6 Interesting Goalie Situations To Watch In 2025-26

It is best for NHL teams to have more than two options in net because injuries and poor performances can completely derail a season. Almost every team had a capable third string goalie last season, but there appears to be more competition for a top two spot in the NHL this season with a number of teams, making it an interesting situation to watch for these clubs to find out who starts in the NHL and who may take over during the season.

Buffalo Sabres

We have to assume the Buffalo Sabres keep Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen in the NHL considering he's going into the second year of a five-year deal at $4.75 million AAV. He is the only one of the three NHL-caliber goalie in the organization that has had proven success. The other two options the Sabres have now are Devon Levi and Alex Lyon. This was a good move by bringing in Lyon as he's played the middle man role before in Florida and Detroit and did well.

Levi struggled in the NHL last season and only played nine games, but Luukkonen also struggled. Levi hasn't yet broken in as a full time option yet and Lyon signed for two years. Levi is still exempt from waivers, making him the more likely choice to start in the AHL, but the Sabres see their future in him hopefully. Carrying three goalies almost never works out and the team has to eventually make a decision.

Chicago Blackhawks

Laurent Brossoit got injured before last season started for the Chicago Blackhawks and Arvid Soderblom had to step in. He did a great job and it earned him a two-year contract. He was expected to take a little bit of a backseat to Spencer Knight next season, but if Brossoit is healthy, he is a capable NHL goalie as well. Knight won't be in the AHL, but there is a good chance either Soderblom or Brossoit is unless one or the other is dealt. The latter is much more likely, but teams will be wary of someone who hasn't played in over a year. Soderblom has to hit waivers if he is sent down, so it's too risky considering he will most definitely be scooped up.

Detroit Red Wings

The Detroit Red Wings hardly upgraded this offseason, but one of the moves included acquiring John Gibson from the Anaheim Ducks. That makes it so the tandem in net is Cam Talbot and Gibson. This is a solid duo, but also older and Gibson is prone to injuries. Next up is Sebastian Cossa, who got his first taste of NHL action last season. He is a highly touted goalie prospect and will be in the NHL. While it looks like he will take a backseat and play the majority of the season in the AHL, he is on his way and will very likely get into more games for Detroit next season. Pushing one of the veterans out will be a very tall task though.

Vancouver Canucks

The Vancouver Canucks shocked many people by signing Thatcher Demko to a large shorter term deal this summer as Kevin Lankinen is already under contract for five more years at $4.5 million AAV. Demko, with still one more year at $5 million AAV, sees his cap hit rise to $8.5 million AAV for three years following that. This led to the trade of Arturs Silovs, but while there is no third-string goalie pushing the tandem for time, this is a different situation than the other teams being discussed. Playing time allocation will be interesting and both likely feel like they are starters. Demko is very good when healthy, but Lankinen was excellent to start last season when Demko wasn't available. If both are firing and they split the net, it should be fine, but this situation may not turn out the best for morale of both netminders.

Utah Mammoth

The Utah Mammoth were not going into another season where Karel Vejmelka was going to be expected to start more than 20 games in a row. Connor Ingram's health remains a concern, but that's why the team brought in Vitek Vanecek. Vejmelka is the definite starter and has proven himself, but Vanecek and Ingram will have to fight over who starts in the NHL because the Mammoth will not carry three goalies. The backup isn't going to start a ton anyways, so one of them will get playing time in the AHL rather than sitting around. It could go either way. Ingram was great when healthy two years ago while Vanecek struggled in San Jose and is the latest brought in. Utah should be fine, but someone isn't going to be pleased with where they're starting next season.

Pittsburgh Penguins

The Pittsburgh Penguins continue to get younger and they have some hope in net. Tristan Jarry is still around, which could change at some point before the end of next season, but for now Silovs and Joel Blomqvist are in contention for the backup role. This is a slightly different situation than Utah, but more alike than the others. Silovs is arguably better than Blomqvist if we're taking into consideration the playoff run Silovs went on, but Blomqvist is home grown and played for the Penguins last season, getting into 15 games. The future is Silovs and Blomqvist, but the latter is the only goalie exempt from waivers next season. Blomqvist will likely start in the AHL, but will be pushing for starts again.

Photo credit: © Bob Frid-Imagn Images