NHL: Ranking the starting goaltenders of the Pacific Division
The NHL’s Pacific Division boasts an intriguing array of quality goaltenders and declining veterans.
Enter Braden Holtby and Devan Dubnyk, exit Cam Talbot, and swap Jacob Markstrom. That is the brief rundown of the goaltending changes featured in the Pacific Division this upcoming NHL season. Despite the maneuvering, the crop cream in this division remains unchanged, albeit the logo next to one of the goaltenders has changed.
As a reminder, here are the statistics I will be using in these rankings:
- GAA (Goals Against Average)
- SV% (Save Percentage)
- QS% (Quality Start Percentage)
- GSAA (Goals Saved Above Average)
- RBS (Really Bad Starts)
- HDGAA (High Danger Goals Against Average)
- HDSV% (High Danger Save Percentage)
In case you missed our previous rankings…
Let us get these final rankings underway!
Martin Jones finished the 2019-20 season with career-worsts in GAA (3.00) and SV% (.896), capping off his second-straight disappointing campaign. The injury-riddled San Jose Sharks didn’t provide much help for Jones, but the number of bad goals he allowed put the Sharks behind the eight-ball too often.
Only 38.5% of Jones’s starts were QS, while 11 of his outings qualified as RBS. His GSAA was a lackluster -15.01, creating way too many lopsided scores for San Jose last season. “Softies” were constantly getting through the 30-year old, who will be relegated to a tandem role with newly acquired Devan Dubnyk next season.
Jones’s high-danger numbers were not bad considering his overall performance, finishing with a .829 HDSV% and a 1.49 HDGAA. The Sharks are hoping that lessening the load between Jones and Dubnyk will rejuvenate both goaltenders in 2021.
Braden Holtby struggled in Washington last season, leading to his successor, Ilya Samsonov, taking over the goaltending duties. The veteran now takes his services to the opposite coast, hoping to provide quality minutes until the Vancouver Canucks deem Thatcher Demko fit to be the starter.
Holtby went 25-14-6 with a 3.11 GAA and a .897 SV% in 2019-20, failing to provide the Capitals with reliable goaltending. He owned a QS% of 46.8, tallying 11 RBS and a GSAA of -16.76, exemplifying why he suffered career-worsts in GAA and SV%.
His high-danger numbers were consistent with his overall play, registering a .780 HDSV% and a 1.82 HDGAA. He comes in ahead of Jones because I believe the change of scenery will help Holtby, and at 31-years old, he has the opportunity to prove he still belongs as an NHL starter.
As the Los Angeles Kings have struggled the last couple of years, so has veteran goaltender Jonathan Quick. At 34-years old, his best years are likely in the rearview mirror, yet Quick still is a capable NHL netminder. He went 16-22-4 in 2019-20, posting a GAA of 2.79 and an SV% of .904.
Quick was the lone consistent player on a Kings team that had more downs than ups last season, having a QS% of 50 while only tallying five RBS. He couldn’t bail out the Kings every time, settling with a GSAA of -6.32, but he did manage quality high-danger numbers.
With an HDSV% of .914 and an HDGAA of 1.36, Quick proved his athleticism remains, as his unorthodox style proves effective at stymying opposing chances. His age puts him slightly behind the next goaltender on the list, but Quick is still good enough for the Kings to trust in goal.
It is no secret that John Gibson struggled last year, but rarely in the 27-year old’s career have the Anaheim Ducks put a legitimate roster on the ice in front of him. His 3.00 GAA and .904 SV% were career-worsts, while his 20-26-5 record saw his lowest win total since he started just 21 games in 2014-15.
Gibson’s numbers were not good; a QS% of 43.1, 10 RBS, and a GSAA of -8.66 are definitely indicative of a down year. Yet the Ducks goaltender is one of the most talented in the league, and I fully expect him to bounce back, rounding into his usual 2.50 GAA and .918 SV% self.
With a .814 HDSV% and a 1.61 HDGAA, Gibson was still solid in high-leverage situations, but he needs to be better if the Ducks are to make any strides towards relevance next season. Gibson has all the talent in the world, and if the Ducks were smart, they would try to give him the help he needs so he could take them to that next level.
Mikko Koskinen may not get the same recognition as the more brand name goalies in the NHL, but he served the Oilers very nicely during the 2019-20 season. He finished the season 18-13-3, with a 2.75 GAA and a .917 SV%, performing well despite the immense pressure that fell on his shoulders playing in Edmonton.
51.5% of Koskinen’s starts were quality, while just five were RBS, a decidedly favorable split for the 6-foot-7 goaltender. He had a 9.25 GSAA, living up to the extension he had received before the season.
Koskinen was even more brilliant when it came to high-danger situations, posting a .838 HDSV% and a 1.49 HDGAA. His play was consistent all season, and for a division that has had its fair share of rocky goaltending, Koskinen was able to hold steady in Edmonton.
Jacob Markstrom emerged as a legitimate number one goaltender in the NHL for Vancouver last season but moved to Calgary after the Canucks failed to offer him a suitable contract. He went 23-16-4 with a 2.75 GAA and a .918 SV%.
The Flames deemed his performance worth a six-year, $36 million contract, and rightfully so, as his advanced stats were impeccable. In 2019-20, Markstrom posted a 58.1 QS%, an 11.40 GSAA while only registering five RBS.
His high-danger numbers were equally as impressive, posting a .838 HDSV% and a 1.41 HDGAA. Markstrom proved his ability to handle a big workload, and the Flames have landed what they hope will be the answer to their goaltending struggles.
Robin Lehner is one of the most beloved players in the NHL due to his on-ice performance and off the ice transparency. In 2019-20, Lehner’s numbers were not indicative of his overall play as he backstopped a Blackhawks team, which was subpar defensively.
He finished the season 19-10-5 with a 2.89 GAA and a .920 SV% but had a very impressive close to the regular season and postseason with the Golden Knights. Now the mainstay in Vegas’s net, Lehner’s talent will shine behind the Golden Knights’ juggernaut. The 29-year old had a QS% of 55.9, with a GSAA of 12.67 and four RBS.
Lehner posted a .815 HDSV% and a 1.81 HDGAA, but the 6-foot-4 goaltender will watch those numbers improve next season behind a stellar defense. Lehner showcased his abilities on Long Island and now will be in a similar position in 2021 with Vegas.
Darcy Kuemper’s phenomenal regular season went under the radar, but his brilliance in the postseason opened eyes to just how talented this 30-year-old is. Kuemper went 16-11-2 with a 2.22 GAA and a .928 SV% for Arizona last season and will have to post similar numbers if the Coyotes want to be relevant in 2021.
He tallied a 75.9 QS%, the highest among starters with 10 or more games played, with just two RBS and a 16.65 GSAA. His numbers were exceptional, taking over the starting gig that was supposed to be Antti Raanta’s.
Kuemper also was incredible in high-danger situations, registering a .834 HDSV% and a 1.23 HDGAA. It was a memorable 2019-20 for Kuemper, and I fully expect more of the same from the Coyotes goalie next season.
The Pacific’s goaltending pool is deep with redeemable veterans and solid regulars. Lead by Darcy Kuemper; it will be exciting to see who claims the number one spot come season’s end.
This concludes the division rankings of starting goaltenders around the NHL. I hope you all enjoyed these rankings, and the beauty of the NHL is that everyone can have a different list, emphasizing the talent level of the NHL’s goaltenders.