NHL Goaltenders: A Quickly Changing Landscape
Predicting the future of NHL goaltending is incredibly challenging. Teams can drastically change their goalie dynamics within a few seasons, as seen with Darcy Kuemper and Igor Shesterkin’s rankings shifting vastly over a short period. Despite the unpredictability, an attempt is made to evaluate each team’s goaltending situation right now and what it might look like moving forward.
Three critical aspects are considered: current goaltending performance, future prospects, and cap management. Current goaltending looks at the performance of goalies expected to start in the upcoming season and their immediate potential. Future prospects focus on goalies in the system who haven’t established themselves in the NHL yet, assessing their potential ceilings and career longevity. Cap and contracts analyze how salary considerations impact a team’s goaltending outlook, considering the flexibility for changes.
For example, for the Columbus Blue Jackets, the current goaltending is subpar with Elvis Merzlikins struggling and unproven back-ups. However, they do have decent prospects who could step up in the near future. The major hurdle is Merzlikins’ substantial contract, which could impede their ability to make quick changes. On the other hand, teams like the Chicago Blackhawks have potential in the pipeline with prospects like Drew Commesso and Adam Gajan, but their immediate solution with Laurent Brossoit and Petr Mrázek doesn’t inspire confidence.
Ultimately, each team’s goaltending outlook varies widely, and understanding these nuances is crucial for evaluating their potential success. The next installment will shed light on teams ranked from 22 to 11.
