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Fantasy Prospects Report
400+ drafted prospects · NHL Draft section · 20th Edition

After a flurry of trades and free-agent signings, a number of teams are going to look very different in goal this season. Here is the fantasy outlook for all 32 teams between the pipes heading into 2022-23:
Anaheim Ducks
Both John Gibson and Anthony Stolarz were rumored to be available this summer, but it looks like neither is going anywhere. Stolarz definitely outplayed Gibson last season, though Gibson should still get the bulk of the starts going forward. The 29-year-old American hasn't had a save percentage over .904 in the past three seasons and the Ducks don't figure to be strong once again, so Gibson isn't an ideal option to be a top goalie on your squad.
Arizona Coyotes
Not much has changed in the Desert from a year ago. The Coyotes are going to be near the league's basement for another year and while Karel Vejmelka showed some real potential in 2021-22, he's only really worth rostering as a streamer when you need a spot start if he has a good matchup.
Boston Bruins
Without Bruce Cassidy and his very structured defensive system, it's going to be challenging for Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman to maintain their value from a year ago. Cassidy's teams finished 1st, 1st, 1st, 2nd and 4th in goals against during his five seasons in Boston. He'll be missed and so will Charlie McAvoy and Brad Marchand for a significant part of the season with injuries, as well as the uncertain futures of Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci. All this adds up to things trending in a not so ideal direction for Swayman and Ullmark.
Buffalo Sabres
Despite a very serviceable showing in 2021-22, it's going to be tough for Craig Anderson to continue to fend off Father Time. Eric Comrie will finally get a shot at some decent playing time after showing a lot of potential in a small sample size with the Jets. Still, neither goalie is draftable and should be used very selectively throughout the season.
Calgary Flames
After a tumultuous offseason of change for the Flames, it's status quo in net for Calgary. Jacob Markstrom was stellar during the regular season last year and posted a whopping nine shutouts, probably helping a number of fantasy GMs to a title in the process. Markstrom plays a ton in Darryl Sutter's defensive-minded system, so he's probably one of the safest draft picks you can make in goal this fall.
Carolina Hurricanes
Remarkably, both Frederik Andersen and Antti Raanta remained healthy for the majority of the regular season last year. The challenge with both netminders is not their ability between the pipes, but rather hoping they avoid injury, so be cautious because the good fortune of 2021-22 isn't likely to last forever. There's also Pyotr Kochetkov lurking to try and steal a job. Kochetkov could end up having serious value should either Raanta or Andersen miss significant time next season.
Chicago Blackhawks
The Blackhawks are not hiding the fact they are going to do everything they can to land Connor Bedard in 2023 NHL Draft, which includes stripping their roster bare. Avoid Petr Mrazek and Alex Stalock at all costs.
Colorado Avalanche
Darcy Kuemper is gone, leaving Pavel Francouz and Alex Georgiev to battle it out for the starting job. The Avs proved in the playoffs you don't need top notch goaltending to win, so expect them to rotate both goalies regularly, unless someone really steps up and grabs the role. Both Georgiev and Francouz will be valuable to own as Colorado simply doesn't lose that often. If nothing else, they'll both give you plenty of wins.
Columbus Blue Jackets
The Blue Jackets got a whole lot more interesting this summer after landing Johnny Gaudreau and locking up Patrik Laine long-term. Elvis Merzlikins is coming off a pretty strong season, all things considered, and Columbus seems poised to help him in the win column a lot more this year.
Dallas Stars
In less than a year, Jake Oettinger has gone from third on the depth chart to the undisputed number one. Oettinger's playoff performance catapulted him to a top-10 fantasy goalie and backup Scott Wedgewood isn't going to challenge him for starts. If Oettinger can stay healthy, there's a chance he'll be a 60-start goalie on a playoff team.
Detroit Red Wings
Ville Husso will try to keep his numbers from plummeting much like Alex Nedeljkovic's did after arriving in Detroit. The Wings netminders will likely operate in a tandem next season with the opportunity for either Husso and Ned to claim the job. With Detroit probably another year or so away from being really competitive, it's going to be challenging for either goalie to post consistent numbers in 2022-23.
Edmonton Oilers
The Oilers finally have their goalie in Jack Campbell and expect his value to be very similar to what it was in Toronto. Campbell's ceiling will be much higher in Edmonton, though, as this is first time he'll be operating as a true number one and if he can stay healthy, a new career high in wins and starts will be in reach.
Stuart Skinner should be the backup and if Campbell's durability history remains true, there could be good value in Skinner playing 30-35 times on a strong team.
Florida Panthers
Despite some inconsistencies, Sergei Bobrovsky is very valuable as long as the Panthers keep winning. Bobrovsky went 39-7-3 a year ago, so even if his save percentage numbers are somewhat erratic, you can live with that when he's winning eight out of every 10 games. The Panthers did show that they weren't afraid to turn to Spencer Knight at times as well, so if you miss out on Bobrovsky, Florida's future number one between the pipes isn't a bad consolation prize.
Los Angeles Kings
Cal Petersen is having a heck of a time trying to outplay the aging Jonathan Quick in Los Angeles. Quick was the better goalie last season and expect the pair to once again split the starts throughout the campaign. For 2022-23 I'd expect both goalies to have similar value on a Kings squad that should be very competitive in the Western Conference, but based on age, the better long-term play would be Petersen.
Minnesota Wild
Cam Talbot is gone, so it's officially Marc-Andre Fleury's net full time and his starts should increase this season. Sure, Filip Gustavsson has some potential and Jesper Wallstedt will eventually take over the crease, but in one-year leagues Fleury should be a solid draft choice for the immediate future. After spending much of last year with Chicago and then splitting time after arriving in Minnesota, Fleury's value bumps back up now that he'll be a number one again for a whole season on a strong team.
Montreal Canadiens
It's tough getting a clear picture of the Canadiens in goal with so much uncertainty around Carey Price's playing status. If we assume Price won't play, then you're looking at a Jake Allen and Sam Montembeault tandem again on a rebuilding team. I probably wouldn't draft either in that situation, while keeping an eye on Allen on the waiver wire for spot starts and perhaps as a longer-term add should Montreal surprise in the standings next season.
Nashville Predators
Juuse Saros should be one of the first five goalies taken in your drafts. He ranked first in the league last season with 67 appearances and fourth in save percentage among goalies that played at least 55 games. He can play a ton and not see his numbers slip as the season wears on. With Kevin Lankinen as his backup, expect Saros to once again be at the top of the league in starts in 2022-23.
New Jersey Devils
Mackenzie Blackwood finally has someone to push him in goal with Vitek Vanecek arriving this offseason. Given the contract the Devils gave Vanecek, it seems likely that they'll give him every opportunity with significant playing time this season. Vanecek, though, was inconsistent on a better team in Washington, so there's no guarantee he'll have huge success in New Jersey.
Blackwood in a contract year could have bounce back value, but with a team finding its way like the Devils, it's hard to put a ton of trust in either netminder for 2022-23.
New York Islanders
Ilya Sorokin was one of the few bright spots in a dismal Isles season in 2021-22. He established himself as an elite goaltender, but perhaps more importantly, solidified himself as the number one after splitting time with Semyon Varlamov. Sorokin should be one of the first five goalies taken in your draft.
New York Rangers
Igor Shesterkin proved he should be in the same conversation as Andrei Vasilevskiy after a season for the ages and you could even make an argument that Shesterkin deserves to be the first goalie taken. Jaroslav Halak isn't going to challenge him for starts and Shesterkin was incredibly consistent last season, posting a save percentage 10 points higher than any other goalie.
Ottawa Senators
The arrival of Cam Talbot has complicated things if you were hoping to steal Anton Forsberg in your drafts. Forsberg and Talbot will probably operate in a tandem this season with an opportunity to fight for additional playing time. If all the offseason additions Ottawa made helps them vault up the standings, both goalies will have decent value this year.
Philadelphia Flyers
It's tough to trust Carter Hart at this point given how bad the Flyers have been and likely will continue to be next season. Hart will probably give you a lot of volume and get the majority of the starts, but don't expect much value in the immediate future.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Tristan Jarry is starting to build a case as one of the league's elite goaltenders. He's now got 160 games under his belt and is sporting a 93-47-14 record to go along with a .915 save percentage. Jarry is very consistent at a position that's hard to find consistency at and with Casey DeSmith returning as his backup, Jarry is likely going to play 60-plus games if he stays healthy. He's a high-end starter for your squad.
San Jose Sharks
The Sharks crease is crowded right now, with Kaapo Kahkonen, James Reimer and Adin Hill all currently on the roster. It sounds like San Jose wants to keep Reimer and Kahkonen, making Hill the odd man out. Reimer was tremendous last season and isn't showing any signs of slowing down, and Kahkonen has a high ceiling. Still, the Sharks are likely going to struggle mightily again and neither goalie should be drafted until very late in your drafts.
Seattle Kraken
The Kraken were terrible between the pipes last year and this year doesn't figure to be a lot different. Philipp Grubauer had a nightmare campaign and showed no signs of pulling himself out of it, so if you're taking a chance on him beware. If you're looking at the glass half full, Grubauer is going to give you a lot of starts with Chris Driedger recovering from knee surgery.
St. Louis Blues
Ville Husso is out and Thomas Greiss is in, paving the way for Jordan Binnington to regain his full-time starting duties. Binnington is certainly a gamble at this point, seeing his numbers fall consistently after helping the Blues to a Stanley Cup a few years ago, before bottoming out with a .901 save percentage last season. He did look very good during the playoffs, though, so you'll have to hope that's the Binnington you're getting if you draft him this fall.
Tampa Bay Lightning
As always, Andrei Vasilevskiy should be one of the first two goalies taken in your drafts. I say two this year because you could make an argument Shesterkin has a slight edge in value after the season he just had and the fact that Tampa has played a ton of hockey in the past three years. Maybe the Lightning reduce Vasilevskiy's workload a bit this season to keep him rested for the playoffs.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Things are going to be a little unpredictable in the Toronto net for the first time in a while. Both Matt Murray and Ilya Samsonov will have value and will likely operate as a tandem on a very strong Leafs squad. If Murray can bounce back from recent inconsistencies he could claim the job, but if he can't stay healthy, Samsonov will be the goalie to own. Both goaltenders should essentially be drafted very close together and have similar value.
Vancouver Canucks
Thatcher Demko is emerging as one of the league's best young goaltenders and should probably be taken just outside the top five goalies in drafts. With Spencer Martin now the backup, Demko is going to play plenty and if the Canucks improve in the standings, it will only increase his value. Demko is one of the few goalies that can steal games all on his own.
Vegas Golden Knights
Vegas could be one of the more interesting teams in goal this season. Robin Lehner still has not played 50 games in a season since 2017-18, so there's a decent chance Laurent Brossoit or Logan Thompson will have value. Thompson is the most interesting name here to me, as he is on a very cheap contract and it would make sense for Vegas, a team tight to the cap, to use him. If Thompson gets substantial playing time on a strong Golden Knights squad, he could be next year's Ville Husso.
Washington Capitals
Darcy Kuemper's value takes a bit of a hit leaving Colorado, but he's still a quality starter on a good team. With Charlie Lindgren as the backup, if Kuemper can stay healthy he's likely destined for 60-plus starts. That's great volume, especially if you're in a league that counts saves.
Winnipeg Jets
I'm not sure Connor Hellebuyck is a top-10 goalie right now. Hellebuyck is coming off the worst statistical season of his career and the Jets appear to be trending in the wrong direction as far as the win column goes. Sure, Hellebuyck will still play quite a bit, but there's probably much better value out there between the pipes in the early part of your drafts.
For fantasy hockey tips and advice, follow me on Twitter at @amato_mike