2024-25 Fantasy Hockey: Top 10 Goalies

Posted by Admin September 20, 2024 Sports

This is the final column in the series focusing on the top 10 at each position.

We led off with centers in the first column followed by right and left wingers and then blueliners.

Unlike other lists that may focus on how well the netminder might stick handle the puck, our primary driver here is how these individuals rank from a fantasy perspective. Where germane, we most certainly will highlight the non-scoring aspects that the player brings to the table that tell the whole story, but that is a secondary aspect to where he sits on the list.

1. Igor Shesterkin, New York Rangers

Part of the reason for this ranking is how Shesterkin has raised his game in the post-season. Shesterkin, who won the Vezina Trophy for the 2021-22 season, had an up-and-down campaign last year but righted the ship after the All-Star break and carried that play through the playoffs.

Shesterkin leads the NHL with 109 wins over the past three seasons and tied with Connor Hellebuyck for second in shutouts with 13 during that span, trailing only Ilya Sorokin (15). Shesterkin, whose goals-saved-above-expectations (GSAx) is usually towards the top of the league, heads into the 2023-24 campaign in the final year of his deal as he looks to break the bank.

2. Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay Lightning

Here is where the debates normally begin, though some could argue with Shesterkin at No. 1. Anyone from second to fifth are interchangeable, as those are really based on preference.

Despite the loss of Steven Stamkos, I have Vasilevskiy at No. 2, largely because he enters this season completely healthy. The extra time off due to the early-round playoffs exit should benefit him. Off-season back surgery cost Vasilevskiy nearly two months last season, yet he finished with at least 30 wins for the seventh straight season despite so-so numbers. Look for a full return to form from Vasilevskiy, who won the Vezina after the 2017-18 season and leads the NHL with 286 wins since 2015-16.

3. Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets

Hellebuyck, who is the now a two-time and reigning Vezina Trophy winner after his brilliant 2023-24, has played at least 60 games each of the last three seasons. Eric Comrie is the new backup netminder, so expect similar usage for Hellebuyck.

Hellebuyck’s 2.39 GAA is the best he’s posted since 2017-18, while the 37 wins matched his prior year total. He was torched in the playoffs by the Avs, though I doubt there will be much carry-forward into the regular season. Look for another big year across the board from Hellebuyck.

4. Jake Oettinger, Dallas Stars

Call this a hunch pick. Oettinger had a down year last season, falling from eighth-best in GSAx in 2022-23 to 50th. With the decline, Oettinger posted a 2.72 GAA and .905 SP, a far cry from the prior year when he was at 2.37 and .929, respectively.

Oettinger, who should be one of the goalies selected to play for the US in the Four Nations Cup, showed his value in the postseason and is expected to have a rebound campaign.

5. Juuse Saros, Nashville Predators

If Jeremy Swayman was signed, he likely would be in this spot. But the unknown length of the holdout coupled with the trade of Yaroslav Askarov resulted in Saros landing in this spot.

Like Jake Oettinger, Saros had a down 2023-24, but his eight-year, $61.92-million deal should result in his starting at least 60-plus games again. The undersized netminder, who led goalies in games played last season, faced the most shots (1,845) and made the most saves (1,672), and also ranked second in wins the last three seasons with 106.

6. Jeremy Swayman, Boston Bruins

As of this publication, Swayman remains a holdout. Once signed, with Linus Ullmark now with the Senators, Swayman is the unquestioned starter in net for the Bruins. He went 25-10-8 with a 2.53 goals-against average, .916 save percentage and three shutouts in 44 games (43 starts) last season and he’s 79-33-15 in his NHL career.

Swayman was given the starter’s net in the playoffs, defeating the Leafs before taking the Panthers to six games. He should join Jake Oettinger as one of the goalies selected to play for the U.S. in the Four Nations Cup.

7. Sergei Bobrovsky, Florida Panthers

Bobrovsky’s Cup victory likely sealed his path to the Hockey Hall of Fame. Add in two Vezina Trophies and the fact he will surpass 400 wins this season, and the case is pretty much made.

Bobrovsky rebounded from a rough 2022-23 season to finish tied for first in shutouts (6), third overall in wins (36) and GAA (2.37), and tied for seventh in save percentage (.915). He was even better in the post-season, going 16-8 with a 2.32 GAA and a .906 save percentage over 24 contests.

8. Jacob Markstrom, New Jersey Devils

This is where we hit the coin-flip section. If Ilya Sorokin was fully healthy, he would be in this spot, but his status is up in the air. Same with Thatcher Demko. If you prefer Stuart Skinner, by all means, he has a case to be made.

Markstrom certainly did not have a great showing last season. But he gets a new lease on life, moving to New Jersey this off-season. In addition, his poor numbers were adversely affected by the team in front of him. That said, his advance metrics bode well, as Markstrom’s 28.93 GSAx told a different tale. It was third-best in the NHL, behind Hellebuyck and Jordan Binnington, lending credence to placing him eighth overall.

9. Stuart Skinner, Edmonton Oilers

Skinner started last season like he was aiming for a trip to Bakersfield in the AHL He righted the ship late in November, helping propel the Oilers to the playoffs. Skinner posted 36 wins, third overall, along with a 2.62 GAA and a .905 SP. He was a bit uneven in the playoffs, landing on the pine before rebounding and carrying the Oilers to Game 7 of the Cup final. Skinner is the team’s unquestioned No. 1 goalie and should post another 30-plus win season with a possible long playoff run.

10. Ilya Sorokin, New York Islanders

Your guess is as good as ours how long Sorokin will be sidelined and if he will truly be 100 percent following off-season back surgery.

Sorokin had a brutal 2023-24, as his wins fell from 31 to 25, GAA shot up from 2.34 to 3.01, and save percentage dropped from .924 to .909. Semyon Varlamov carried the Islanders late in the season and he will fill in for as long as Sorokin is sidelined. When/if healthy, Sorokin is one of the best netminders in the league and hopefully gets a chance to provdie it this year.

Honorable Mention:

Thatcher Demko, Vancouver Canucks
Linus Ullmark, Ottawa Senators
Jordan Binnington, St. Louis Blues
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Buffalo Sabres
Pyotr Kochetkov, Carolina Hurricanes
Joesph Woll, Toronto Maple Leafs
Alexandar Georgiev, Colorado Avalanche