The Journey examines goaltenders yet to play an NHL game and takes into account both depth chart and talent when spotlighting which prospects could be the backbone of your fantasy roster within the next few seasons. 

Thatcher Demko –  Vancouver Canucks

The San Diego-born Demko was phenomenal throughout his three-year career at Boston College, posting a 62-26-10 record with a sparkling 2.08 goals against average. Following his junior season, Demko signed a three-year entry-level deal with Vancouver to start his professional career this upcoming season.

He will spend this campaign with the AHL’s Utica Comets and should be the feature goaltender for a team that lost in the first round of the Calder Cup Playoffs. Ryan Miller and Jacob Markstrom are signed for the upcoming season, but both are unrestricted free agents following this year. Miller is unlikely to be re-signed, and Markstrom has yet to grab hold of the starting role for any of the NHL teams he has played for to this point, so Demko may be thrust into the spotlight as early as the 2017-18 season.

The best-case scenario for Vancouver would be to get decent goaltending until the 2018-19 season to allow Demko to get close to 100 games at the AHL level before he takes over the Canucks net.

Ilya Sorokin – New York Islanders

For the last three seasons, Sorokin has been a starting goaltender in the KHL; no easy feat considering he still under 21 years old. The Islanders 2014 third-round pick moved to CSKA Moscow during the 2014-15 season and put up staggeringly low numbers for the club since the move.

In 34 regular season games, Sorokin allowed up just 35 goals playing to a 1.10 goals against average.

Organizationally, the Islanders have Jaroslav Halak and Thomas Greiss under contract for this upcoming season; with Halak’s contract expiring following the 2017-18 campaign. Likely, New York would love to get Sorokin on North American soil, but his contract in the KHL does not end until after the 2017-18 season.

The Islanders do have a few decent goaltending prospects in Jean-Francois Berube, Christopher Gibson and Stephon Williams, as well as fellow blue-chipper Linus Soderstrom, but other than Soderstrom, no one has the top-end ability that Sorokin has.

Anthony Stolarz – Philadelphia Flyers

Former London Knight Anthony Stolarz was selected with the 45^th overall pick in the 2012 NHL Draft. At 6’6” and 235 pounds, the New Jersey native has the size that NHL teams covet in their goaltenders. He was much more comfortable in his second professional season, and increased his games played for Lehigh Valley (AHL) from 31 to 47, his save percentage from .905 to .916, while dropping his goals against average from 3.28 to 2.60.

Still learning to use his size effectively, Stolarz will again start this season as the Phantoms starting goaltender. With Steve Mason and Michal Neuvirth becoming unrestricted free agents after this season, Stolarz will have the opportunity to take over the Flyers net sooner rather than later.

Alex Lyon, Matej Tomek and Felix Sundstrom make up the stable of goaltenders in Philadelphia’s system that will battle Stolarz for minutes within the next few years.

Jon Gillies – Calgary Flames

When healthy, Gillies has been one of the best goaltending prospects around. His career at Providence College was stellar, playing three years and leading the Friars to an NCAA Championship in his junior season.

The former third-round selection started his professional career this season in the AHL, but played just seven games before being shut down for the season due to a hip injury that has been lingering for some time.

Calgary’s goaltending position was a disappointing rotating door of Karri Ramo, Joni Ortio, Jonas Hiller and Niklas Backstrom last season, and needed some attention this offseason. In an attempt to shore up the position for the short term, the Flames acquired Brian Elliot Friday, June 24 on Day 1 of the draft.

At 31 years old, Elliot is not the goaltender of the future for the Flames, but is a great stopgap addition to keep the net warm until Gillies develops to an NHL level.

Alex Nedeljkovic – Carolina Hurricanes

Nedeljkovic had quite a year and took a step forward in his development towards becoming Carolina’s starting goaltender of the future. He was the USA’s best player at the World Junior Championships, leading the team to a third place finish with his consistent play throughout the tournament.

The Ohio native was traded to Niagara midseason, and helped the IceDogs to the OHL Championship series, losing to eventual Memorial Cup Champion, London.

Canes GM Ron Francis clearly views Nedeljkovic as the future in net, electing to sign Cam Ward to a two-year contract extension rather than looking outside the organization for a free agent or trade candidate that would have eaten up more money and term.

Nedeljkovic will receive plenty of AHL minutes this season with the Charlotte Checkers, and he should be NHL ready within the next couple of seasons.

Give Kevin a follow @kleblanchockey for NHL prospect talk and happenings.