Looking at how the Vegas Golden Knights did with the Top 20 defensemen and the Top 20 wingers, one would expect the Golden Knights to have some representation on the goaltender side. Okay, maybe not. After all, a disappointing showing from everyone didn't warrant a spot in the Top 10.
Believe it or not, that's exactly what happened on Sunday. The NHL Network released its list of the Top 10 goaltenders right now. Not a single Golden Knight cracked the list. Not Carter Hart. Not Adin Hill. No Golden Knights goaltenders made the Top 10.
However, a former Golden Knight did make the list. That would be Logan Thompson of the Washington Capitals, who cracked the list at No. 6. Last season, he didn't make the list at all, marking a massive uptick for the former Golden Knight.
The rest of the list came as follows:
Goaltender | Rank | Team |
|---|---|---|
Jakub Dobes | 10 | MTL |
Jesper Wallstedt | 9 | MIN |
Dan Vladar | 8 | PHI |
Jake Oettinger | 7 | DAL |
Logan Thompson | 6 | WSH |
Jeremy Swayman | 5 | BOS |
Ilya Sorokin | 4 | NYI |
Igor Shesterkin | 3 | NYR |
Connor Hellebuyck | 2 | WPG |
Andrei Vasilevskiy | 1 | TBL |
That's a gaudy list to overcome. Imagine trying to overcome names like Connor Hellebuyck, Andrei Vasilevskiy, and Igor Shesterkin. That's tough for any mere mortal to overcome, especially when you traded one of those goaltenders out of town. Suddenly, you look fairly terrible in the eyes of some hockey fans.
But it highlights a bigger problem with the Golden Knights. The goaltending room has been one of major concern with the team in the offseason. Is it something that the team can overcome?
Is it possible for the Vegas Golden Knights to get a goaltender in next year's Top 10 list?
It can be possible, but the group does need help. First, staying healthy is vital for the Golden Knights' goaltender room. They must keep Adin Hill from taking any more hits to the blueberry section and have him be his 2024-25 self. That would be a nice start.
As for Carter Hart, he must shake off a statistically disappointing Stanley Cup Final showing. Of course, this wasn't entirely his fault. But it helps to stick to his core strengths and keep himself on his toes all season. And yes, he must avoid any bad leg injuries himself. Otherwise, Vegas is toast between the pipes.
But there's another thing Vegas Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon can do: trade for a goaltender. McCrimmon has developed a league-wide reputation as one of the sneakiest general managers around. Nobody expected him to pick up Noah Hanifin, nor did they expect him to pick up Tomas Hertl. Yet, here we are.
Think of names like Connor Hellebuyck as being prime examples. They've been connected to the Golden Knights in some capacity, although it's unlikely that a trade will happen now. Still, crazier things have happened, with the aforementioned Hertl and Hanifin trades flying under the radar.
Will the Golden Knights fix their goaltending for the 2026-27 season and the Stanley Cup playoffs? Who knows. But one can't discount Kelly McCrimmon and his efforts to better the team, especially in net. After all, that's how he earned his reputation as one of the league's best general managers.
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