With Stuart Skinner lastly traded to Pittsburgh after what appeared like weeks or months of hypothesis, I made a decision to examine in with the Western Groups and see how their goalies had been doing.
All of us ought to know that it isn’t only a reflection on goaltending, however on group protection as effectively, so I’ve damaged out defender scores for every group. For our functions, we will probably be score groups from worst to first within the West, utilizing my score system from www.playergameratings.com and every roster right here.
We’re going to rank the group goalies from worst to first within the West (Sixteenth to 1st)
The common NHL goalie score in 2025-26 is 6.261, down from roughly 6.40 within the 2024-25 season. First within the NHL is 6.85, and Thirty second is 5.69. There’s much more volatility for goalies than skaters.
The common defender score in 2025-26 is 6.406, which could be very near the 6.41 from 2024-25. First within the NHL is 6.52, and Thirty second is 6.3.
Sixteenth – St. Louis Blues (Thirtieth within the NHL with a 5.72 goalie score)
The Blues have the Thirty first-ranked protection within the NHL at present at 6.34, so their goaltending shouldn’t be getting the assistance it wants, and their low rating is a mix of poor protection and poor goaltending.
Jordan Binnington has struggled, with a document of 7-8-5, an 86.9 save proportion, and a destructive GSAx of 19.33. His goalie score is 5.55, which is useless final within the NHL for any goalie with 10 begins or extra. Joel Hofer has fared higher, however not sufficient to take over the beginning job. He has a document of 5-6-2, a save proportion of 89.3, a GSAx of destructive 3.34 and a goalie score of 6.03.
fifteenth – Vancouver Canucks (Twenty eighth/5.91)
Vancouver had the Twenty second-rated protection within the NHL at 6.39, with Quinn Hughes. Transferring Hughes has put them close to the underside with a score of 6.32. Buium will probably carry that up in time, however that’s the distinction for now.
Thatcher Demko has managed to play simply 12 video games with a document of 6-5-0, a save proportion of 90.3 and a destructive GSAx of 1.41. His goalie score is 6.22, which could be very near common. He performed on Sunday afternoon in a 2-1 win over New Jersey, so there’s hope he’s again to well being and that their group score will enhance.
Kevin Lankinen has performed in 17 video games with a document of 4-10-3, a save proportion of 87.8, and a destructive GSAx of 10.03. His goalie score of 5.71 is fourth-worst within the NHL for goalies who’ve performed 10 video games or extra.
14th – Nashville Predators (twenty seventh/5.95)
The Predators have the Twenty ninth-rated protection within the NHL at 6.35, which is effectively under the league common.
Juuse Saros is getting higher because the season progresses and is now 11-10-3, with a save proportion of 89.6, a GSAx of destructive 10.81 and a score of 6.22, which is league common. Saros’ outcomes have been on par with the group’s.
Justus Annunen, however, has a document of 1-5-1 with a save proportion of 86.3, a destructive GSAx of 4.17 and a score of 5.25, which is effectively under the league normal.
thirteenth – Edmonton Oilers (twenty sixth/5.95)
By getting Tristan Jarry, the Oilers obtained again a goalie in higher kind than Stuart Skinner on the time of the commerce. Jarry has a document of 10-3-1, a save proportion of 90.8 and a GSAx of 5.72 with a score of 6.58, which is effectively above the league common of 6.26.
The Oilers’ group protection is rated third within the NHL with a 6.49 score, so the goaltending was letting them down by fairly a big margin. The hope is that Jarry is nearer to the league common than Skinner was.
Calvin Pickard has a document of 3-4-2, with a save proportion of 85.3, a GSAx of destructive 10.16 and a score of 5.08.
twelfth – Utah Mammoth (twenty third/6.05)
Utah has the Eighth-rated protection with a 6.43 score, which implies that their goaltending has allow them to down slightly, they usually might require an improve in the event that they wish to ensure that they make the playoffs. They’re outscoring their points in the intervening time.
Karel Vejmelka has a document of 14-9-2, a save proportion of 89.3 and a GSAx of two.07 with a score of 6.16, simply barely under common.
Vitek Vanecek has a document of 2-6-1, a save proportion of 87.8, a GSAx of destructive 3.04 and a score of 5.76.
eleventh – Vegas Golden Knights (Twenty second/6.08)
Vegas often has a stronger protection, however in 2025-26, their protection is nineteenth general with a 6.4 score in the intervening time.
Their goaltending is at present with out Adin Hill, who had a document of 1-0-2, a save proportion of 88.8 and a score of 5.98.
Akira Schmid has accomplished effectively in his absence with a document of 11-2-4, a save proportion of 90.3, a GSAx of 0.76 and a score of 6.33.
Carter Hart was signed as a free agent and has briefly taken over the beginning position with a document of 3-0-1, a save proportion of 89.9 and a GSAx of destructive 1.41.
tenth – Anaheim Geese (twentieth/6.12)
The Geese at present have the Fifth-best protection within the NHL with a score of 6.46.
They are going to be glad to have Lukas Dostal again within the web as he has a document of 11-6-1, a save proportion of 90.2, a GSAx of three.33 and a score of 6.46.
With out Dostal in objective, they relied on Ville Husso, Petr Mrazek, and Vyacheslav Buyeyets, who had a collective document of 8-6-0, a save proportion round 88.2, and a score round 5.8.
The protection deserves higher goaltending from everybody outdoors of Dostal.
ninth – Seattle Kraken (fifteenth/6.26)
The Kraken have the Sixteenth-rated protection within the NHL with a 6.4 score, which is correct on tempo with their goaltending.
Joey Daccord has a document of 8-7-4 with a save proportion of 89.2, a GSAx of destructive 5.85, and a score of 6.10. He is struggled slightly after a powerful 2024-25 marketing campaign.
Grubauer has accomplished effectively in a backup position with a document of 4-2-1, a save proportion of 90.0, a GSAx of two.61 and a score of 6.24 (proper round league common). We might see Grubauer take some begins away from Daccord in the event that they each proceed taking part in at their present degree.
Eighth – Winnipeg Jets (14th /6.26)
Winnipeg is sitting because the Seventh-rated protection within the NHL with a score of 6.44.
We aren’t used to seeing the Jets not on the prime of goalie lists, however Connor Hellebuyck was out for nearly a month, and the group struggled beneath Eric Comrie and Thomas Milic in objective.
Hellebuyck is again and performed on Saturday, permitting only one objective on 26 photographs in opposition to Washington. He has a document of 9-6-0, a save proportion of 91.6, a GSAx of 5.09 and a score of 6.71. He is nonetheless probably the greatest goalies within the NHL, however is slightly down the listing in the intervening time.
Comrie has a document of 6-8-1 with a save proportion of 88.5, a GSAx of destructive 0.7 and a score of 5.92.
Seventh – Calgary Flames (thirteenth/6.38)
Calgary has the Twenty fourth-rated protection within the NHL with a 6.38 score.
Their goaltending is best than their protection with Dustin Wolf and Devin Cooley.
Wolf had a tricky begin to the 2025-26 season, however has settled in and is taking part in close to the highest of his sport once more. He has a document of 10-12-2, a save proportion of 89.9, a GSAx of destructive 9.37 and a score of 6.22.
Cooley has taken some begins away from Wolf with a document of 3-4-2, a save proportion of 91.3, a GSAx of 8.19 and a score of 6.58.
Sixth – San Jose Sharks (twelfth/6.42)
The Sharks have the Thirtieth-rated protection in the intervening time within the NHL, with a score of 6.35.
Their goaltending sits at #12 within the NHL proper now.
Yaroslav Askarov has a document of 11-8-1, a save proportion of 90.2, a GSAx of 5.23 and a score of 6.43. He’s lastly a starter within the NHL and must be for the foreseeable future, barring damage.
Alex Nedeljkovic has a document of 5-6-2, a save proportion of 90.1, a GSAx of destructive 4.6 and a score of 6.35.
The cut up favored Nedeljkovic early on, went to a 50/50 cut up and is now a 60/40 cut up for Askarov.
Fifth – Chicago Blackhawks (tenth/6.47)
Chicago has the Thirty second-rated protection within the NHL in the intervening time, with a score of 6.3, whereas their goaltending is at present tenth within the NHL.
Spencer Knight has been incredible in 2025-26 with a document of 10-7-5, a save proportion of 91.5, a GSAx of 13.02 and a score of 6.83 (which is second within the NHL behind Logan Thompson on Washington for starters with greater than 20 video games). The difficulty in Chicago is likely to be that if Knight struggles slightly, the protection won’t be adequate to hold him for any size of time.
Arvid Soderblom has a document of 3-6-1, with a save proportion of 87.6, a GSAx of destructive 6.63 and a score of 5.62.
4th – Los Angeles Kings (ninth/6.52)
The Kings are available with the Twenty fifth-rated protection within the NHL at this level, with a score of 6.38.
Their goaltending ranks ninth within the league, with a score of 6.52.
Darcy Kuemper has a document of 10-6-6, with a save proportion of 91.6, a GSAx of 9.39 and a score of 6.65.
Backup Anton Forsberg has a document of 4-2-3, a save proportion of 89.6, a GSAx of destructive 3.11 and a score of 6.21.
The Kings may very well be in hassle if Kuemper loses kind or goes down with an damage.
third – Dallas Stars (Sixth/6.65)
The Stars have the Sixth-rated protection within the NHL with a score of 6.45.
They’ve been getting good goaltending, but in addition have a incredible blue line.
Jake Oettinger has a document of 14-6-2, with a save proportion of 90.7, a GSAx of 4.72 and a score of 6.53.
Casey DeSmith has been nice as a backup, permitting him to get a couple of extra begins and hold Oettinger slightly brisker when the playoffs start. DeSmith has a document of 7-1-3, with a save proportion of 92.0, a GSAx of 9.63 and a score of 6.87.
2nd – Colorado Avalanche (third/6.79)
Colorado has the second-rated protection within the NHL with a 6.51 (behind the Washington Capitals with a 6.52 score).
It was sufficient in Colorado to get common goaltending, and they’d contend for a Stanley Cup. Now they’re getting excellent goaltending and dominating the NHL up to now.
Scott Wedgewood has a document of 14-1-4, with a save proportion of 91.9, a GSAx of 6.14 and a score of 6.73. He has by no means performed greater than 37 video games in an NHL season, so one thing to be cautious of is fatigue.
Mackenzie Blackwood has been simply nearly as good as Wedgewood with a document of 9-1-1, a save proportion of 92.0, a GSAx of seven.02 and a score of 6.82. He performed 56 video games in 2025-26, so he must be extra ready to play 60 % of the video games than Wedgewood.
1st – Minnesota Wild (1st/6.85)
Earlier than the commerce involving Quinn Hughes coming to Minnesota, I had the Wild with the Twenty eighth-rated protection within the NHL. The addition of Hughes places them into the highest ten.
Filip Gustavsson has a document of 10-8-3, with a save proportion of 90.8, a GSAx of 0.87 and a score of 6.52. He has misplaced some begins to Jesper Wallstedt, who has been excellent.
Wallstedt has a document of 9-1-2, a save proportion of 93.7, a GSAx of 9.63 and a score of seven.45, which is first within the NHL for any goalie showing in additional than 10 video games.
This cut up, which began 2025-26 at 65/35, is prone to be 50/50 because the season progresses.
Thanks very a lot for studying. When you have any feedback or recommendations, please let me know within the feedback or on Twitter @gampbler15.
