In this, my first article for Dynasty Sports Empire, we will take a look at the top 10 goalies under 25 years old. The NHL is full of more young talent than ever before and that includes at goal. This list will include clear #1 goalies and even a Stanley cup champion. The only requirements are that they have played at least 1 NHL game and are 25 years old or younger. Let’s get started:
Jean-Francois Berube | Age: 25 | New York Islanders
So Jean-Francois is the oldest goalie on this list, but he is only 25 by about 6 weeks, so he made the cut. Berube has limited NHL experience posting a record of 3-2-1 in 7 appearances for the Islanders last season. Prior to that Berube lead the AHL Manchester Monarchs to win the Calder Cup in 2015. In the Calder Cup playoffs Berube went 13-3 with a 2.3 GAA and a .898 save percentage. Berube may have landed in a very good situation after being picked up off the waiver wire in October 2015. Currently Berube is the #3 goalie behind 31 year old Halak and 30 year old Greiss. Berube could be the goalie of the future for the Islanders.
Calvin Pickard | Age: 24 | Colorado Avalanche
In 36 NHL games Calvin has posted the best save percentage of any goalie on this list with a.927. That being said he only has 13 wins and a 2.46 GAA. His road to the backup role in Colorado was a little rocky, but after beating out Reto Berra he is now the clear number two backing up Semyon Varlamov. With Varlamov’s recent history of groin injuries and subpar play, Pickard has the chance to be the starting goalie in Colorado by the end of the year. Even more interesting is that the Avalanche have just hired Pickard’s former coach from the Lake Erie Monsters to replace Patrick Roy as head coach.
Connor Hellebuyck | Age: 23 | Winnipeg Jets
Hellebuyck enjoyed a stellar college hockey career posting a .946 save percentage and a 38-12-2 record in 54 games for the UMass River Hawks. He chose to forgo his final two years of college to sign an entry level contract with the Jets in 2014. In 2014-2015 he was selected the starting goalie in the AHL All Star Game. He was called up in November 2015 after Pavelec was injured and has had to compete for a job in Winnipeg. He won 13 of the 26 games he played with a .918 save percentage. He is currently considered the #3 goalie behind Pavelec and Hutchinson, but is a promising prospect.
Louis Domingue | Age: 24 | Arizona Coyotes
There is no question the Domingue is the future goalie in Arizona. He was called up in 14-15 to be Mike Smith’s backup after Dubnyk was traded to Minnesota. In 15-16 he had to out play Anders Lindback to win the starting role after Mike Smith was injured. In 46 NHL games he has only won 16 with a 2.74 GAA and a .912 save percentage. These are not strong numbers, but keep in mind that he has been playing for one of the worst teams in the NHL, although that is about to change and Domingue will be a big part of that. This year he will clearly be the number 2 goalie, but if Smith struggles or is injured again he may solidify the starting role permanently.
Philipp Grubauer | Age: 24 | Washington Capitals
It is hard to believe that Philipp is still on this list. He is not new to the game as he played his first NHL game for the Capitals in 2013. He has been back and forth between the Capitals and the Hershey Bears every other year. He played 2 games in 12-13, 17 games in 13-14, 1 game in 14-15 and 22 games last year. He is now the undisputed back up to the best goalie in the league, which limits his playing time, but this guy has tons of potential. In 42 NHL games he has posted a .921 save percent and a 2.38 GAA. He will be a RFA at the end of the season and will need to decide if he wants to remain a backup or fight for a starting role with a new team.
Joonas Korpisalo | Age: 22 | Columbus Blue Jackets
Joonas was thrust into the NHL last season ahead of schedule due to an injury to Sergei Bobrovsky and had a respectable outing. He got 31 starts and posted 16-11-4 with a 2.6 GAA and .920 save percentage. Considering the Bluejackets were floundering all season he did remarkably well. Oh- by the way, he was able to return to the AHL and lead the Lake Erie Monsters to win the Calder Cup. He should continue to develop in the AHL and be a reliable call up for the Blue Jackets over the next year or two.
Andrei Vasilevskiy | Age: 22 | Tampa Bay Lightning
Andrei has won 18 of 40 NHL games since his debut in December 2014. He has a career 2.6 GAA and a .913 save percentage. But his real major accomplishment is that he is the first NHL Goalie to ever wear the number 88. At the beginning of last season his future was in doubt when he was diagnosed with blood clots near his left collarbone. Those fears have been relieved after 24 games with the Lightning last year. He is now considered the future goalie of the franchise with most people expecting Bishop to move by the end of the year.
John Gibson | Age: 23 | Anaheim Ducks
2015-2016 was John Gibson’s coming out party. Coming into the season there were questions about the future of goaltending in Anaheim and thanks in part to an injury to Frederick Anderson John was able to answer everyone’s questions. He was the NHL Rookie of the month in December 2015, named to the NHL All Star Team and the NHL All-Rookie Team. In 40 games for the Ducks he won 21, including 4 shutouts a 2.07 GAA and a .92 save percent. He also has the best career GAA of any goalie on this list. His upside is huge as he has now won the starting role in Anaheim. He could be #1 on this list next year.
Petr Mrazek | Age: 24 | Detroit Redwings
Petr has played more NHL games, and has more NHL wins than any other goalie on this list with 94 games played, 46 wins, 9 shutouts. He has posted a 2.29 GAA and .92 save percentage in his NHL career. With a solid sample size Petr is a clear #1 goalie in the NHL and has a promising future with a solid hockey club. His numbers are even more impressive in his 10 playoff appearances. He led the Redwings to 4 wins but posting a 1.88 GAA and .931 save percentage. The future is bright for this goaltender.
Matt Murray | Age: 22 | Pittsburgh Penguins
It is hard to argue that Matt Murray is not the best goalie under 25 years old. True he has only played 13 regular season games in the NHL, but he also won the Stanley cup. Not only that but he tied the rookie goalie record in 2016 for Stanley cup playoff wins with 15. Do I need to say any more? Well if your still not convinced here are some other fun facts. In 2014-2015 Murray crushed the AHL record for the longest shutout streak by 36 minutes. He also had 12 AHL shutouts in 2014-2015 breaking a 73-year old record. That same year he won the AHL Best Goaltender award, AHL Rookie of the year, fewest team goals, best save percent, best GAA and named to the AHL All-Rookie Team. Case Closed.