Once again, this weekly column will high top performers and those who faltered over the previous week of NHL play. However, in the first week, we'll focus on the expectations for this season.
Find out which netminders will be in the crease with RotoWire's Projected Starting Goalies page!
The Perennial Workhorses
Only five goalies appeared in at least 60 games last season. Of these, three are virtual locks to repeat that amount of work, coupled with the expectation of positive results.
Connor Hellebuyck, Jets
The Winnipeg goalie had a magnificent regular season, walking away with the Vezina Trophy (best goalie), but also the Hart Trophy (league MVP). He led all goalies in appearances (63), wins (47), goals against average (2.00) and shutouts (8).
In the playoffs, he added 13 more starts, but his GAA rose to 3.08 and his save percentage sagged to .866, leading to some speculation that his workload had caught up to him. For his part, Hellebuyck did not admit to fatigue and remains adamant that he wants no change to his usage.
His backup, Eric Comrie, returns to a secondary role after a career-high 20 appearances last season. That's another indication that Jets fans should expect the same goalie share once again.
Andrei Vasilevskiy, Lightning
The Tampa Bay goaltending outlook remains similarly familiar, as Vasilevskiy recorded his third campaign with 60 or more starts in his last four seasons. Last year, he also posted the lowest GAA (2.16) of his career, over
Once again, this weekly column will high top performers and those who faltered over the previous week of NHL play. However, in the first week, we'll focus on the expectations for this season.
Find out which netminders will be in the crease with RotoWire's Projected Starting Goalies page!
The Perennial Workhorses
Only five goalies appeared in at least 60 games last season. Of these, three are virtual locks to repeat that amount of work, coupled with the expectation of positive results.
Connor Hellebuyck, Jets
The Winnipeg goalie had a magnificent regular season, walking away with the Vezina Trophy (best goalie), but also the Hart Trophy (league MVP). He led all goalies in appearances (63), wins (47), goals against average (2.00) and shutouts (8).
In the playoffs, he added 13 more starts, but his GAA rose to 3.08 and his save percentage sagged to .866, leading to some speculation that his workload had caught up to him. For his part, Hellebuyck did not admit to fatigue and remains adamant that he wants no change to his usage.
His backup, Eric Comrie, returns to a secondary role after a career-high 20 appearances last season. That's another indication that Jets fans should expect the same goalie share once again.
Andrei Vasilevskiy, Lightning
The Tampa Bay goaltending outlook remains similarly familiar, as Vasilevskiy recorded his third campaign with 60 or more starts in his last four seasons. Last year, he also posted the lowest GAA (2.16) of his career, over his 63 appearances.
In the competitive Atlantic Division, there doesn't appear to be much room for error for the teams aiming to win this group, which provides extra incentive to ride workhorses like Vasilevskiy.
There has been some concern with the fact that Vasilevskiy has not appeared in any exhibition games due to an undisclosed injury, but he is apparently almost ready to be declared healthy and available.
The Lightning have Jonas Johansson coming back in the secondary role here, but it was notable that the Bolts picked up Pheonix Copley off waivers to add some depth.
Igor Shesterkin, Rangers
Shesterkin is the highest paid goalie in the world, with an $11.5M cap hit that's in place through the 2033-34 season.
He set a personal best with 61 appearance last season, which marked his fourth year with at least 53 game played for a team that remains a marquee franchise under the bright lights of Broadway. The Rangers faltered last season however, leading to the first losing record of Shesterkin's career with 27 wins versus 29 loss and five OTLs. Similarly, his GAA (2.86) and Sv% (.905) were career-low marks.
There are reasons for optimism that a better year lies ahead for Shesterkin and the Rangers, mainly because they enter this season with a much stronger-looking defense corps. That should take significant pressure off the netminder, who also faced the highest shot volume in his career (1751).
Sam Montembeault, Canadiens
Some may be surprised to note the Canadiens used Montembeault as much as they did last season, as he appeared in 61 games. Their much-advertised rebuild took a positive step as they qualified for the postseason for the first time in four years. Their top goalie deserved a lot of credit for that achievement as he compiled the best GAA (2.82) of his career.
While the outlook for the team looks positive, there is a strong likelihood that Montembeault's workload will be reduced this season.
That because they think they have a second capable puck-stopper in Jakub Dobes, who impressed in a 16-game sample once he was promoted to the club in the second half of last season. He actually recorded better ratios than Montembeault with a 2.74 GAA and .909 Sv%.
Ilya Sorokin, Islanders
Sorokin solidified his rating as one of the top goalies in the league, by recording an impressive 2.71 GAA and .907 Sv%, behind a roster that failed to qualify for the playoffs.
It was a nice rebound from the worst season in his five years on Long Island.
At 30 years of age, he's locked into five more years at $8.25M under his current contract, as another of the NHL's most highly regarded netminders.
Unlike the others noted here, he's not blessed with a talented roster around him, so he faces more pressure than the others and shoulders more responsibility in defending his end of the ice.
The Isles have brought in well-travelled veteran David Rittich to be his backup with Semyon Varlamov out indefinitely. Rittich has primarily been a starter in the NHL and appeared in 34 games for Los Angeles last season. This seems to point to a reduced workload for Sorokin, though he'll still see the lion's share of starting assignments again.
Goalies On the Rise
Thatcher Demko, Canucks
Demko is expected to return to prominence in Vancouver after suffering through an injury-plagued 2024-25 campaign in which he was limited to only 23 appearances.
He's worked hard to prepare for a healthier season ahead and has looked sharp in preseason play.
While it's unlikely that he'll match his 64 appearances from the 2021-2022 season, he hopes to secure the starting assignment at least. If Demko's able to play 50 games this season, it would go a long way in propelling the Canucks back toward the top of the Pacific Division.
In his absence, the Canucks discovered a viable option in Kevin Lankinen, who recorded an impressive 2.62 GAA and .902 Sv% in 51 games last season.
Anthony Stolarz, Maple Leafs
The Leafs rewarded Stolarz with a four-year, $15M extension following his career-best campaign last year, in which he played 33 games with a sparkling 2.14 GAA and league-best .926 Sv%.
While Joseph Woll was expected to form one of the league's top goalie tandems with Stolarz, the former is dealing with a personal family issue that will delay his participation in the early portion of the schedule. With raw youngster Dennis Hildeby and recent waiver claim Cayden Primeau behind him on the depth chart, Stolarz should have a heavier workload ahead.
Luckily for him, he's behind a deep roster with one of the best blue line corps in the NHL.
Yaroslav Askarov, Sharks
We've been waiting for Askarov to make a big splash as one of the league's top goalie prospects since he was drafted (by Nashville in June 2020, 11th overall).
The timing looks pretty good for him, as he is primed to be the busiest goalie on the Sharks depth chart, in a year where a number of highly regarded young players are expected to take a significant step forward in their own careers.
Askarov appeared in only 13 games last year but has appeared in as many as 48 games during the 2023-2024 season with Milwaukee in the AHL.
He should be well protected by a reconstructed blue line that includes five veterans among the six projected starters.
