bruins

Previous Rank: 7

For Jeremy Swayman, last season was a huge return to form. After holding out during training camp the season prior, the Boston Bruins gave him a massive contract extension. But then he struggled all season long. In 2025-26, it was important for him to re-establish himself as one of the league’s best goalies.

Fortunately, any questions about whether the new extension would become an albatross have been answered, because Swayman appears to be back to his old self. Swayman finished the season with 18.2 GSAA, an incredible .704 QS%, and a .907 SV%. He looks a lot like the goalie who initially earned the $66 million extension the Bruins handed him. And while there are still many questions to answer in Boston, goaltending no longer appears to be one of them.

2) Ilya Sorokin: New York Islanders

Previous Rank: 3

Like Swayman, Ilya Sorokin had a really rough start during the first year of his eight-season contract with the New York Islanders. But he bounced back with authority during the 2025-26 season, finishing second in Vezina Trophy voting thanks to his .906 SV% and league-leading seven shutouts, with 15.9 GSAA. The Islanders were one of the comeback teams of the season, and Sorokin is a huge part of the reason why. Now with Matthew Schaefer entrenched in front of him, the Islanders have one of the more formidable 1D/goaltender combos to build around for years to come.

1) Andrei Vasilevskiy: Tampa Bay Lightning

Previous Rank: 1

The king is back. Andrei Vasilevskiy led the NHL in wins five seasons in a row, won back-to-back Stanley Cups, and took his team to three Stanley Cup Finals in a row. For many seasons, he was the unquestioned best goaltender in the world. Then he hit a roadblock in the 2023-24 season, recovering from a major injury, and he had his first poor season since his sophomore campaign, finishing with minus-5.2 GSAA and just a .900 SV%.

But any fear that Vasilevskiy’s years of workhorsemanship had finally caught up with him have been proven unjustified over the past two seasons. He was Vezina runner-up in 2024-25, and won his second Vezina Trophy last season. And he led the league in wins for the sixth time in his career for good measure.

There’s a clear untouched tier at the top of hockey’s goaltending pyramid right now, with Vasilevskiy and Hellebuyck standing a head above the compeittion. With Hellebuyck’s future so uncertain, it makes what Vasilevskiy has done in Tampa Bay for nearly a decade even more impressive. He’s actively graduating from being the best goaltender right now to the best goaltender of his generation, and he belongs in the conversation as one of the best goaltenders of all time.