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Metropolitan Division: Ranking the goaltending for each team

By Ant Barberio

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 24: Braden Holtby #70 of the Washington Capitals prepares to play against the Carolina Hurricanes in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Capital One Arena on April 24, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 24: Braden Holtby #70 of the Washington Capitals prepares to play against the Carolina Hurricanes in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Capital One Arena on April 24, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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The Bottom Tier

8. Columbus Blue Jackets

Summer was not kind to the city of Columbus, as all their big-name free agents sought employment elsewhere. One of those players leaving the Columbus cannon behind was goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, arguably the most beloved and successful goaltender to ever play for the franchise.

Bobrovsky’s arrival was what turned the Blue Jackets from one of the NHL’s bottom dwellers to a team that could at least make the playoffs. His departure is going to hurt this coming season.

Although the Blue Jackets firmly believe that Bobrovsky’s backup in Joonas Korpisalo can serve as his successor, his GAA remains dangerously close to 3.00 (it stood at 2.95 last season). Also, his save percentage has been under .900 by the hair the past two-year.

Both those stats prove him and first-year backup Elvis Merzlinkins will have trouble filling Bobrovsky’s shoes.

7. Carolina Hurricanes

It’s surprising to rank the Hurricanes this low after their impressive season and run to the Eastern Conference final. The Hurricanes had incredible success dividing their starts the past season between Petr Mrazek and Curtis McElhinney.

McElhinney left to sign a deal with the Tampa Bay Lightning, while Mrazek signed a new contact cementing his number one status. Mrazek had a great bounce-back year in Carolina, but it’s hard to place full confidence in him considering how his career seemingly bottomed out with the Philadelphia Flyers.

If Mrazek plays like 2018-2019 Mrazek or even Detroit Red Wings era Mrazek, Carolina will be fine. Part of their low ranking is their projected backup, James Reimer. Reimer isn’t terrible by any stretch of the imagination, but he didn’t necessarily have a good year with the Florida Panthers last year as well. He’ll make a fine backup, but if anything happens to Mrazek that pushes him into service, you better hope he channels a McElhinney type run in him.

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