The NHL’s goaltending pool keeps getting deeper, and the list of young netminders making noise is a reminder that the position is changing fast. Montreal’s Jakub Dobes has already stepped into the starting role and looked the part, while Minnesota’s Jesper Wallstedt, Calgary’s Dustin Wolf, and Chicago’s Spencer Knight are all part of the new wave shaping the league’s crease.
If you’re trying to build a franchise around one goalie, the conversation starts with upside, contract value, and whether the player can handle the pressure when the team around him isn’t perfect. That’s the thread running through this group.
Igor Shesterkin comes in at No. 5 for the Rangers. Even in his age-30 season, he showed he can shoulder a full NHL workload and still deliver elite production.
Last season’s banged-up roster didn’t stop him from posting strong numbers, and the Rangers’ revamped D-core should only help him moving forward. He remains a dependable goalie to build around.
At No. 4 is Wallstedt, who is currently in a split tandem with Filip Gustavsson. The talent has never been the question.
He was a highly regarded prospect in the NHL Draft, and his .916% last season backs up the upside. Add in a friendly contract, and you’ve got a young goalie who can become a key piece.
There’s risk in betting on youth in goal, but Wallstedt looks like the real deal.
Knight lands at No. 3 with the Blackhawks. His setup is a little trickier because Chicago still needs to improve in front of him, but he’s still the kind of goalie worth betting on as a long-term netminder.
Bowen Byram is a solid addition if he can stay healthy, and Knight’s .902% shows there’s still work to do. Even so, he’s a goalie you can count on.
Wolf checks in at No. 2 for Calgary, and the question is whether he can be elite. He closed the season with some eye-catching performances, including multiple 30-save outings.
He still needs to take another step, but the Flames are in the middle of a rebuild and Wolf already proved himself as one of the best AHL goalies before making the jump. Calgary also made a major commitment to him, signing him to a seven-year, $52.5 million contract ($7.5 million average annual value) on Sept.
9, 2025. If he delivers on that deal, it could become a bargain fast.
Dobes takes the top spot for Montreal. He had 29 wins a season ago and looks like a goalie with a ceiling high enough to become elite.
With Jacob Fowler also in the organization, the Canadiens have options, but Dobes has already shown he can be the franchise starter for the future. He signed a three-year, $16.05 million contract with an average annual value of $5.35 million on July 2, 2026, after going 29-10-4 with a 2.78 goals-against average and a .901 save percentage in 43 games, 42 starts.
Those 29 wins were tops among rookies and ninth in the NHL.
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