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Usually this is the time of year when I run a poll on which goalie battles will end up with one goalie emerging as their team’s clear starter. The issue is there are far fewer teams this season where the goalie picture is cloudy. Instead, I’m opting for a poll where you’ll vote on which goalies will reach the 30-win mark for the first time in their career in 2025-26.
I realize 30 wins doesn’t sound like a lot; but the last four seasons have seen a total of 11, nine, nine, and 12 who achieved the feat. In many cases it was the same names, or ones who’d done so previously. But there are also new faces most years. The question is, can you predict who the newcomers will be for 2025-26?
Let’s cover a few things before getting to the voting options and how to vote. Why did I settle on Wins as the focal point? I realize many leagues have several other goalie categories; but I can’t think of any in which wins are not counted. Also, you’ll see in some cases you can vote for more than one goalie on the same team. That’s by design, and shows despite there not being as many projected timeshares entering 2025-26 as there were in other seasons, some teams who are seemingly unlikely to produce a 30+ win goalie due to there being a “two-headed monster” in net could end up having one who entrenches himself and gets that many wins.
With all that out of the way, here are the 18 choices in alphabetical order. You should vote for however many who you think will reach 30+ wins this season. And since come from nowhere goalies have become the new normal, I’ve provided the option to vote for “One or more goalies not listed” to account for that wild card factor. Also though, I’ve included a “None” choice if you think each and every 30-win goalie for 2025-26 will be one who had won 30+ at the NHL level at least once previously. A link to cast your votes appears at the end of the column.
Yaroslav Askarov
I fully realize the Sharks won only 20 games in total last season, and Askarov is still very young and, although seemingly entering the season as the #1, is far from guaranteed to remain in that spot. But his resume is so impressive, and the Sharks so loaded with talent, that a scenario is possible where all the dots connect and Askarov reaches the 30-win mark this season.
MacKenzie Blackwood
He is hurt to start the season, but it’s not supposed to be a lingering issue. If indeed the Avs stick with Blackwood as their #1 then it’s hard to envision him not hitting 30 wins. After all, if Alexandar Georgiev, now barely even an NHL back-up, well exceeded that total twice during his tenure with Colorado and as recently as 2023-24, it seems like a lock for Blackwood.
Joey Daccord
After going into 2024-25 as the #1 for Seattle, Daccord faltered. The team stuck with him, but it is worth mentioning that Philip Grubauer, who is paid more than Daccord, had a few solid starts toward the end of 2024-25. With a new coach too, it’s unclear if Daccord will have to re-earn the starting role, or if the team will thrive enough to even allow for one goalie to earn 30 wins.
Samuel Ersson
Although Dan Vladar (more on him below) has more career experience, Ersson has been with the Flyers for his entire NHL tenure. Philly must feel confident in the tandem, having traded Ivan Fedotov. But will Ersson get the starts needed, and perform well enough, to win 30 games?
Lukas Dostal
With John Gibson gone, and only poorly performing veterans Petr Mrazek and Ville Husso in the picture, the stage seems set for Dostal to get lots of starts. As Anaheim is a team looking ready to make strides, Dostal could notch a 30-win season on his belt for the first time.
Jet Greaves
Elvis has not left the building, at least not yet, though Fedotov has entered. Still, Greaves looked rock solid at the end of 2024-25. If he’s able to play anywhere near that well, and often enough, he could make a run at 30 wins.
Pyotr Kochetkov
Most likely Carolina figured Kochetkov would’ve been ready to be the #1 or 1A by now; but with them re-signing Frederik Andersen the picture stays cloudy, at least for the moment. Still, with Carolina wanting to keep Andersen healthy and ready for the playoffs if needed, Kochetkov ought to play enough games for a team as great as Carolina to make 30 wins realistic.
Spencer Knight
Like the Sharks, the Hawks didn’t even win 30 games as a team. But they also seem like they might be ready to pop, and Knight was once considered a top prospect. Although a lot would have to go right for Knight to reach 30 wins, he deserves to be a voting choice.
Kevin Lankinen
Now earning nearly as much as Thatcher Demko, and Demko being a question mark, might put Lankinen in position to win 30 games. Of course Vancouver would have to right its ship first.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Another goalie limping into the season, UPL looked rock solid in the early going for 2024-25, but as the season wore on he was awful. That could have been growing pains and him getting used to logging so many games. What is clear is Buffalo sees him as their #1, at least for now. Can he, and the team, perform well enough to get him to 30 wins?
Elvis Merzlikins
Seemingly Elvis is to Columbus what John Gibson was to Anaheim. But as shown with Greaves at the end of 2024-25, the Blue Jackets might be finally ready to move on. Perhaps with his job truly in doubt for the first time though, Merzlikins might rise to the occasion, in which case Columbus should be a strong enough team to support a 30-win goalie.
Alex Nedeljkovic
Yes, I realize I’ve included a second goalie on the lowly Sharks; however, I wanted to cover the bases and Ned played some strong hockey at times over the past two seasons, and we know he thrived early in his career, even being nominated for the Calder. If Askarov is not ready, and the Sharks do pop, Ned could be the one to possibly hit 30 wins.
Anthony Stolarz
After playing superbly early on, and making inroads to becoming the true starter in Toronto, Stolarz missed a chunk of time and from then on it was a timeshare. Stolarz’s new contract doesn’t imply that he has a vice-grip on the starter’s role, though his skill and team give him a great shot at 30 wins if he can just stay healthy.
Jeremy Swayman
The Bs look to be a team on the decline, and Swayman didn’t help matters with his poor play last season. Was he only great previously due to his team and not starting 60+ games? This season will go a long way toward answering those questions. If the Bs can win anywhere near close to 40 games, Swayman likely would earn 30 of them.
Karel Vejmelka
With Connor Ingram having asked to be dealt, Vejmelka enters 2024-25 as the unquestioned #1. He has played large chunks of games in the past, meaning he could take the crease for 60+ games if need be. With Utah looking like a team on the rise, the path for him to reach 30 wins looks viable.
Dan Vladar
Although Ersson has become the #1 in Philly, it was more due to lack of other options. Vladar does not have an amazing resume, but he would not need to shine in order to overtake Ersson as the #1, placing him in the running for 30 wins if Philly fared well as a team.
Dustin Wolf
It looks like the Flames are all in on Wolf, as not only did they open their wallets but the backups they have are very iffy. It is likely Wolf will easily reach 60 starts, meaning if the Flames are good enough he’ll become a member of the 30 win club this season.
Joseph Woll
Outplayed by Stolarz in 2024-25, Woll still had more wins, albeit in more games. He’s not only been a Leaf since getting drafted by them, but is also now the Leafs goalie playing for the next big extension (UFA in 2028). For those reasons, and presuming his leave from the team doesn’t last too long, Woll’s play could earn him more starts and, with that, a better chance at 30 wins.
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Those are your 18 choices. You should vote for any and all who will reach 30 wins in 2025-26. Here is a link to cast your votes, where you can also vote for “one or more goalies not listed” if you believe a come from nowhere netminder will find a way to win 30 games. Or if you think every single goalie who wins 30 games this season will be one who has won 30 at least once previously, then you can vote for the “none” choice.
Questions for Mailbag Column
The next mailbag won’t run until after the season has started so please do not send any keeper questions. But do send other questions, such as draft audits or player assessments, or anything at all……..other than keepers. To get your questions to me, either private message “rizzeedizzee” via the DobberHockey Forums or, instead, send an email to [email protected] with “Roos Mailbag” as the subject line.
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