Panthers set to run the gauntlet of NHL's Top-Ranked Goalies

The Florida Panthers took up three spots on the NHL Network’s Top 20 best right wingers list a few weeks ago, but got shut out in the Network’s defenseman rankings. On Sunday, the Panthers didn’t have either Jacob Markström or Akira Schmid crack the Top 10 goalie list, but oddly enough, the club will face seven of them regularly in 2026-27. Outside of three names on the list, it appears that the NHL’s best goalies hail from the Eastern Conference, with three coming from the Atlantic Division.

Panthers Atlantic Division foe takes top spot on NHL Network's rankings

Of course, the reigning Vezina Trophy winner, Andrei Vasilevskiy, is no stranger to Florida fans, nor to being rated as a top goalie in the NHL. With a resume worthy of Hall of Fame induction immediately upon retirement, it’s no surprise that after another award-winning campaign, he finds himself at the top. Moreover, Vasilevskiy beat out an Olympic Gold Medalist, Connor Hellebuyck, who didn’t take home any awards last season as the Winnipeg Jets tumbled down the standings. Still, he couldn’t stay out of the headlines after a postseason interview that lit the rumor mill on fire.

Right now, Hellebuyck remains in Winnipeg, despite being linked to the Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes, and Buffalo Sabres. It will be fascinating to watch what happens between the star goalie and the Jets if the season doesn’t duplicate the success of the 2024-25 season, which earned them the Presidents’ Trophy.

According to the NHL Network, three of the top four netminders in the league come from Russia, as former Vezina Trophy winner Igor Shesterkin (New York Rangers) ranks third, followed by Ilya Sorokin from the New York Islanders. Although neither goalie has led their team to a Stanley Cup yet, they are difficult to beat nightly and usually rank among the league leaders in SV% and GAA.

Top 10 goalie rankings won't be walk in the park for Panthers

Next on the list is another familiar foe for the Panthers, Boston Bruins netminder Jeremy Swayman, who had a bounce-back campaign after taking half a year off in 2024-25 over a contract dispute. Florida has built an intense rivalry with the Bruins this decade, including a memorable playoff elimination in 2023, and their Atlantic Division tilts are usually must-watch TV lately.

To kick off the bottom half of the list at No. 6 is Washington Capitals’ netminer Logan Thompson, who switched conferences two seasons ago and has been a star in the Nation’s Capital. Although he didn’t play in the 2023 Stanley Cup Final against the Panthers, he did get his name on the Cup by being the third-string goalie in that series. Dallas Stars’ Jake Oettinger joins him at No. 7, someone Florida fans only see once or twice a year, if ever, depending on the schedule and goalie rotations.  

Meanwhile, career backup Dan Vladar, now a number-one star with the Philadelphia Flyers, cracks the list at No. 8. He spent most of his career in the Western Conference, but came back to the East last year and led the Flyers to a playoff berth. After his achievements, the club extended him for five years, meaning Florida should get used to seeing him between the pipes when their respective clubs clash.

At No. 9 is Jesper Wallstedt, a young Swedish goalie who came into the league with high expectations and is finally finding success with the Minnesota Wild, including a playoff berth last year. Like Oettinger and Hellebuyck, Panthers fans won’t see too much of him, since he’s in the West, but the Wild are contenders, making matchups against Florida critical in the standings.

Finally, coming in at No. 10 is Montreal Canadiens goalie Jakub Dobes, who just helped his team contend for the top spot in the Atlantic Division and then carried them to the Eastern Conference Final. After a down year, the young Canadiens began their ascent to the top of the conference and will continue to be a force to reckon with, making every contest between the two clubs even more important in 2026-27.

Usually, the Panthers had Sergei Bobrovsky ranked among the Top 10, but he didn’t crack the list with his new team, the Toronto Maple Leafs. As mentioned, neither Markström nor Schmid made the list, but if either can piece together a career season, there’s a chance one of them finds their way into next season’s list. Until then, the coaching staff had better prepare for a long season going up against some of the league’s most talented puckstoppers.

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