*This article was most recently updated in July 2024
Great starters can generally transform into great backups as their careers wind down in the NHL. The reverse isn’t necessarily as true, though. This list of the best backups currently in the league proves the former, while sticking its neck out for some of its more-established No. 2s, seemingly eyeing increased responsibility.
There are obvious exceptions. Washington Capitals goalie Charlie Lindgren effectively graduated from backup status (and eligibility for this list) with a breakout 2023-24 season, which forced their hand, in trading for forward Pierre-Luc Dubois’ unattractive contract, just to rid themselves of Darcy Kuemper’s in net.
Of course, one season doesn’t make a career. The Capitals’ subsequent acquisition of Logan Thompson from the Vegas Golden Knights goes to show they’re not entirely sold on Lindgren sustaining such a high level of play (25-16-7, 2.67 goals-against average, .911 save percentage), especially going on 31, with one year left under contract.
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Lindgren has nonetheless proven himself as a backup at least, taking into account the level of success he’s enjoyed up to now in his career, his overall potential, career stats and cost-effectiveness. Based on the same four factors, looking across the board, here are the top five backups in the NHL right now:
5. Jonathan Quick (New York Rangers)
A decade removed from his second of two Stanley Cups with the Los Angeles Kings Jonathan Quick has found new life as a backup with the New York Rangers.
After a few more seasons at the relative statistical top of the league after his last Cup, Quick’s play began to drop off some. It got so bad, with Quick sporting an .876 SV% in 2022-23 with the Kings, that they felt the need to trade him at the deadline to the Columbus Blue Jackets, without an heir apparent to take the reins.
True, the Kings got fellow-unrestricted free agent Joonas Korpisalo back in exchange. However, he himself was hard to see as a legitimate starter (which, his next team, the Ottawa Senators, found out the hard way), having never played more than 37 games in a season.
The hole in net forced the Kings to sign journeyman Cam Talbot, which worked out for the best. Meanwhile Quick landed with the Rangers, to back up 2022 Vezina-winner Igor Shesterkin, where the former turned back the clock some. Quick went 18-6-2 with a 2.62 GAA and .911 SV%. At 38 years old, Quick’s best seasons are obviously behind him, but it is encouraging to see he has something left in the tank, having accepted a different role than the one to which he had grown accustomed.
4. Joel Hofer (St. Louis Blues)
Some say Jordan Binnington should have been a finalist for the 2024 Vezina Trophy. The St. Louis Blues starter earned an impressive stat line in a bounce-back season. He went 28-21-5 with a 2.84 goals-against average and .913 save percentage. Seeing as backup Joel Hofer had arguably better stats (15-12-1, 2.62 GAA, .914 SV%), it’s hard to dismiss him despite his 24 years of age and 38 games of NHL experience.
The differentiating factor is obviously goals saved above expected (and games played). In 30, Hofer ranked in the Top 20 (10.3 in all situations, according to MoneyPuck.com). Binnington, in 57, was among the league leaders (16.5).
Now in his 30s and having had more mediocre seasons than good, Binnington isn’t exactly a lock to keep it going. This may be a one-off for him, in other words. Hofer may have the edge there too, as an up-and-coming goalie who can conceivably steal starts from him on top of games from the opposition.
3. Laurent Brossoit (Chicago Blackhawks)
It used to be you didn’t really know what you would get out of backup Laurent Brossoit. His tendency was to follow up a great statistical season with a bad one. It’s safe to say he bucked that trend in 2023-24 upon returning to the Winnipeg Jets, with whom he had earlier spent three seasons, fresh off his 2023 Stanley Cup victory with the Golden Knights. He didn’t disappoint, replicating his .927 SV% from 2022-23, going 15-5-2 with a 2.00 GAA.
Amid speculation the Jets would trade eventual 2024 Vezina-winner Connor Hellebuyck, Brossoit could have conceivably ended up their No.1. The money’s out on how he would have played as such, as the Jets obviously did extend Hellebuyck after all. However, just having signed with the Chicago Blackhawks (for the most money he’s ever made, $3.3 million per season), Brossoit faces a new challenge yet. He’s now on a team that gave up goals and shots at some of the worst rates in the league (3.52, 32.7 per game). Fingers crossed he keeps this new trend going.
2. Anthony Stolarz (Toronto Maple Leafs)
Anthony Stolarz had appeared on this list before, but fell off it following an unimpressive 2022-23 with the Anaheim Ducks. As a UFA, he signed with the Florida Panthers, with whom he made an excellent case that bad season was the exception and not the rule.
It was at least a good enough case for the Toronto Maple Leafs, who committed to him as a UFA anew up until 2026. Granted, his new Stanley Cup-winning pedigree would tend to blind some teams to his inadequacies. However, leading the league (25 or more games played) in GAA (2.03) and SV% (.925) during the 2023-24 regular season, Stolarz picked his ascent up the ranks where he had left it off a few seasons ago.
His exact role with the Leafs remains to be clarified. While it may seem as though Joseph Woll is now the guy, he only made 25 appearances (12-11-1) to the 27 Stolarz got in (16-7-2). Clearly, the Leafs are taking a chance here. As long as Stolarz isn’t relied on to play the Lion’s share of starts, he and they should be okay.
1. Semyon Varlamov (New York Islanders)
New York Islanders goalie Semyon Varlamov had been a top backup in this league, even when he counted $5 million against the cap. There’s little reason he wouldn’t remain in the running, now that he’s re-signed for $2.75 million per season, albeit through 2027 (when he’ll be 39).
Varlamov had signed his $5 million-per-season deal ahead of 2019-20. That was before starter Ilya Sorokin’s early 2021 debut, though. Over the following few seasons the two goalies reversed roles to the point Sorokin had become an elite starter, with exception to how he played in 2023-24.
As a result, Varlamov’s ice time has understandably decreased overall. However, he still contributed, with a 14-8-4 record, 2.60 GAA and .918 SV% last season, outperforming Sorokin for all intents and purposes… even starting four of five playoff games in the first round before the Islanders got eliminated. While you shouldn’t necessarily count on that continuing, it’s a safe bet Varlamov will remain a great backup for a long while, arguably the best in the league.
You forgot Tukka Rask
I feel like this list is completely focused on the present. Not a terrible list, people are really jumping on the McElhinney selection, but think about how long he’s played in the NHL, he’s earned it. Then, compare that to Gibson and Vasilevskiy and Raanta, none of whom played in the NHL until 13′-14′. McElhinney isn’t a flashy name or high draft pick, that doesn’t mean he isn’t just as capable of winning NHL games as any of them.
Thanks! Much appreciated.
Eddie Lack is better than all those guys….
As much as I like Eddie Lack’s potential to be an NHL starter (which he displayed in the AHL and off an on in the NHL), he has a losing record (both this year as a backup, and last when he got a shot to start following Luongo’s departure), which kind of disqualified him from consideration here.
Antti Raanta is so awesome they just sent him down to the AHL.
Yes, presumably to give him more playing time as he’s only had one start this month. It’s unfortunate timing on my part, but I stand by my assessment.
Fair enough. What about Enroth? As a Sabres fan, I’ve seen him play remarkably well as a starter on an absolutely abysmal team. Now that he’s backing up Lehtonen in Dallas, where would you rank him?
I’ve always liked Enroth and feel if he just had a little bit more size he could be a reliable starter in the league. However, he kind of drew the short straw being drafted by Buffalo and forced into duty for a team managed to tank the last few seasons. I unfortunately can’t really give him much credit as a backup with Dallas either seeing as he has yet to win a game despite making three appearances since being traded there (two starts).
The only reason Raanta was send down is because they can’t send down the overpaid Corey and they won’t Scott up , so they can win some games.
I honestly think that if the Blues are ever going to go anywhere in the playoffs, Jake Allen will be the guy to take them there.
His save percentage does scare me off a tad (there are shades of Ryan Miller from last year there), but next year? Maybe. I think he’s really come into his own recently, especially with Elliott faltering somewhat. At the very least, it must be comforting to know there’s a decent plan B should something happen to the latter.
Carter Hutton did a better job when Pekka Rinne was injured than Cam Talbot is doing in Lundqvist’s absence. While his numbers as a “backup” (playing once every three weeks, on the road, in the second half of back to backs, against rested teams like the Blackhawks, Ducks and Bruins) are substandard, his performance as the de facto #1 when Rinne went down (preserving the win over Vancouver, beating Washington and Colorado, and shutting out the Penguins in Pittsburgh), helping the Predators extend their margin over the Blackhawks and stay ahead of a Blues team which was on a 10 of 11 streak was pretty exemplary. Lots of Nashville fans thought the team would tumble to third in the Central in Rinne’s absence.
I do have to give credit where credit is due, and Hutton did do a good job in Rinne’s absence (relatively speaking last year as well, when the Predators were not nearly as good; no offense). However, I also took into account Talbot’s rookie season, which was much, much better.
BTW your Jake Allen comment of his most wins from a back up this year…Dumb as shit lol. Of course he has more wins than the other backups he’s had more starts thus allowing him a shot to compile these wins.
It’s only logical Spock.
You’re missing one key element… Allen has 17 wins in 23 starts (.739). Gibson has 5 in 9 (.555). It’s also not as if St. Louis is a better team than Anaheim, either. The Ducks have one more point. Where’s the logic behind that?
“how much confidence the head coach has in their abilities, their actual abilities, their body of work, and, most importantly, their likelihood of earning a win,”
When you lead with this when discussing back up goalies, and then forget John Gibson I can’t take you seriously.
I’d have him first, ahead of Allen and Vasilevsky.
If you didn’t want to include him as part of the discussion because he may be sent back down when Andersen is back, fine, maybe state that caveat but he currently is in the NHL, he’s the backup to Andersen as far as I’m concerned, Bryzgalov is simple a place holder otherwise he’d be getting these starts not Gibson.
The fact you forgot him is laughable, the fact that Curtis McElhinney is on this list over him shows me you didn’t actually take individual talent into consideration. Let alone their ability to win the starter job, confidence of their head coach, and their body of work.
And yes do not be surprised when McElhinney disappears into obscurity. After all this is the same guy Who’s only played 97 games (I can’t believe it’s that many) while compiling a 2.97 GAA, .902 SV% and a 39-47-0-6 record.
I don’t know if you know…but those are bad ratios. Making this season seem almost Vezina worthy (2.70 GAA .918 SV%) and worth inclusion on this list.
Sure he’s taken a step forward and improved his SV% but that’s bound to happen when you each shot you face is your new season high total, and as long as he continues to play at this level his numbers will improve. But lets be real here. This is a 31 years journey man who has found himself in a beneficial situation thanks to Bobrovsky’s injury history. Nothing more than that…sure he could wind up being the second coming up Tim Thomas…but the odds say no, and I say a couple backups not listed are better than McElhinney.
I didn’t forget Gibson. I purposely left him off this list. He just didn’t make the cut. Based on his stats and win percentage this year, and, after all, that is what I’m ranking here, the best backup goalies in the NHL this year.
I did take into account McElhinney’s less than stellar record in past years, which is why he’s as low as he is on this list. However, his stats are better than Gibson’s, despite him playing on a (much) worse team. You say that’s bound to happen when each shot he faces is a new season high total, but that’s not the way averages work, especially not for an admitted journeyman goalie. The more shots you face, the more your stats average out. That’s why a goalie like Carey Price doesn’t technically actually have the best save percentage in the NHL. Detroit Red Wings goalie Tom McCollum does (.960 in two starts).
Lol, any conversation about best back-ups without Martin Jones in it, is a joke. Maybe you should stay up past your bed time and watch some West Coast Hockey once in a while to see how its really done.
You do realize the top two on this list are Western Conference goalies, right?
I did consider Jones, but at the end of the day his 4-3-2 record this season and .908 save percentage weren’t enough to give him any serious consideration. He had a great season last year, no doubt, but, currently, I’d take any one of the above five on this list before Jones in a pinch. The Kings haven’t played him in over a month.
When the majority of LA sports fans stop calling the Kings the Lakers, only then can the rest of the universe be expected to know who their backup goalie is.