7 Underrated Goalies Who Exceeded Expectations This Season
The NHL boasts no shortage of elite goaltenders, with stars like Andrei Vasilevskiy and Connor Hellebuyck dominating the crease for years. Yet, several netminders have flown under the radar despite stellar performances.
Here are some of the league’s most underappreciated yet dominant goalies of this season:
Logan Thompson, Washington Capitals
Thompson has been among the NHL’s best this year, posting a 31-6-6 record with a .910 save percentage and a 2.49 GAA. He kicked off the season with seven consecutive wins, positioning himself as a potential Vezina Trophy candidate.
However, his standout play has been somewhat overshadowed by teammate Alex Ovechkin’s pursuit of the NHL’s all-time goals record.
Darcy Kuemper, Los Angeles Kings
Kuemper has been a key factor in the Kings’ success, helping them secure second place in the Pacific Division. With a 27-10-7 record, he boasts the second-best GAA (2.08) among goalies with at least 20 games played, along with a .920 save percentage (top 10 in the league).
If he maintains this form in the playoffs, Kuemper could help Los Angeles advance past the first round for the first time since their 2014 Stanley Cup win.
Pyotr Kochetkov, Carolina Hurricanes
The 25-year-old stepped up admirably when Frederik Andersen went down with a knee injury in November. Kochetkov ranked among the league’s top 20 in save percentage for much of that stretch, though his play has dipped slightly recently.
Still, his strong season has earned him the starting role—even with Andersen back in the lineup.
Dustin Wolf, Calgary Flames
Wolf has made an immediate impact in his rookie campaign, going 25-16-6 with a .910 save percentage. As the only first-year netminder with 30+ starts, he’s solidified Calgary’s crease and could emerge as a Calder Trophy contender by season’s end.
Lukas Dostal, Anaheim Ducks
Despite playing for a rebuilding Ducks squad, Dostal has managed a winning record (22-20-6) while outplaying veteran John Gibson. At just 24, he appears poised to take over as Anaheim’s long-term starter.
Filip Gustavsson, Minnesota Wild
Gustavsson started the season on fire, winning four of his first five games. Though he’s cooled since, his career-high 29 wins have been crucial in keeping Minnesota in the Western Conference wild-card race. He also made history in October by becoming the 15th NHL goalie credited with a goal.
Mackenzie Blackwood, Colorado Avalanche
Acquired from San Jose in December, Blackwood made an instant impact in Colorado, winning six of his first seven starts with a stellar .932 save percentage. His arrival coincided with a dramatic defensive improvement—the Avalanche’s GAA dropped from 3.55 before his debut to just 2.26 afterward.
His strong play has perfectly complemented Colorado’s high-powered offense and defense.
Image - Sergei Belski-Imagn
