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Good morning, hockey followers! I understand that is referred to as “Crimson Mild,” however in the present day we’re going to do what we are able to to maintain that mild off. That’s proper: This an all-goaltending version of the publication.
We’ll take a look at some groups whose goalies I’m enthusiastic about heading into 2025-26 and some veteran netminders nonetheless on the lookout for contracts who may assist the groups I’m much less enthusiastic about. We’ll additionally stay up for which goalies might be on the lookout for contract extensions sooner or later this yr.
Goalies to be enthusiastic about
We gained’t focus on the established, elite goalies on this part. All of us count on Connor Hellebuyck, Andrei Vasilevskiy, Sergei Bobrovsky, Igor Shesterkin and Jake Oettinger to be nice. These are some groups that I imagine may take main steps ahead in goaltending statistics this season:
• Calgary — Dustin Wolf’s rookie season was beyond impressive. He instantly confirmed he has the hockey sense to match his distinctive skating and edgework, and has all the instruments to be a high-end starter. He could also be small, however Wolf’s pace and twitchiness would be the good mixture for in the present day’s NHL. Now getting into his second season, Wolf is primed to insert himself into the Vezina dialog.
• Anaheim — Lukáš Dostál was one of the shocking breakouts in 2024-25, ending high 10 in objectives saved above anticipated (GSAx) in his first full season as a starter regardless of enjoying behind a putrid protection. It might be a flash within the pan, however Dostál’s film says otherwise. His reads are impeccable, which suggests long-term success. With an improved Geese roster and the potential for higher defensive construction underneath Joel Quenneville, Dostál might be even higher this season.
• Vancouver — In a quiet offseason for goalie motion, maybe the largest information within the crease this summer season was the goalie who didn’t change groups. Some felt Thatcher Demko might be on his method out of Vancouver, however the Canucks put that to relaxation with a three-year, $25.5 million extension. If I’m selecting a group to make the largest leap in goaltending efficiency from final season to this yr, Vancouver is nearly as good a guess as any. The Canucks completed twenty second in GSAx final season, however with Demko one other yr faraway from his damage and Kevin Lankinen coming off a robust 2024-25, goaltending might be a significant energy for a group that might definitely use it.
• Colorado — The celebrities are aligning for the supremely gifted Mackenzie Blackwood. The 28-year-old is a bodily specimen within the crease, is hitting the prime of his profession and has an extremely robust group in entrance of him. Regardless of the first-round exit, I was thoroughly impressed with Blackwood’s postseason. With a long-term contract befitting of a franchise goalie and a full offseason in Colorado, Blackwood’s ceiling for 2025-26 is Vezina-caliber.
• Chicago — After three straight seasons ending backside two within the NHL, is that this the yr the Blackhawks begin trending upward? They’ve acquired loads of younger, thrilling expertise all through the roster, and it’s no totally different within the crease. Spencer Knight showed a lot of promise in his 15 begins in Chicago following final season’s commerce. He and Arvid Söderblom make up one of many youngest tandems within the NHL, with loads of upside.
• Columbus — It could shock some to see the Blue Jackets on this checklist. They completed center of the pack in each save share and GSAx final season, and nonetheless have two years left on Elvis Merzļikins’ bloated contract. My pleasure for Columbus is fueled by teen Jet Greaves, who ought to lastly be a full-time NHL participant this yr after the group traded Daniil Tarasov to Florida. The 24-year-old Greaves is an unbelievable athlete, has dominated within the AHL and shown well in limited NHL action. He may go from a relative unknown to a family identify by season’s finish.
(Bruce Bennett / Getty Photographs)
Goalies accessible for rent
As for the groups nonetheless wanting within the crease … Edmonton, anybody? … There are nonetheless some potential backup upgrades in the marketplace. We’re only some weeks away from coaching camps opening, and these three dependable veterans are nonetheless with out contracts:
• Alexandar Georgiev. Sure, he’s coming off a tough season. No, he’s not more likely to be anybody’s everlasting answer in internet. However Georgiev continues to be a stable NHL goalie who has confirmed he can win behind a robust group (he led the NHL in wins twice from 2022 to 2024 in Colorado). The 29-year-old is undersized, however he’s fast, affected person on his edges and might definitely assist a group.
• The 28-year-old Ilya Samsonov has adopted an eerily related profession path to Georgiev. Each Russians have been considered as high-end backups early of their careers. Each got the prospect to be full-time starters on groups with excessive expectations however didn’t fairly reside as much as them. Each are nonetheless gifted goalies who ought to completely be on NHL rosters. In an NHL the place goaltending depth is used greater than ever, there’s no query that Georgiev and Samsonov are among the many high 64 goalies on the planet.
• At 37, James Reimer might be eyeing retirement, but when he needs to play, there ought to be a job for him. He put up respectable numbers in a tricky scenario final season in Buffalo and regarded like he nonetheless has the motion to be a reliable tandem choice for a number of groups.
It wouldn’t shock me to see a number of of those goalies signed to PTO deals when camps open in September. It additionally wouldn’t shock me in the event that they win the No. 2 job for no matter group takes the prospect on them.
(Mike Carlson / Getty Photographs)
Extension watch
Within the final 11 months, 11 of the 32 beginning goalies obtained long-term contracts. It began with Jeremy Swayman’s extension in Boston and was adopted by a slew of prolonged offers, together with Igor Shesterkin’s record-breaking extension in New York. It implies that roughly a 3rd of the league has dedicated to its beginning goalie for the foreseeable future.
Which goalies are due for the following extensions?
5 starters’ present offers expire on the finish of 2025-26. Sergei Bobrovsky is lastly due for a brand new contract, and coming off back-to-back Stanley Cup titles, his timing couldn’t be higher. Bobrovsky might be 37 earlier than the season begins, so will probably be fascinating to see how the Panthers deal with that scenario. They did simply signal Brad Marchand till he’s 43.
Jacob Markström, 35, and Filip Gustavsson, 27, are additionally due for extensions. Each are coming off robust seasons in New Jersey and Minnesota, and ought to be a precedence for his or her respective groups. One other attention-grabbing scenario to comply with is in Toronto, the place 31-year-old Anthony Stolarz wants a brand new contract. Joseph Woll, 27, nonetheless has three years left at a team-friendly $3.67 million cap hit, however Stolarz was clearly the Leafs’ higher goalie this season and within the playoffs earlier than his damage.
Lastly, the Oilers are reaching a crossroads with Stuart Skinner, whose three-year contract expires on the finish of this season. On the one hand, the 26-year-old has the seventh-most regular-season wins and third-most playoff wins of any goalie during the last three seasons. Alternatively, an argument may be made that he’s the weak hyperlink on a championship contender that has fallen simply brief in consecutive years. The route GM Stan Bowman chooses with Skinner may outline his tenure in Edmonton. Many really feel the Oilers can do significantly better than Skinner — and which may be true — however they will additionally do quite a bit worse.
💡 Trivia time
Sustaining exemplary statistics year-over-year is tough for goaltenders. With so many variables impacting their stats (primarily the group in entrance of them), even the perfect goalies see their stats fluctuate way over skaters.
Solely three goalies have posted constructive objectives saved above anticipated (GSAx) in every of the final six seasons (relationship again to 2019-20). Connor Hellebuyck and Igor Shesterkin, who’ve mixed to win 4 of the final six Vezina trophies, are the primary two.
Who’s the third? Reply on the finish of this story. (Trace: He’s by no means even been a finalist for the Vezina and performed for 3 totally different groups throughout this span.)
Coast to coast
😬 Issues are getting a bit tense in Edmonton as Connor McDavid reiterated yesterday he’s in no rush to sign a contract extension as he enters the ultimate yr of his deal. Chris Johnston dived headfirst into the implications of that approach — and the way the scenario may have an effect on his teammates. The longer this goes, the extra attention-grabbing it’s going to get.
💔 Tomorrow marks one yr for the reason that tragic deaths of John and Matty Gaudreau. Peter Baugh wrote a well-reported, emotional story on the yr of incomprehensible grief — and immeasurable energy — for the Gaudreau household.
🔄 “Yeah, he’s getting traded. It’s apparent.” These are phrases of Calgary Flames captain Mikael Backlund about longtime teammate Rasmus Andersson, who might be a free agent after the upcoming season. That was only one attention-grabbing tidbit popping out of the NHL player media tour in Europe.
🧐 Sean McIndoe admits five weird things he does when he watches hockey. Do any of them sound acquainted to you, or is he on one other planet?
👶 With the draft barely within the rear-view mirror, there’s no relaxation for prospect professional Corey Pronman, who ranked the prospect pipelines for all 32 teams. If that’s not sufficient, he additional defined his rankings on “The Athletic Hockey Show” podcast. Pay attention to search out out which participant he stated is likely to be the perfect prospect he’s ever evaluated.
📬 James Mirtle winds down his summer mailbag series (Elements 1 and 2 are additionally value your time) by answering questions in regards to the Oilers and their goalies, the great ol’ no-tax state debate, why groups have a lot cap room, and ache in Toronto and Buffalo.
Your trivia reply …
Anthony Stolarz is the one different goaltender with constructive GSAx in every of the final six seasons. He performed nicely in a restricted function with the Anaheim Geese and Florida Panthers earlier than lastly getting the beginning gig final season in Toronto. All he did was end second within the NHL with 31.2 GSAx.
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(High picture: Leah Hennel / Getty Photographs)
