Drafting and growing a franchise goaltender is a troublesome factor to do. It’s made so troublesome as a result of there’s a set studying curve on the place. Historically, netminders develop at a a lot slower tempo than skaters. When the psychological a part of the sport is factored in, it’s no surprise that so many prime prospects by no means hit the large time. With that being stated, it’s time to check out the highest 10 NHL goaltending prospects.
So far as standards go, a goaltender is not thought of a prospect if he has performed greater than 25 NHL video games in any single season, greater than 50 profession NHL video games, or older than age 23 as of Jan. 1, 2024. With that being stated, right here is my checklist of what may very well be the subsequent wave of NHL starters.
10. Drew Commesso, 22, Chicago Blackhawks
Much like the Minnesota Wild, the Chicago Blackhawks may want the providers of their prime goaltending prospect sooner relatively than later. With a naked cabinet within the NHL that features veteran Petr Mrazek as a bandaid resolution, Drew Commesso may very well be within the starter’s crease as quickly as Mrazek’s contract is over in 2026-27. Having stated that, he may nonetheless have to battle with rising goaltenders Jaxson Stauber and Arvid Soderblom, which might be good for his improvement since he wouldn’t be rushed into the starter’s function.
The now 21-year-old Norwell, MA native is one other United States Nationwide Improvement Workforce product who selected the faculty route and has spent the final three seasons with Boston College. After a sophomore 12 months that noticed him enhance on his numbers from his freshman marketing campaign to publish a 2.52 goals-against common (GAA) and .914 save proportion (SV%) and get named to america Olympic group, he regressed a bit in his junior 12 months – however not by a lot, as he completed with a 2.46 GAA and .913 SV% in 34 video games.
Chosen within the second spherical of the 2020 Draft by the Blackhawks, Commesso has the stature (6-foot-2) each goaltender wants to reach the NHL nowadays. Identified for his aggressiveness within the crease and talent to learn the play, he undoubtedly has the toolbox to take over the beginning function in Chicago sooner or later. He made his skilled debut final season for the Rockford IceHogs the place he completed with an honest 2.65 GAA and .906 SV% together with two shutouts.
9. Michael Hrabal, 19, Arizona Coyotes
Going into the 2023 NHL Draft, Michael Hrabal was one of many prime names when it got here to goaltenders. Ranked as excessive as twenty sixth by Craig Button of TSN, and ending second in NHL Central Scouting’s remaining rankings, he was projected to be one of many first goaltenders off the board. He ended up being chosen after Adam Gajan (thirty fifth general, Blackhawks), however the Arizona Coyotes have been blissful to see him nonetheless obtainable once they have been up at thirty eighth.
With a uncommon mixture of measurement (6-foot-6) and athleticism, Hrabal may very well be primary on this checklist earlier than lengthy. After spending one season within the USHL with the Omaha Lancers, he joined UMass within the NCAA and acquired a surprisingly excessive workload for a freshman goaltender. And it’s simple to see why they gave him a lot time within the crease. He had a 2.59 GAA and .912 SV% with two shutouts in 30 appearances, which ranked within the prime 5 for freshmen.
Hrabal was additionally a distinguished fixture on Workforce Czechia on the 2023 U18 World Championship and the 2024 World Juniors. He was a top-three participant at each the U18s and World Juniors and helped lead his group to a bronze medal in 2024. The Coyotes’ goaltending pool wanted a lift, they usually acquired it with Hrabal, who may very well be taking up for both Connor Ingram or Karel Vejmelka within the very close to future.
8. Arturs Silovs, 23, Vancouver Canucks
Chosen all the way in which down within the sixth spherical by the Vancouver Canucks in 2019, Arturs Silovs has slowly however certainly inched his method to the highest of the pool and is now the group’s prime goaltending prospect. Outperforming fellow netminder Mikey DiPietro, who was finally traded to the Boston Bruins, he took over the beginning job in Abbotsford in 2022-23 and put up a good 2.44 GAA, .909 SV%, and 4 shutouts. He additionally had a profitable report of 26-12-5 and was an enormous cause why they have been within the playoffs on the finish of the season.
Blended in together with his first full season within the AHL, Silovs additionally made his NHL debut with the Canucks and acquired into 5 video games, together with his first win on Feb. 18, 2023, the place he made 35 saves in a 6-2 resolution over the Philadelphia Flyers. He made his remaining begin of the season on March 6 towards the Nashville Predators and after his first shootout win, returned to the AHL for the playoffs.
Whereas Abbotsford was eradicated by the Calgary Wranglers, Silovs went on to star on the World Championship in Latvia and raised his inventory to new heights as he not solely led his nation to their first medal ever – bronze – but in addition gained one of the best goaltender award and MVP of the match. He ended up ending with a exceptional 2.20 GAA and .921 SV%, together with standout performances towards powerhouses Workforce Sweden, Workforce Canada, and the eventual nation he beat out for the bronze medal, Workforce USA.
Silovs then upped the ante in 2023-24. He performed many of the season in Abbotsford, however acquired compelled into motion throughout the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs when each Thatcher Demko and Casey DeSmith went down with accidents. Whereas it was clearly a frightening process for a netminder with solely 9 video games of NHL expertise, he rose to the problem and have become not solely serviceable however one of many causes the Canucks made it to the second spherical. Posting a 1-0 victory in Recreation 6 towards the Nashville Predators, he acquired his first NHL playoff collection win as a beginning goaltender and first shutout – earlier than even grabbing one within the common season. He then stoned two of the league’s superstars, stopping 42 of 45 pictures in a 4-3 win over the Edmonton Oilers in Recreation 3 of the second spherical.
Silovs is now poised to be Demko’s full-time backup this season, and can probably be off this checklist after I replace it on the mid-season level. He may even begin on opening night time if Demko isn’t wholesome by then.
7. Trey Augustine, 19, Detroit Purple Wings
Subsequent up, the person that was chosen just a few picks after Hrabal, Trey Augustine. It was slightly shocking to see who he went to although because the Detroit Purple Wings already had Sebastian Cossa – paradoxically the subsequent goaltender on this checklist – of their system. However with normal supervisor Steve Yzerman holding two second-round picks in a row, it was form of a no brainer to pick out a first-round expertise like Augustine, even with that being the case.
Augustine was ranked third on NHL Central Scouting’s remaining rankings, and was the third goaltender off the board after Gajan and Hrabal. One other standout for the USNTDP, he put up ridiculous numbers for the U18 and USNTDP Juniors groups in his draft 12 months posting a 2.13 GAA and .926 SV% within the former and a 2.34 GAA and .928 SV% within the latter. He was additionally a star for Workforce USA on the 2023 U18s and World Juniors the place he gained a gold medal on the U18s and a bronze medal on the World Juniors.
Transitioning to the NCAA in 2024 with Michigan State College, Augustine took the faculty world by storm, and similar to Hrabal, acquired a ton of labor within the crease. In 35 appearances, he had a 2.96 GAA and .915 SV% together with three shutouts and a ridiculous 23-9-2 report.
Blessed with unbelievable athleticism and consciousness within the crease, Augustine may find yourself being higher than Cossa and type a deadly one-two punch in objective for the Purple Wings sooner or later. Judging by his dominance on the NCAA stage to date, he has the potential to be an elite starter within the NHL, one thing that might be welcome in Detroit as they haven’t had one because the days of Terry Sawchuk and Chris Osgood.
6. Sebastian Cossa, 21, Detroit Purple Wings
Surprisingly drafted forward of Jesper Wallstedt, Sebastian Cossa continues to be within the working to develop into a strong starter within the NHL sooner or later. In what some would name an underwhelming season in his draft-plus-one 12 months, he led the powerhouse Edmonton Oil Kings to a WHL Championship and a Memorial Cup Closing look however did it with inconsistent play all year long. He additionally posted the worst GAA and SV% of his WHL profession ending with a 2.28 GAA and .913 SV% in 46 appearances and misplaced the beginning job to Dylan Garand on the 2022 WJC.
Spending many of the season within the ECHL with the Toledo Walleye, Cossa solely acquired into three video games with the Grand Rapids Griffins posting an unpleasant 5.57 GAA and .783 SV%. He was actually good within the ECHL final season, however not on the stage you’d anticipate from a former top-15 draft decide – particularly contemplating Wallstedt has already established himself within the AHL as a starter and may very well be on his method to NHL backup standing as quickly as 2025-26.
Thankfully for the Purple Wings, Cossa was fairly good in his first full season within the AHL. He sported a 2.41 GAA and .913 SV% and had a 22-9-9 report in 40 appearances, main the Griffins to their first playoff look since 2019. He additionally garnered reward from veteran goaltender Michael Hutchinson.
“It’s been nice,” Hutchinson stated of the early phases of a partnership with Cossa. “He’s a fantastic younger child. He’s individual, at the beginning, which matches a good distance. We have been each excited for one another after we had massive video games early within the season.
“After which he’s acquired an insane quantity of expertise, and for him my function is simply to be there for him if he has any questions or something he must know. It’s enjoyable working with somebody who’s that younger and that gifted and only a good individual.”
Regardless of Cossa’s preliminary struggles to acclimate himself to the professional sport, he’ll finally make his mark within the NHL as a starter with the Purple Wings sometime, as his toolbox of measurement (a gaudy 6-foot-6), athleticism, and talent to make saves in a wide range of methods are issues each goaltending coach, scout and normal supervisor (GM) drool over. Principally what I’m saying is, don’t quit on him but. Moreover, with Steve Yzerman’s success together with his draft picks to date (see Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond), it’s in all probability finest to not doubt his selection of Cossa over Wallstedt.
5. Jacob Fowler, 19, Montreal Canadiens
Jacob Fowler is hands-down the Montreal Canadiens’ goaltender of the longer term, probably turning into the primary elite netminder to go well with up for the Habs since Carey Worth dominated the crease. Drafted 69th general in 2023, the now 19-year-old has dominated the goaltending world since debuting in america Hockey League (USHL) with the Youngstown Phantoms in 2021-22. He hasn’t fallen under a .921 SV% or posted above a 2.28 GAA, which makes it much more shocking that he fell to the third spherical. In his draft 12 months, he gained the USHL Goaltender of the 12 months award ending with a league-best 2.28 GAA and .921 SV% together with being named the Clark Cup MVP after main the Phantoms to a championship.
Fowler then transitioned to the NCAA with Boston Faculty and rapidly grew to become their beginning goaltender in his freshman 12 months. Once more, he dominated, ending with a 2.14 GAA and .926 SV% together with three shutouts and a 32-6-1 report in 39 appearances. The accolades rained down – as anticipated – as he was named to the First All-American, All-Rookie, All-Event, and First All-Star groups on the finish of the season. He additionally led BC to the NCAA (Hockey East) championship and gained a gold medal with Workforce USA on the 2024 World Juniors. To say he had a fantastic season could be a large understatement.
So, what can Fowler do for an encore? It is going to be troublesome to prime his freshman season, however what’s sure is that he’s one of many NHL’s prime goaltending prospects proper now and may even leap to the highest of the checklist after Yaroslav Askarov, Jesper Wallstedt, Dustin Wolf, and Devon Levi graduate.
4. Dustin Wolf, 23, Calgary Flames
Dustin Wolf is undersized in comparison with the prototypical NHL goaltender nowadays at simply 6 toes. That could be a massive cause why he fell to the Flames all the way in which within the seventh spherical (214th general) of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. What he lacks in peak, he makes up with agility and athleticism within the blue paint. He has excellent lateral motion and protects the underside of the online nicely.
Wolf’s run within the WHL was fairly spectacular as he completed his profession with 106 wins, a .935 SV%, 1.84 GAA, and 24 shutouts in 124 video games. He led all WHL goaltenders in SV% and GAA throughout the 2018-19 season and once more in 2019-20. He was additionally named the 2020 Canadian Hockey League (CHL) Goaltender of the 12 months after ending the season with a spectacular .940 SV% and 1.88 GAA in 46 video games.
The 2020-21 season was fairly eventful for the now 22-year-old netminder. His first motion of the season got here for Workforce USA within the World Junior Championship. He made two appearances and didn’t permit a single objective as he and the Individuals took dwelling the gold medal.
From there, Wolf made his skilled debut with the Stockton Warmth within the AHL. He gained two of his three begins with a .895 SV% and three.24 GAA. He headed again to Washington for the beginning of the WHL season and excelled once more with Silvertips, posting a .940 SV%, 1.80 GAA, and 4 shutouts in 22 video games.
Wolf then transitioned to the AHL full-time in 2021-22 and continued to dominate, placing up a 2.35 GAA and .924 SV% together with a stellar report of 33-9-5. He additionally made hay within the Calder Cup Playoffs, ending with a 2.23 GAA, .929 SV% and three shutouts because the Warmth acquired eradicated within the Western Convention Closing by the eventual champion Chicago Wolves.
Now going into his first full season within the NHL, Wolf continues to be one of many league’s prime goaltending prospects. If his numbers from his first full season have been spectacular, then his second was out of this world. Ending with a 2.09 GAA and .932 SV% – and 7 shutouts – he led the newly-minted Calgary Wranglers to first in the complete AHL. He additionally led all goaltenders in wins, GAA, SV%, and video games performed. He even recorded his first NHL win in a late-season sport towards the San Jose Sharks and solely allowed one objective on 24 pictures.
Wolf acquired a while within the NHL final season, beginning 15 video games. Sadly, most of them have been underwhelming, resulting in him falling to 3rd on this checklist. He nonetheless has some growing to do, however it gained’t be within the AHL since he’s completed all he can do there, contemplating he dominated once more final season with a 2.45 GAA, .922 SV% and 4 shutouts. He’s set to be the starter for the Flames this season after they traded veteran Jacob Markstrom to the New Jersey Devils. Hopefully, for his sake, the protection performs nicely in entrance of him or he may battle to fulfill the huge expectations folks have for him after his spectacular stints within the WHL and AHL.
3. Devon Levi, 22, Buffalo Sabres
Devon Levi has emerged from the depths of the NHL Draft (212th general in 2020) to develop into one of many largest up-and-coming goaltenders within the sport. Now a Sabre after being included within the Sam Reinhart commerce, his ascent began on the 2021 World Juniors when he broke Carey Worth’s SV% report and completed with a minuscule 0.75 GAA and almost-perfect .964 SV% in seven video games. Surprisingly strolling away with solely a silver after dropping to the Individuals within the gold-medal sport, he nonetheless was deservedly named because the match’s finest goaltender, a top-three participant on Workforce Canada and was included on the All-Star poll.
Nonetheless, Levi didn’t let the frustration of dropping gold derail his improvement. No, he used it as gasoline to dominate the NCAA with the Northeastern Huskies. Showered with accolades all through the 2021-22 season, he was named an NCAA (Hockey East) Participant of the Week six occasions, Rookie of the Week as soon as, and Rookie of the Month 3 times. He additionally stuffed his trophy case with the Mike Richter Award given to the NCAA’s finest goalie and the Tim Taylor Award given to the NCAA’s prime rookie. Then to prime all of it off, he was named a finalist for the Hobey Baker. To say he had 12 months could be a large understatement.
Associated: Sabres’ Goaltending Future Brilliant with Devon Levi
Returning to the NCAA for his sophomore season in 2022-23, Levi prevented the hunch and posted a 2.24 GAA and .933 SV% in 34 video games. He then signed his ELC with the Sabres and made his extremely anticipated NHL debut towards the New York Rangers and promptly recorded his first victory. Shutting the door with 31 saves, he led the Sabres to a 3-2 time beyond regulation win and rapidly grew to become a fan favourite. That was only the start too, as he completed with a 5-2 report. Whereas his numbers weren’t out of this world (2.94 GAA, .905 SV%), he confirmed that he may play within the NHL.
Levi started the 2023-24 season within the NHL with the Sabres, however finally was despatched right down to the Rochester Individuals after a mediocre 3.30 GAA and .891 SV% in 20 appearances. It grew to become clear that he wanted extra seasoning within the AHL, particularly with how the Sabres’ protection was enjoying in entrance of him.
“Clearly it’s not simple data to take,” Levi stated. “Looking back, when you have a look at the large image, it’s a step down. However the dialog we had was not deliberately attempting to take a step down, it was extra utilizing a useful resource to develop. With three goalies, I don’t suppose that we have been getting essentially the most out of everybody after we have been up there. Being on my rookie contract, I don’t should clear waivers and I’m capable of play down right here, so it simply made sense” (from ‘Sabres prospect Devon Levi embracing ‘kick within the butt’ of getting despatched to AHL,’ The Athletic, 11/29/23).
Levi embraced AHL life and did fairly nicely with a 2.42 GAA and .927 SV% in 26 video games. He additionally confronted (and stopped) numerous rubber within the Individuals crease together with a memorable night time on Feb. 19 when he stopped 52 of 53 pictures en path to a 2-1 time beyond regulation win over the Marlies. This season, he will probably be battling James Reimer for the backup spot behind Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen who broke out because the starter in 2023-24 when Levi was despatched down.
Regardless of being barely undersized at 6 toes, Levi makes use of velocity and athleticism to make highlight-reel saves on a nightly foundation and has confirmed to be troublesome to beat within the AHL. If he can persistently translate these abilities to the NHL, the Sabres’ crease may truly be a power for the primary time since Ryan Miller and Dominik Hasek have been perennial All-Stars and Vezina Trophy candidates.
2. Jesper Wallstedt, 21, Minnesota Wild
Wallstedt was chosen twentieth general by the Minnesota Wild and appears to be the franchise’s future in web. At 6-foot-3 and 214 kilos, he has the dimensions that NHL GMs crave between the pipes. He’s massive and really energetic within the blue paint. He doesn’t shrink back from the highlight as he tends to indicate up massive within the sport’s largest moments. He has the smarts to go together with his elite method, which has him thought of a “can’t miss” prospect.
Wallstedt made the leap to the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) straight from juniors in 2020-21. He performed very nicely in his 22 video games for Lulea HF, going 12-10-0 with a .908 save proportion (SV%) and a 2.23 goals-against common (GAA) enjoying towards Sweden’s prime execs as a youngster. He additionally posted a .923 SV% and a couple of.40 GAA in his two appearances on the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship.
After being drafted by the Wild, Wallstedt returned to the SHL and continued to dominate as a 19-year-old. In reality, he ended up enhancing on the numbers from his draft 12 months, ending with a 1.98 GAA and .918 SV% together with three shutouts. Starring for Sweden on the 2022 rescheduled 2022 World Juniors in August, he outshined Cossa (who was chosen 5 spots forward of him) to the tune of a 1.62 GAA and .940 SV%; finally main his nation to a bronze medal. He additionally was named the match’s prime goaltender and a prime three participant on his group.
Wallstedt made his debut in North America in 2022-23 and is presently enjoying within the AHL with the Iowa Wild. His numbers weren’t as otherworldly as they have been within the SHL, however they have been nonetheless strong. In 38 video games, he posted a 2.68 GAA and .908 SV% and was named to the AHL All-Star Recreation. This season, he acquired his first begin within the NHL, however had a rocky debut, permitting seven objectives to the Dallas Stars in a 7-2 loss. He struggled after that, permitting 4 or extra objectives six occasions in his subsequent 13 video games within the AHL, proving that he nonetheless has extra growing to do in the case of his psychological sport. Thankfully, he acquired a pair extra video games in Minnesota to rebound from that loss – together with a 24-save shutout towards the Blackhawks – that hopefully rebuilt his confidence.
With Filip Gustavsson and Marc Andre Fleury nonetheless manning the crease for the Wild, Wallstedt probably gained’t be within the NHL full-time till the 2025-26 season. Contemplating the lengthy improvement path of most goaltenders, which may not be a nasty factor. He will probably be a star within the NHL sooner or later, however provided that the Wild take their time with him and develop him correctly.
1. Yaroslav Askarov, 22, San Jose Sharks
The inspiration of the Nashville Predators’ success for the previous decade was laid down within the crease. Pekka Rinne has constructed a Corridor of Fame resume in Music Metropolis and has since handed the torch to Jusse Saros. With the longer term in thoughts, Nashville used the 11th general decide of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft to pick out Jaroslav Askarov.
The teenage sensation was the highest-rated goaltender heading into the 2020 Draft. He was coming off a season that noticed him dominate all three ranges of Russian hockey, as he performed 9 video games for SKA St. Petersburg within the KHL and put up a .920 SV% and a couple of.00 GAA as a 17-year-old.
Following the draft, he had one other nice season in Russia with one other 9 video games within the KHL. He improved his numbers from 2019-20 with a .951 SV and 1.21 GAA and by some means went 5-4-0. Askarov’s efficiency on the World Junior Championship left a bit to be desired. Russia entered the match as one of many gold medal favorites, however he gave up 5 objectives in a loss to america to open the match. He performed nicely to get Russia into the elimination spherical however then allowed 5 objectives to Canada in a semifinal loss and one other 4 within the bronze medal sport towards Finland.
Askarov break up his 2021-22 season between the KHL and VHL (Russia’s model of the AHL), the place he posted a 1.81 GAA and .913 SV% with SKA St. Petersburg (KHL) and a 2.57 GAA and .899 SV% with SKA-Neva St. Petersburg (VHL). He additionally performed three video games within the VHL Playoffs the place he recorded a 2.01 GAA and .937 SV%.
Askarov has all of the instruments to be a profitable goaltender on the NHL stage. His athleticism and highly effective legs permit him to maneuver from publish to publish at lightning-quick velocity. His positioning within the crease is at an elite stage, however he makes use of that quickness to recuperate on the uncommon event he’s caught misplaced. In what was a contract 12 months for him within the KHL in 2021-22, he turned professional in 2022-23 and made his debut with the Milwaukee Admirals within the AHL. In 48 video games, he completed with a strong 2.69 GAA and .911 SV%.
Final season, Askarov elevated himself to the number-one goaltending prospect within the NHL. He not solely dominated the AHL with a 2.39 GAA, .911 SV%, and 6 shutouts but in addition posted his first NHL win with a 27-save efficiency towards the Washington Capitals on Dec. 30. He’s very near being prepared for a full-time spot within the massive leagues, however seeing the writing on the wall after the Predators signed Saros to an eight-year extension, he requested for a commerce within the offseason. GM Barry Trotz accommodated his request and despatched him to the San Jose Sharks, the place he’ll battle Mackenzie Blackwood and fellow Russian Vitek Vanecek for the crease this season. He probably gained’t win that battle in coaching camp, however with Blackwood and Vanecek turning into unrestricted free brokers in 2025, he may very well be the de facto starter subsequent season – a lot earlier than he would have in Nashville.
All 10 of those netminders have the uncooked expertise to develop into beginning goaltenders within the NHL. Nonetheless, everyone knows that expertise alone doesn’t at all times make it to the very best stage of the sport. As such, will probably be enjoyable to observe the journey of those kids and what number of of them reside as much as their full potential.
