With only two weeks left in regular fixtures, it’s time to take stock, in practical or mathematical terms, of the goalkeepers of the eliminated teams.
CANADIAN
It was a difficult season for Jake Allen (32nd in our ranking). Despite some brilliant performances, he’s had too many bad nights and won’t be number one next season. Samuel Montembeault (25th) has really established himself as an NHL goaltender. Allen’s quality churn rate (48.8%) is clearly insufficient, compared to 60.6% for Montembeault.
BLUE JACKETS
The Blue Jackets’ luckiest goaltender is Joonas Korpisalo (19th) because he was traded to the Kings in March. Elvis Merzlikins (47th) had a difficult, even worrying, season with only 33.6% good starts compared to 65.4% for Korpisalo. Elvis is under contract until the end of the 2026/27 season. There is hope for 23-year-old Daniil Tarasov.
FLYERS
At 24, Carter Hart’s (10th) talent is undeniable. Brilliant at times but lacking in consistency. Only 47% of starts are above 0.900. We won’t know his true worth until the Flyers are competitive. Felix Sandstrom (27) and Samuel Errson (23) offer great depth.
RED WINGS
Despite an excellent start, Ville Husso (21st) had a very difficult end to the season. He was even in the top 10 until mid-December. His numbers were good at the beginning of the season, but he couldn’t convince in his game, it caught up with him. Alex Nedeljkovic’s reputation has taken a hit.
CAPITAL CITY
Stanley Cup winner with the Colorado Avalanche, Darcy Kuemper (11th), could not lead the Capitals to the playoffs despite a respectable season. Charlie Lindgren (38th) has established himself as an NHL goalkeeper.
BLACK HAWKS
The Hawks goalies have been difficult to accurately gauge this year of liquidation, but Peter Mrazek (33rd) and Alex Stalock have defended relatively well when healthy. Stalock is a free agent and Mrazek has a year left on his contract.
DUCKS
We sympathize with the Ducks’ goalies and in particular with number one John Gibson (12th), who already has 51 games and 1,912 shots behind the tie, averaging 39.6 shots per game. He is under contract until the summer of 2027. We wish him that one day he will join a top team. Lukas Dostal, 22, is the project.
coyotes
Karel Vejmelka (15th) was one of the few positives for the Coyotes. He’s got what it takes and stole four 40-plus shots. Connor Ingram (26th) and Ivan Prosvetov add depth.
BLUES
Jordan Binnington (24th) has lost his luster but certainly not his fighting spirit. He is tied to the Blues until the summer of 2027. Thomas Greiss has become his own equal. He will be a free agent. At 37, the end is near, but in the current market he could find a buyer.
CANUCKS
Thatcher Demko (19) has shown he’s still a capable goalkeeper after a mid-season absence of almost three months. No rescue for the Canucks without him. At least one thing has settled in Vancouver.
