It’s impossible to win in the NHL without great goaltending. The position can feel random at times, and even world-class goaltenders can have terrible nights in the net. However, the great teams have stability between the pipes, with some goaltenders proving they can single-handedly steal a game when playing at their best.
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In a league where great goaltending is a rarity, having great, or even reliable, play in the net is vital to success. Conversely, terrible play in the net can single-handedly ruin an otherwise promising season. With this in mind, we take a look at the teams with the best goaltending in the NHL. While some teams have a reliable starter, the backups can weigh them down, so keep in mind, this is a team ranking and not an individual one. It’s important to keep in mind that emergency backup goaltenders (EBUGs) and goaltenders who had short stints with their teams won’t be part of the rankings.
How These Rankings Came Together
The stats from the past season came into play. The classics of save percentage (SV%) and goals-against average (GAA) are listed by every goaltender with enough data but shutouts are also noted, as well as goals-saved above average (GSAA). These rankings solely my opinion. They provided input on the eye test but also on which goaltending groups can be counted on. It’s why, along with the stats, the reputation of the goaltender and their playoff performances also came into play.
While some may look to wins and losses to evaluate goaltenders, the key is separating the player from the team. A lot of goaltenders will have a bad win-loss record despite great numbers, and conversely, an average goaltender on a great team will have a great record (think about the pitcher’s win in baseball). On these rankings, we will start at the worst goaltending duo and work our way down to the best. With all this in mind, let’s dive into the rankings.
32 – Vancouver Canucks
Goaltending Duo: Thatcher Demko & Kevin Lankinen
First up, the Vancouver Canucks are by far the worst team in the NHL. Unfortunately, it is largely due to their goaltending and inability to score goals. If we look back a few years, there was a time when they had one of the best goalies in the NHL in Thatcher Demko.
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Sadly, due to injuries, his play has drastically fallen off. As for their secondary goalie in Kevin Lankinen, they pay him as if he was a starter but he has struggled just as bad. Overall, as a team, they have .870 save percentage (SV%), which is seventh worst in the NHL.
31- Ottawa Senators
Starter: Linus Ullmark
Backup: Leevi Meriläinen & James Reimer
Unfortunately, there is another Canadian team finding themselves on the list this early. For the Ottawa Senators, they’ve had a whirlwind of a season. They came into it with such high hopes but just haven’t gotten the goaltending that they expected. They currently sit in last place in team SV% at .868 and have even gone as far as signing NHL veteran James Reimer to try and steady the crease in Linus Ullmark’s absence. It just hasn’t worked this season and is something that they will need to address this offseason.
30 – Florida Panthers
Starter: Sergei Bobrovsky
Backup: Daniil Tarasov
The Florida Panthers are weird to put this low, especially after the back-to-back Stanley Cups. However, it looks like father time has finally caught up to Sergei Bobrovsky because he has struggled, quite badly this season. Either that, or all the hockey he has played over the last two seasons is catching up and he is tired, Nevertheless, the Panthers find themselves in second last in team SV% and Bobrovsky specifically has a .871 SV%. That said, Tarasov hasn’t been much better between the pipes this season, which hasn’t helped them at all. Couple that with the injuries to their star players and the Panthers are at risk of missing the playoffs.
29 – St. Louis Blues
Primary Starter: Jordan Binnington
Backup: Joel Hofer
Jordan Binnington, like other veterans who have experienced success at the highest level, plays at one level during the regular season and another during the playoffs or big games. The St. Louis Blues saw it in the 2019 playoffs, and Canada saw it in the Four-Nations Faceoff.
When needed, Binnington can put together a strong performance. Additionally, Joel Hofer emerged as a great backup who can split starts during the regular season. It gives the Blues a great tandem to lean on to make significant strides this season and become one of the best teams in the Central Division.
28 – Philadelphia Flyers
Starter: Samuel Ersson
Backups: Dan Vladar
The Philadelphia Flyers find themselves in a very difficult spot. They are a young team that could be a lot better than they have been, if they were getting better goaltending. Between Samuel Ersson and Dan Vladar their performance has been lacklustre. They sit in fourth worst in the NHL in team SV% and really don’t have much help on the way. They are a team that could use one of their young players to trade for a more promising goaltender at the March 6th trade deadline.
27 – Nashville Predators
Starter: Juuse Saros
Backup: Justus Annunen
The Nashville Predators are in a spot they are not used to. They cannot trust their goaltending. For years, Juuse Saros has been the guy holding everything together, but this season has been a real struggle. He is sitting at a career low .892 save percentage, and when they have turned to Justus Annunen for help, they have not found much. It is hard to win games when your starter is giving up goals he used to stop rather easily. The hope is that they can get him back to his previous form and get back to their winning ways.
26 – Calgary Flames
Starter: Dustin Wolf
Backup: Devin Cooley
The Calgary Flames are in an interesting spot with their goaltending right now. After a big rookie year, Dustin Wolf has hit a bit of a sophomore slump, struggling to keep his save percentage above .890 as the heavy workload starts to show. Behind him, Devin Cooley has not really provided the team with much more than Wolf has this season.
25 – Edmonton Oilers
Starter: Tristan Jarry
Backup: Connor Ingram
After making a Stuart Skinner for Tristan Jarry goalie swap earlier this season, the Edmonton Oilers still haven’t found their groove. Jarry is playing no better than he was during his time in Pittsburgh, which has the organization trying to find another option. They have turned to Connor Ingram as their backup, instead of Calvin Pickard who was played on waivers earlier this season. Unfortunately, Ingram hasn’t been any better and the Oilers find themselves in sixth last in the league in team SV%.
24 – Anaheim Ducks
Starter: Lukáš Dostál
Backup: Ville Husso
The Anaheim Ducks have finally taken a step in the right direction but sadly their goaltending hasn’t. Yes, Lukáš Dostál has played well to keep them in games, but they lack a true backup goalie. If Dostál can rise his SV% to above .900, it would help the Ducks down the stretch. As for their backup, Ville Husso has been awful. His SV% is .882 and his goals against average is 3.26. It is clear that if the Ducks want to be a true contender, they need to acquire a more reliable backup.
23 – Montreal Canadiens
Goaltending Duo: Sam Montembeault & Jakub Dobes
The Montreal Canadiens are in a similar situation to the Ducks. They have a great young team that is ready to make the jump and are doing it. But, they’ve struggled with their goaltending. This season especially with how much Sam Montembeault has struggled between the pipes. They’ve had to rely on Jakub Dobes, who has been playing better than Montembeault and is keeping him in games. Ideally though, they’d want a goalie who they be reliable and make big saves when they need. Unfortunately, that hasn’t been a consistent thing this season.
22 – San Jose Sharks
Starter: Yaroslav Askarov
Backup: Alex Nedeljkovic
Next up, the San Jose Sharks who have taken a massive step forward this season. They’ve been much better than just about everyone expected them to be and a small part of that is due to goaltending. Although shaky at times, Yaroslav Askarov has shown that he can be the goalie that this team needs in the future. As a tandem, he and Alex Nedeljkovic have been reliable but could be better. Currently, they sit in 21st in team save percentage. The good news is they are still in the early stages of their rebuild and can afford to have shaky goaltending at times.
21 – Pittsburgh Penguins
Goaltending Duo: Arturs Silovs & Stuart Skinner
The Penguins were on the other side of that one-for-one goalie swap with the Oilers, that sent Jarry to Edmonton or Stuart Skinner. And, since the trade, he has been playing better but has still struggled. At this time, he and Arthurs Silovs have been a good enough tandem to get them into a playoff spot and keep them there. The organization built this goalie tandem through trades and so far, through almost three-quarters of the season, it has paid off.
20 – Vegas Golden Knights
Goaltending Duo: Adin Hill & Akira Schmid
The Vegas Golden Knights technically do have a starting goalie in Adin Hill but this season he has been dealing with injuries and now it has been a shared crease. The goalie that has gotten the most action is Akira Schmid. He’s played in 29 games, starting 25 and has a 16-6 record. That has been one of the Golden Knights’ saving grace this season. As for Hill, he hasn’t been good this season, which makes sense with all the injuries. They could be a team that makes a trade for another goalie to help solidify the crease.
19 – Columbus Blue Jackets
Starter: Jet Greaves
Backup: Elvis Merzlikins
The 2025-26 season has been a strange one for the Columbus Blue Jackets. They’ve seen the growth of Jet Greaves but also have battled adversity. Things got so bad this season, they made a coaching change which has seemingly helped the team.
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However, their goaltending hasn’t improved that much. In fact, their backup, Elvis Merzlikins has struggled immensely this season. It does look like they have a true number on in Greaves, who has a .910 SV% this season.
18 – New Jersey Devils
Starter: Jacob Markstrom
Backup: Jake Allen
The New Jersey Devils overhauled their goaltending last offseason, and it paid off. With Jake Allen and Jacob Markstrom splitting starts, the unit went from a weakness to a strength. Unfortunately, Markstrom and Allen have struggled quite a bit this season. And, it has made the Devils question a lot about their future, especially as both are in their mid-30s and have only so many great years left in them.
17 – Chicago Blackhawks
Starter: Spencer Knight
Backup: Arvid Soderblom
Spencer Knight provided a glimmer of hope this season for the Chicago Blackhawks. He was the young goaltender they got back in the Seth Jones trade, and he showed flashes down the stretch. It’s why the duo of him and Arvid Soderblom could become one to watch for a team that’s in the middle of a rebuild.
16 – Seattle Kraken
Starter: Joey Daccord
Backup: Philipp Grubauer
By now, it’s obvious that Joey Daccord is the starter and has done a good job in that role. Philipp Grubauer, who is the backup at this point, might be one of the worst signings in recent years, certainly one of the worst deals the Seattle Kraken have made as a franchise. They signed him to a six-year deal in 2021, and since things haven’t gone as planned. Grubauer has had a bounce back year which has helped them stay in the playoff race this season.
15 – Los Angeles Kings
Starter: Darcy Kuemper
Backup: Anton Forsberg
Darcy Kuemper is a starter the Los Angeles Kings can lean on. He quietly put together one of the best seasons in the NHL and was in the Vezina conversation for a brief time last season. The Anton Forsberg signing, meanwhile, is questionable, considering he’s a backup. But so far this season, he has been fairly good, supporting a.907 SV%.
14 – Boston Bruins
Starter: Jeremy Swayman
Backup: Joonas Korpisalo
The Boston Bruins pulled off a great mini retool that has left their team in much better shape for the future than in years past. Last season, they made the decision to sell off assets and now they are reaping the benefits.
On top of that, Jeremy Swayman has been with the club the entire season with no contract issue which has helped. As a goaltending duo, he and Joonas Korpisalo have been very good. They sit in 12th in the NHL in team SV%. They’ve definitely had a bounce back season, and have helped get the Bruins back into the playoff picture.
13 – New York Islanders
Starter: Ilya Sorokin
Backup: David Rittich
Ilya Sorokin proved in recent seasons that he’s an elite goaltender. At the same time, he’s proven he can’t be overworked, something that’s happened in each of the past two seasons. So, the New York Islanders need a backup. With Semyon Varlamov’s status up in the air ahead of the season, new GM Mathieu Darche signed David Rittich, who is past his prime and coming off an awful season with the Los Angeles Kings, with the hopes that he turns back the clock and fills the backup void.
12 – Detroit Red Wings
Starter: John Gibson
Backup: Cal Talbot
Goaltending has been a thorn in the side of the “Yzerplan” since Steve Yzerman took over as GM in 2019. The hope is that John Gibson can save the day this time around. His best is in the past, but he’s still an elite goaltender and can lead a good team to the playoffs. Cam Talbot, even at 38, is also playing well. This season, Gibson has shown the NHL that he can be a great goalie if he has a solid team playing in front of him.
11 – Utah Mammoth
Starter: Karel Vejmelka
Backup: Vitek Vanecek
Karel Vejmelka was great last season and became the workhorse for this team. And, he has been great again this season. The hope is that Vitek Vanecek is the answer as a backup. However, this season, he been a very good backup to one of the NHL’s busiest goalies.
10 – Buffalo Sabres
Starter: Ukko-Pekka Luukonen
Backups: Alex Lyon & Colton Ellis
The Buffalo Sabres are one of the biggest surprises of the 2025-26 season. They are on pace to make the playoffs for the first time since the 2010-11 season. And, it is largely due to their goaltending. Between the trio of Ukko-Pekka Luukonen, Alex Lyon and Colton Ellis have held down the crease and helped the Sabres turn around their season. They currently sit in ninth amongst teams in team SV%, which is incredible, considering how much they’ve struggled over the last 16 seasons. However, now it looks to be all over and they are going to have a winning season.
9 – Toronto Maple Leafs
Goaltending Duo: Anthony Stolarz & Joseph Woll
There’s a good chance (and a great argument) that if Anthony Stolarz is healthy in the Second Round, the Toronto Maple Leafs would have won that series against the Florida Panthers. When healthy, it’s hard to see Stolarz lose. The Maple Leafs also have Joseph Woll as the backup, and while he isn’t great, he’s progressing into a potential starter in the future, and for now, he’s a great backup. Unfortunately, this season hasn’t been ideal. They are on the outside of the playoff picture looking in and it doesn’t look good. Now, majority of that can be blamed on injuries, to multiple areas of the team. From a goaltender perspective, they haven’t been bad. Even Dennis Hildeby has stepped up when needed. They just have dealt with so much adversity, it has affected them.
8 – New York Rangers
Starter: Igor Shesterkin
Backup: Jonathan Quick
Last season proved that Igor Shesterkin, who is a perennial Vezina Trophy-caliber goaltender, can only do so much. The team fell apart around him, and he wasn’t his usual dominant self in the second half because of it. He’s still one of the best in the game and, by default, raises the team’s floor. Sadly, it has been the same story this season. The question still remains is Jonathan Quick is still a good enough backup? And, this season he has proven that father time may finally be catching up to him.
7 – Winnipeg Jets
Starter: Connor Hellebuyck
Backup: Eric Comrie
At this point, the Winnipeg Jets might as well be in their own tier when it comes to goaltending. Connor Hellebuyck established himself as a generational goaltender, winning the Vezina last season for the second year in a row and third time in his career while also taking the Hart Trophy. On top of that, Eric Comrie is great as a backup, allowing the Jets to win low-scoring games even without Hellebuyck in the net.
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Unfortunately, this season depsite having one of the best goalies in the last two decades, they’ve struggled as a team. And, for that, we’ve dropped them down the list. Yes, they have the best goalie in the league. But, this season their goalie duo hasn’t been as good and it has hurt their club.
6 – Carolina Hurricanes
Goaltending Duo: Fredrik Andersen & Brandon Bussi
For a team that’s always in the Cup conversation, the Carolina Hurricanes still have the same recurring issues in the net. Frederik Andersen doesn’t stay healthy, and when he is, he’s a good, not great, goaltender. However, that has all seemed to change this season after they claimed Brandon Bussi off of waiver from the Bruins. He has been one of the best stories of the season and it has helped the Hurricanes a lot. With a 23-3-1 record and a .908 SV%, he has been a huge reason as to why Carolina has been as good a they’ve been the season. The question left that needs to be answered is if that’s enough in the playoffs.
5 – Washington Capitals
Starter: Logan Thompson
Backup: Charlie Lindgren
The Washington Capitals were the surprise in the NHL last season, going from a borderline playoff team to securing the best record in the Eastern Conference. The surge can be credited in part to their goaltending. Yes, Charlie Lindgren struggled, yet he proved he can split starts. Logan Thompson, meanwhile, took off in the starting net and looked like one of the best in the NHL. He has carried forward that momentum this season and it has even earned him a spot on Team Canada at the 2026 Olympics.
4 – Dallas Stars
Starter: Jake Oettinger
Backup: Casey DeSmith
he Dallas Stars have a great tandem led by one of the best goaltenders in the NHL. Jake Oettinger was making a strong case to be in the starting net for the USA Olympic team, which is saying a lot considering who the starter is. The Stars not only have one of the game’s best starters, but they also have a great backup in Casey DeSmith, who rounds out the unit.
3 – Minnesota Wild
Starter: Filip Gustavsson
Backup: Jesper Wallstedt
The Minnesota Wild are a team that tends to fly under the radar but is one of the leagues best. After making the massive trade to acquire Quinn Hughes from the Canucks, it added another layer. One of the biggest strengthens is their goaltending.
The tandem of Filip Gustavsson and Jesper Wallstedt is one of the best in the NHL and it has shown this season. They sit second in team SV% and at times have put on a goaltending clinic, which helps their team win games rather easily.
2 – Tampa Bay Lightning
Starter: Andrei Vasilevskiy
Backup: Jonas Johansson
Andrei Vasilevskiy has been healthy this season, and it showed. He looked like an elite goaltender who could carry the Tampa Bay Lightning, and he has, helping them stay atop of the Atlantic Division. Jonas Johansson, meanwhile, looked like a good enough backup, which is all the Lightning need. The only knock is that Vasilevskiy wasn’t dominant in the playoffs last year and hasn’t been in a while. Otherwise, this team has one of the best duos in the NHL.
1 – Colorado Avalanche
Starter: Mackenzie Blackwood
Backup: Scott Wedgewood
Teams don’t trade goaltenders in the middle of the season. Well, it turns out they can and they do, as the Colorado Avalanche showed last season. They overhauled the position with the MacKenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood additions. The duo was incredible and turned a weakness into a strength, they are in first in the NHL in team SV% with a .910 SV%. It’s why the Avalanche look poised to finish this season near the top of the Western Conference
What Do You Think?
Ultimately, there’s no exact science to evaluating goaltending. It’s why some teams will stand out one way or another. These rankings don’t have definitive data with all the offseason movement. A goaltender can look great on one team, but in a new setting with a new system, they might look awful.
Related: Ranking the NHL’s 32 Starting Goalies – Midseason Update
It’s why these rankings, while time-consuming, are sure to have flaws. If you feel the rankings are inaccurate and there are a few teams that are too low or high on the list, feel free to let us know in the comments section below.
Statistics were obtained from Hockey Reference and contract details from PuckPedia.
