Usually, in the offseason, there are a lot of lists ranking the top players in the NHL. Whether that comes from fans or media, there is a lot of discussion about the elite of the elite players across the league. After the 2021 playoffs, I thought that I would take a shot at it myself. So, let’s start with one of the more difficult ones, shall we?
#15: Thatcher Demko
As much as I think his contract extension of 5x5 may be a bit risky for a goaltender that just played his first season as a starter, Demko looks like he could be the real deal for the Canucks. In 35 games this past season, Demko had 0.915 Save% and a 2.85 GAA. However, Demkos numbers don’t tell the full story, as with many other netminders. He bailed one of the league's worst defensive teams too many times to count, and it shows in his advanced stats. He certainly is worth the contract and more if he plays as he did last season, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him be a Vezina candidate in the coming years if he keeps this up. Here’s a spoiler for the rest of the list, that big-time goalie that left Vancouver last season isn’t on this list. Finally, Benning may have done something right.
#14 Igor Shesterkin
Shesterkin had a phenomenal 12 games in the 19–20 season, but he was given the chance to be the starter for the Rangers this season. His 0.916% Save% and 2.62 GAA was very good during the season for the Rangers, and it nearly snuck them into the playoffs. He will be a big part of this young New York team moving into the future. He does need a contract this offseason, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he demands more than Demko got on his new contract. I’m very high on Shesterkin, and as I said for Demko, expect his name in the Vezina conversation in the future. These are two fantastic young netminders who I only expect to move up this list.
#13 Jacob Markstrom
This one could change very quickly if Jacob Markstrom has a bad start to next season. Markstrom did not play well at all for the Flames this season, as he put up a measly 0.904 save% and a 2.68 GAA. He didn’t live up to his new 6x6 contract, and that could be a huge problem for the Flames moving forward. He’s only at this spot because I am taking into account how good Markstrom was in the 2019–2020 season for the Canucks, but an off-season for him next year and I won’t hesitate to drop him out of this list pretty quickly.
#12 Darcy Kuemper
To me, Kuemper could be higher on this, but his down season mixed with his constant injury problems make it harder to put him ahead of some of the other netminders I have ahead of him. His 0.907 save% and his 2.56 GAA are very low considering the standards that he has set himself in the prior two seasons. However, going from one of the laughing stocks of the league to the team that won the president's trophy last season is certainly a good start for Kuemper next season. Don’t be surprised if he has a bounceback season with Colorado if he can stay healthy.
#11 Robin Lehner
I understand that I may be higher on Robin Lehner than most, but his past 2 seasons have proven to me that he is as good as he looked during his breakout season in long island. His save percentage is not as high as it was, but a 0.913 save% and a 2.29 GAA certainly isn’t anything to scoff at. He may have played it off, but I believe that he wasn’t too happy about being a backup to Marc-Andre Fleury. Giving him the reigns for the next season should bring up some confidence a little bit more, and I think that he will have a great season for the Golden Knights.
#10 Juuse Saros
Juuse Saros was the perfect goalie to fall onto the Predators' lap. He’s entering his prime just a Rinne is leaving, and he’s following after the legacy of his idol. Saros is probably very committed to this organization, and after seeing a season where he put up a 0.927 save% and a 2.28 GAA as a starter is a great way to start. I only expect him to climb this list going forward, but with Nashville obviously moving towards a rebuild, who knows what’s in store for his future.
#9 John Gibson
From 15–16 to 18–19, Gibson was a lock for the top 5 netminders in the NHL. However, the past two seasons have not been great for Gibson. His 0.903 save% and 2.98 GAA are probably the worst numbers of his career, and who knows if he will ever get back to that 3 year stretch of greatness. I believe that that could happen if he was on a different team, but you can’t just blame Anaheim for his downfall. If he plays this season as he did in his last, he may fall out of my top 15. This is his last chance to prove himself, and I still have hope that he can do it.
#8 Ben Bishop
Yes, I know, it’s weird to have a goalie who hasn’t played for more than a year and a half on this list, but that just shows how good Bishop is. I think he doesn’t get the proper credit he deserves, but his probably has always been injuries. Hopefully, with a lot of rest, Bishop will come back next season and show us all that he is still one of the best goalies in this league.
#7 Semyon Varlamov
After a subpar first season on the Islanders, Semyon Varlamov had a much better 2021 campaign. His 0.929 save% and his 2.04 GAA are incredible enough, and then you see that he had 7 shutouts in 36 games and you’re even more impressed. Whoever this goalie coach is needs a raise because there aren’t many people who can make goalies THIS good. Yes, he benefits from the Islanders system, but he still had a fantastic season.
#6 Philipp Grubauer
Over the past 5 seasons, all Philipp Grubauer has done is prove people wrong. After being dealt to Colorado, Grubauer has played very well as a backup and a starter for this team. Although injuries have sometimes been a problem, his 0.922 save% and 1.95 GAA earned him a Vezina nomination last season. Now that he’ll be playing for Seattle, it’s finally his time to prove that he isn’t just a goalie who puts up good numbers behind a contending team. I think that he can do it, but this will be a big season for him with the Kraken.
#5 Tuukka Rask
After an injury-ridden season, Rask still hasn’t signed a new contract with the Bruins. Who knows if he will be coming back, but if he does he’s still a top 5 goalie in my book. I think that Tuukka Rask is one of the more underrated goalies of the 2010s, and he deserves more credit for being a fantastic goalie for the Bruins. If only they had won the Stanley Cup in 2013 or 2018, maybe people would look at him in a different light. As Swayman and Vladar come up through the Bruins depth charts, I’m not sure if Rask is going to play nearly as big of a role for Boston in the future. We’ll see if he has one last Vezina calibre season in him.
#4 Carey Price
I’ve been on the “Carey Price isn’t very good anymore” train for a while now, and I truly don’t believe I was wrong in saying that. But what Carey Price showed in the playoffs, both this year and last year, was nothing short of spectacular. In 22 playoff games, Price had a 0.924% save% and a 2.28 GAA. The Canadiens wouldn’t have even thought about beating the Leafs if it wasn’t for Carey Price. I have to give him the credit he deserves for this run, even if he drops again after this coming season.
#3 Marc-Andre Fleury
This one may hurt a tad as a Penguins fan. Ever since joining Vegas, Fleury has been a fantastic netminder. Except for the 19–20 season, and that’s when I thought that we were finally seeing Fleury decline. Instead, he arguably had the best season of his career on his way to a Vezina Trophy with a 0.928 save% and a 1.98 GAA. He deserves to be here, but I’m not sure if he will be next season when he plays with Chicago. I don’t trust what they have going on over there, and something tells me they aren’t going to have nearly as good of a season and many think that they will.
#2 Connor Hellebuyck
Connor Hellebuyck was still my #1 goalie heading into the playoffs, but after a small step back from his Vezina winning campaign in 2020, and with #1 improving, he had to drop down to #2. Something tells me that this won’t be for very long, but for now, I can’t give Hellebuyck the #1 spot. There’s not much else I can say, besides the fact that I think you should expect Hellebuyck to be back in the Vezina conversation in the future.
#1 Andrei Vasilevskiy
Yeah, I think you saw this one coming. You heard me talk about Carey Prices' playoff run, well hear this. In 23 games, Vasilevskiy had a 0.937 save% and a 1.90 GAA. In every single series the Lightning played, Vasilevskiy ended every single one with an outstanding shutout performance. This, along with him getting his Conn Smythe Trophy after getting his second straight Stanley Cup ring, is why I truly believe that Andrei Vasilevskiy is the best goalie in the NHL.