Key takeaways
- Apply the four format grades only after confirming the pool's actual scoring and roster settings.
- Treat selection ranges and roster thresholds as prices; walk away when the market removes the discount.
- Prefer official role, injury and transaction confirmation and label unresolved camp outcomes as speculative.
- Use the floor, base, ceiling, risk and change trigger together instead of reacting to one projection or game.
Goalie rank is a portfolio decision: workload, team support and ratio skill must be priced separately because no one number captures all three.
Five tiers matter more than a rigid 1-to-25 order. Within a tier, select the profile that balances your first goalie: volume with ratio protection, contender wins with tandem risk, or cheap starts with a planned exit. The start ranges below are PoolForge estimates, not official guarantees.
Data checked: September 28, 2026 at 3:01 p.m. ET. Team assignments and historical totals were cross-checked with NHL records; availability and draft prices were checked against dated sources below. Roles, workload shares and output ranges are editorial scenarios, not confirmed opening assignments or verified forecasts. An absent injury report is not medical clearance.
This is a redraft-first decision board, not a prediction contest. The floor, base and ceiling are planning bands rather than promises. Market price comes from the public Daily Faceoff consensus/ADP snapshot and the current NHL.com board, then PoolForge adjusts for role, scarcity and scoring fit. A good selection can fail; every row therefore names the downside and the event that should change the recommendation.
Read the four format lenses before using a rank
- P — points-only: goals, assists and power-play production receive most of the weight.
- B — multi-category/bangers: shots, hits and blocks can protect a player when scoring cools.
- G — goalie-enabled: goalie workload, wins and ratios change roster construction and the opportunity cost of a skater.
- C — salary-cap efficiency: expected production is judged against cap cost and replacement value, not reputation.
Turn your draft research into a shortlist
Explore the free tools without an account. Create a pool when your group is ready.
PoolForge scoring-settings callout
PoolForge's default scoring gives goalies zero fantasy value until goalie scoring is enabled. The default skater weights are one point per goal, 0.5 per assist and 0.1 for plus/minus, while wins, shutouts, goals against, save percentage and saves begin at zero. Do not draft from the G lens unless your commissioner has deliberately enabled and reviewed goalie scoring. Confirm all settings in the scoring guide before applying any board.
The compact grades run from A+ to D and are format-specific, not talent grades. “Floor / base / ceiling” describes a reasonable range if the stated role holds. Confidence measures the evidence behind the role, not confidence that the ceiling will occur.
Build a tandem map, not a wins leaderboard
Official NHL rankings and win projections establish the benchmark, but wins are a team statistic filtered through starts. The board therefore models low, base and high start bands, then adjusts for team support, save-percentage risk, injuries and partner quality. A goalie can rank higher in saves leagues and lower in ratio leagues without contradiction.
Five tiers and 25 workload ranges
Ranks 1–6 are stable G1 profiles; 7–13 are strong but tandem-sensitive; 14–18 need format care; 19–22 are later workload bets; 23–25 are streaming or upside plays.
What changed on September 28
Hellebuyck: suspended; withdraw the safe-workload recommendation. Luukkonen: injured, return unresolved. Wallstedt’s opportunity grows while Gustavsson recovers. Hofer’s range now matches the sleeper guide. Recheck official availability before drafting.
| Player | Selection range or roster threshold | Format grades | Floor / base / ceiling | Role evidence | Confidence | Primary risk | Recommendation-changing event |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andrei Vasilevskiy, TBL | G1; rounds 2–3 | P D · B D · G A+ · C B | 50 / 57 / 63 starts | Clear lead share on a projected contender; elite volume and ratios can coexist. | High | Heavy workload and normal goalie volatility. | Downgrade only on an official health restriction or sustained tandem split. |
| Logan Thompson, WSH | G1; rounds 3–4 | P D · B D · G A · C A- | 48 / 55 / 61 starts | Strong team support and a demonstrated lead role create win-plus-ratio balance. | High | Washington's team-win projection can regress. | Reduce one tier if starts project below 48. |
| Connor Hellebuyck, WPG | Conditional G1; wait for return | P D · B D · G A · C B | Withheld pending return | Suspended; availability unresolved | Low | Unavailable volume can erase value. | Require official reinstatement; then reprice workload. |
| Ilya Sorokin, NYI | G1; rounds 4–5 | P D · B D · G A · C B+ | 49 / 56 / 62 starts | Workhorse history and shutout upside support a high ratio ceiling. | High | Win volume depends on modest goal support. | Move up in save-heavy formats; down if the tandem share rises above 35%. |
| Jake Oettinger, DAL | G1; rounds 4–5 | P D · B D · G A · C B | 48 / 54 / 60 starts | A strong team environment offers efficient wins without requiring maximum starts. | High | Scheduled rest can cap volume. | Upgrade in ratio formats; avoid paying for 60 starts unless camp usage supports it. |
| Igor Shesterkin, NYR | G1; rounds 5–6 | P D · B D · G A- · C B | 46 / 53 / 59 starts | Save-percentage skill supplies ratio insulation even when team wins are less certain. | High | Recent health and team-performance variance. | Move up if healthy and the Rangers' defensive environment improves. |
| Scott Wedgewood, COL | G1/G2; rounds 6–8 | P D · B D · G B+ · C A- | 34 / 42 / 49 starts | Colorado support creates win efficiency even in a split crease. | Medium | Mackenzie Blackwood can claim half or more of the starts. | Do not price above 45 starts without a decisive camp split. |
| Jesper Wallstedt, MIN | G1/G2; rounds 6–8 | P D · B D · G A- · C A | 36 / 45 / 53 starts | Gustavsson recovering; opening opportunity, season share uncertain. | Medium | An injury update or Filip Gustavsson's return can reshape the tandem. | Use only official health news; downgrade below 38 projected starts. |
| Jeremy Swayman, BOS | G1; rounds 6–8 | P D · B D · G A- · C B | 47 / 54 / 60 starts | Stable lead role with a long ratio track record. | High | Team scoring and recent workload outcomes can fluctuate. | Keep as G1 while his share remains above 60%. |
| Jacob Markstrom, FLA | G1/G2; rounds 7–9 | P D · B D · G B+ · C B+ | 36 / 44 / 51 starts | Contender support raises the win floor after an offseason move. | Medium | Age and a capable tandem can cap starts. | Upgrade only if officially named the clear opening starter. |
| Brandon Bussi, CAR | G1/G2; rounds 7–9 | P D · B D · G B+ · C A | 35 / 44 / 52 starts | Carolina's environment and last season's win conversion provide upside. | Medium | A small NHL track record makes ratio regression plausible. | Hold the price if he owns at least 55% of camp starts; otherwise tandem-pair. |
| Jakub Dobes, MTL | G2; rounds 8–10 | P D · B D · G B+ · C A | 32 / 41 / 49 starts | An improving team and a live competition for starts offer asymmetric value. | Medium | Jacob Fowler or another partner can force a true rotation. | Upgrade with opening-night start and majority share; never assume either. |
| Mackenzie Blackwood, COL | G2; rounds 9–11 | P D · B D · G B+ · C B+ | 31 / 39 / 47 starts | Ratio quality plus Colorado wins can work even below 45 starts. | Medium | Wedgewood may lead the tandem. | Draft the cheaper Colorado goalie; change course only after a clear usage signal. |
| Karel Vejmelka, UTA | G2; rounds 9–11 | P D · B D · G B · C B+ | 48 / 55 / 62 starts | Volume and improving support provide a high win ceiling. | Medium-high | Last season's save percentage warns that volume can hurt ratios. | Move up in wins-only pools and down sharply in ratio-heavy formats. |
| Sergei Bobrovsky, TOR | G2; rounds 9–11 | P D · B D · G B · C B | 36 / 44 / 51 starts | Toronto support can keep wins useful after the offseason move. | Medium | Age, tandem competition and a new system add uncertainty. | Require official health plus a majority share before paying a top-10 goalie price. |
| Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, BUF | Conditional G2; wait for clearance | P D · B D · G B · C B+ | Withheld pending clearance | Injured; return unresolved | Low | Alex Lyon can take meaningful work and ratios remain variable. | Require official clearance before buying starts. |
| Linus Ullmark, OTT | G2; rounds 10–12 | P D · B D · G B · C B | 42 / 49 / 56 starts | Lead-goalie talent and competitive support offer bounce-back value. | Medium-high | Health and recent inconsistency lower the floor. | Downgrade on any official workload limitation. |
| Carter Hart, VGK | G2/G3; rounds 11–13 | P D · B D · G B · C A- | 32 / 41 / 49 starts | Vegas support creates win potential at a lower acquisition price. | Low-medium | Role, form and tandem hierarchy require confirmation. | Draft only after official roster and workload clarity. |
| Joel Hofer, STL | Picks 125–165; G2 | P D · B D · G B · C A- | 38 / 45 / 52 starts | Ratio upside and a growing share fit a late tandem strategy. | Medium | He may remain below one start per week. | Require a 40-start path; otherwise pair a tandem goalie. |
| Dan Vladar, PHI | G3; rounds 13–15 | P D · B D · G B- · C A | 30 / 38 / 46 starts | A path to meaningful volume is available at a late price. | Medium | Team support and tandem performance can pressure both wins and ratios. | Use in volume formats only after a 45% or larger share is evident. |
| Juuse Saros, NSH | G2/G3; rounds 12–14 | P D · B D · G B · C B | 49 / 56 / 63 starts | Workload remains bankable and creates a saves floor. | High | Team support can leave wins below the workload peers. | Move up for saves; down for wins-only scoring. |
| Jet Greaves, CBJ | G3; rounds 13–15 | P D · B D · G B- · C A | 28 / 37 / 45 starts | A developing Columbus team gives him a credible share at minimal cost. | Low-medium | The crease hierarchy can remain performance-driven. | Add only with a confirmed opening-week start or majority share. |
| Spencer Knight, CHI | G3; last rounds | P D · B D · G C+ · C A | 39 / 47 / 55 starts | Volume is available and can produce saves. | Medium | A rebuilding environment threatens wins and ratios. | Use for volume; cut if the share falls below half. |
| Lukas Dostal, ANA | G3; last rounds | P D · B D · G C+ · C A | 45 / 53 / 60 starts | A clear workload path gives a dependable saves base. | Medium-high | Team performance can keep ratios volatile. | Upgrade if Anaheim's defensive results improve; avoid in strict ratio builds. |
| Jacob Fowler, MTL | G3; final round | P D · B D · G C+ · C A | Unconfirmed NHL workload | Montréal prospect; opening roster place unconfirmed. | Low | Development assignment or a three-goalie picture. | Require official roster confirmation; otherwise use a watch list, not a roster slot. |
Late-round alternatives and pairing rules
Hofer, Vladar and Fowler are alternatives only when their role triggers arrive. Pair one ratio anchor with one workload bet rather than drafting two uncertain halves of unrelated tandems. If the league limits weekly starts, predictability gains value; if saves and appearances score, volume gains value. Never use an early pick on a goalie whose base start estimate is available two tiers later.
A repeatable selection protocol
- Write your scoring weights, active slots, bench size, transaction cadence and goalie requirements beside the board.
- Compare the recommendation with the live room price. A player is not a sleeper, breakout or waiver win after the discount disappears.
- At every refresh gate, check official health and transactions first, then line, power-play and goalie usage. Treat practice reports as evidence of probability, not certainty.
- Choose the player who improves the roster's weakest scarce category without creating an unmanageable risk cluster.
- Record the change trigger. Acting on a prewritten threshold is more reliable than reacting to one goal, one save percentage or one viral highlight.
Projection disagreement is information. When independent boards differ by several rounds, identify the hidden assumption—games played, PP1 access, tandem share or category mix—and decide whether your pool rewards it. The purpose of these tables is to make that assumption visible before the pick.
What to verify next
Use the draft-day runbook to turn ranges into a queue, then compare players with the PoolForge player explorer. The explorer is descriptive; the recommendation remains conditional on the cited timestamp and your scoring contract.
Turn your draft research into a shortlist
Explore the free tools without an account. Create a pool when your group is ready.
Questions answered
Frequently asked questions
Are these rankings for points-only or category leagues?
Both. Every player has separate points-only, multi-category, goalie-enabled and salary-cap grades so the same rank is never presented as universal.
What should change a recommendation?
Use the final-column trigger: an official injury, roster decision, power-play change, line reassignment, goalie start-share change or a market price outside the stated range.
How current is the player information?
Data checked: September 28, 2026 at 3:01 p.m. ET. Team assignments and historical totals were cross-checked with NHL records; availability and draft prices were checked against dated sources below. Roles, workload shares and output ranges are editorial scenarios, not confirmed opening assignments or verified forecasts. An absent injury report is not medical clearance.
Editorial evidence
Sources
- Official NHL player statistics — NHL.com
- Official NHL EDGE statistics — NHL.com
- Fantasy hockey top 25 goalie rankings for 2026-27 — NHL.com Fantasy
- Fantasy hockey win projections for goalies in 2026-27 — NHL.com Fantasy
- 2026-27 fantasy hockey top 250 consensus and public ADP — Daily Faceoff
- Current NHL line combinations and power-play units — Daily Faceoff
- PoolForge scoring settings guide — PoolForge
- Hellebuyck training-camp suspension — September 17 — Winnipeg Jets
- Wild camp and Gustavsson recovery — September 17 — Minnesota Wild
- Luukkonen injury update — September 26 — Buffalo Sabres
- McAvoy suspension and season availability — September 10 — Boston Bruins
- Fowler at Canadiens training camp — September 17 — Montréal Canadiens
