Last year we had some confusion, so just to be clear we will only be listing goalies from the Western Conference below.

Last year I didn't have one goalie in the West who I deemed to be in the 1A Tier and only had one (Juuse Saros) in the 1B tier.

These tiers are a general ranking and based on the health not being an issue for any goalies listed.

By the way, our sister site GOALIE POST now has a free app that will tell you the starting goalies, offers goalie rankings, win projections per-game, and save-projections for the coming game. Pick it up in the app store for iOS here and for Android here.

For 2023-24 here we are:

Tier One: 35 wins or more, at least a 91.5 save percentage and a GSAA above 20.

Alexandar Georgiev – Colorado (2022-23 Stats: 62 GP, 40W, 91.9 SV%, GSAA 27.78)

Georgiev rebounded from a sub-par 2021-22 with the NY Rangers and took advantage of his opportunity in Colorado and ran with it. Other than a slow stretch in the 2nd quarter of 2022-23 where he went 6-9-2 with a save percentage of 89.8 and a GSAA of -2.90, the rest of the season he was an impressive 34-7-4 with a save percentage over 92.5 and a GSAA of 30.69. If he plays more than 55 games he should see 35 wins again.

Jake Oettinger – Dallas (62 GP, 37W, 91.9, 27.50)

He cemented his spot as one the top three goalies in the West, with his 37 wins in 62 games. He stumbled a little in the playoffs, but should still be able to generate more than 35 wins again if he can dress for 60 games or more. His impressive stat line is the product of being an excellent goalie on a good team. At just 24-years of age, it is scary to think how many 30 win seasons he might have still ahead of him.

Connor Hellebuyck – Winnipeg (64 GP, 37W, 92.0, 31.54)

If we go back six seasons and don't include the shortened 2020-21 year, Hellebuyck has played at least 58 games five times and has had 29 wins or more in all of those years. This is more than likely his last season in Winnipeg, so depending where he ends up, it could elevate him to over 40 wins or limit him to 30. He's as solid a goalie as you will find.

Juuse Saros – Nashville (64 GP, 33W, 91.9, 31.50)

Saros followed up his outstanding 2021-22 where he had 38 wins with 33 wins in 2022-23 and improved upon his save percentage and GSAA. The Predators have made significant changes to their lineup, so Saros might be hard pressed to exceed his 33 wins from last year so could move down a tier through no fault of his own.

Tier Two: 28 to 35 wins, at least a 91.0 save percentage and a GSAA above seven.

Stuart Skinner – Edmonton (50 GP, 29W, 91.4, 15.46)

Skinner had his struggles in the playoffs, but he clearly was the better of him and Jack Campbell in 2022-23. He could see a split where he gets 55 games next year and if that is the case he should exceed 30 wins for sure. He had an impressive last quarter where he went 12-1-1 with a 92.1 save percentage and a GSAA of 7.03. It was an impressive rookie season.

Filip Gustavsson – Minnesota (39 GP, 22W, 93.1, 31.61)

Gustavsson should see his share of playing time increase from 2022-23 after his impressive rookie season. Gustavsson was consistent throughout the year but still played less than Marc-Andre Fleury. I don't think the same will be the case in 2023-24 and Gustavsson could see 50-55 starts where he could exceed 30 wins. It's not always the easiest thing to duplicate the stat line he put up, so I would expect some regression.

Thatcher Demko – Vancouver (32GP, 14W, 90.1, -2.52)

Demko wasn't playing well when he went down with an injury in early December which cost him two months. Once he came back he played 17 games and went 11-4-2 with a save percentage of 92.0 and a GSAA of 7.50 which is more in line with what we can expect to see from him in 2023-24. While it's not ideal for him to play 64 games, it would be great to see him play 55-60 games and put up 30 wins again.

Adin Hill – Vegas (27GP, 16W, 91.6, 9.70)

Hill went 11-2-2 in the playoffs with a save percentage of 93.2 and a GSAA of 13.85 on the way to winning the Stanley Cup. He only played 27 games in the regular season which was the most he had ever played in six seasons. If the Golden Knights hadn't re-signed Hill for two more years at $4.9 million AAV I'm not sure I would feel as comfortable putting him in this tier. I think he will play 50-55 games if healthy and could see 30 wins.

Tier Three: 22 to 27 wins, at least a 90.0 save percentage and a GSAA above even.

Jordan Binnington – St. Louis (61 GP, 27W, 89.4, – 18.70)

Binnington has four years remaining on his $6 million AAV contract and will more than likely get 2023-24 to get his game back to a level of a slightly above average goalie. With that being said, he should get 50-55 games once again. The only thing that could stand in his way is if Joel Hofer plays lights out.

Cam Talbot – Los Angeles (36GP, 17W, 89.8, -5.24)

Pheonix Copley – Los Angeles (37 GP, 24W, 90.3, 0.62)

I truly think that the Kings have improved and might win 50 or more games in 2023-24. To do that they will need better goaltending than they received in 2022-23. While Talbot struggled in Ottawa in 2022-23 he did play 49 games in 2021-22 while with Minnesota and had 32 wins that year. I think Talbot will have a 55/45 split with Pheonix Copley and could play 45 games and win 25 or more, but it could easily go the other way so I am including both here.

Jacob Markstrom – Calgary (59GP, 23W, 89.2, -17.92)

Markstrom has won 22 or more in each of his past six seasons and peaked at 37 wins in 63 games in 2021-22. 2022-23 was his worst NHL year statistically and he will look to rebound with three years remaining at $6 million AAV. The Flames had other issues besides goaltending in 2022-23 so they should be an improved team this year and if Markstrom can improve and play 55-65 games he should get back to 25-30 wins again. Dustin Wolf is breathing down the neck of Markstrom and backup Dan Vladar and should see some more NHL games this year.

Tier Four: 16 to 21 wins, but have had some issues with performance or have lost their starting roles.

Marc-Andre Fleury – Minnesota (46 GP, 24W, 90.8, 5.23)

Fleury is now 38-years-old and impressively has only dipped below 20 wins twice in the past 16 seasons when he had 18 wins in 2016-17 and 19 wins in 2007-08. He has had 30 wins or more nine times and 35 or more wins seven times. He knows how to win in the regular season. If Gustavsson is close to what he was last year in Minnesota, I'm not sure how Fleury will start more than 35-40 games. I think he could still reach 20 wins, but it will be a challenge. In 2022-23, Fleury started 27 games in the first half and 19 in the second.

Jack Campbell – Edmonton (36GP, 21W, 88.8, -16.70)

For a goalie as maligned as Campbell has been, his record over the past three seasons is 69-21-12. Admittedly he has been on some very good teams with Toronto and Edmonton and the Oilers won in spite of him in 2022-23. He will need to rebound his play to get any more than 35-40 starts in 2023-24.

Logan Thompson – Vegas (37GP, 21W, 91.5, 12.58)

Thompson has done little wrong to lose his starting job in goal for the Golden Knights if in fact he has. He has been consistently good but was injured late in the season and Laurent Brossoit started the playoffs in goal, before being injured and replaced by Adin Hill. Depending on Hill's play, Thompson could easily displace Hill at some point. He could easily move up a tier or two.

Philipp Grubauer – Seattle (39GP, 17W, 89.5, -8.72)

Grubuaer has four years remaining at $5.9 million AAV. He has had two years in Seattle and had 18 wins in 55 games in 2021-22 and 17 wins in 39 games last year. His play was very much below average in 2021-22 and just simply below average in 2022-23 while battling injuries. If Grubauer can play 50-55 games and be average he could win 25-30 games and move up a tier or two. 

John Gibson – Anaheim (53GP, 14W, 89.9, -9.63)

Gibson has four years remaining on his contract at $6.4 million AAV. He hasn't had an above average season in goal since he won 26 games in 58 games in 2018-19. That makes four sub-par seasons in a row on a weak team. There are rumors that he might be dealt to a better team, but I'm not sure what team would covet him with the contract he has? If nothing materializes, there is a good chance Gibson still gets 50-55 games and depending on if the Ducks have improved he could see 20 wins.

Karel Vejmelka – Arizona (50GP, 18W, 90.0, -6.68)

Vejmelka was a bit of a revelation in 2021-22 when he played 52 games and won 13 times. He had moments of brilliance but also moments of inconsistency. He followed it up by playing 50 games in 2022-23 and winning 18 times. Connor Ingram outplayed him at times, so I'm not sure 50 games is a guarantee for Vejmelka in 2023-24.

Tier Five: Goalies who have a higher ceiling than a backup but have some obstacles in their way

Petr Mrazek – Chicago (39GP, 10W, 89.4, -12.48)

Arvid Soderblom – Chicago (15GP, 2W, 89.4, -4.51)

Jaxson Stauber – Chicago (6GP, 5W, 91.1, 1.34)

Any one of Mrazek, Soderblom or Stauber could emerge as the starter who sees 45-55 starts this year. More than likely it will be Mrazek. Defensively, the Blackhawks are still going to be a bit of a mess, so 15 wins might be the ceiling for any of them in 2023-24.

Pavel Francouz – Colorado (16GP, 8W, 91.5, 5.33)

Injuries have held Francouz back a little as he has done nothing but play well when he has dressed. In 73 career games, all with Colorado he has a record of 44-21-6 with a save percentage of 91.9 and a GSAA of 24.7. He is a goalie to keep an eye on as he could certainly put up some impressive numbers if he played more games.

Lukas Dostal – Anaheim (19GP, 4W, 90.1, -1.82)

Dostal is a 23-year-old who played 19 games with the Ducks last year and showed some flashes on his way to winning four games. He has played the past two seasons in the AHL where he played 40 games in 2021-22 and had a save percentage of 91.6 and 34 games in 2022-23 where he had a save percentage of 91.2. For Dostal to take off with the Ducks, Gibson would have to falter some more or be dealt and Dostal would need to beat out Alex Stalock for the backup role.

Dustin Wolf – Calgary (1GP, 1W, 95.8, 1.30)

The 22-year-old Wolf has done nothing but dominate the AHL for the past two seasons. In 2021-22 he played 47 games and had a record of 33-9 with a save percentage of 92.4. He followed that up with a record of 42-10 in 57 games where he posted a save percentage of 93.2. He hasn't had a save percentage below 92.4 at any level since 2015-16. The leash will be short for Markstrom and his backup Dan Vladar in Calgary, but Wolf could force their hand sooner than later. Vladar is signed for two more years at $2.2 million AAV and we addressed Markstrom's salary above.

Arturs Silovs – Vancouver (5GP, 3W, 90.8, 0.59)

The 22-year-old Silovs had a very good 2022-23. He played well in the AHL with a 90.9 save percentage in 44 games and then played very well in the World Championships carrying Latvia to the Bronze medal and being named tournament MVP. He will need to battle with Spencer Martin for the backup role in Vancouver for 2023-24, but he has a bit of a higher ceiling than Martin.

Connor Ingram – Arizona (27GP, 6W, 90.7, 3.16)

Ingram re-signed with the Coyotes for three more years at $1.95 million AAV. He could see more than 35-40 games in 2023-24 and start to chip away at the starting role in Arizona. Unfortunately, the Coyotes are still a few years away from not being near the basement.

Kaapo Kahkonen – San Jose (37GP, 9W, 88.3, -24.70)

Mackenzie Blackwood – San Jose (22GP, 10W, 89.3, -5.95)

Kahkonen or Blackwood should share the load in 2023-24 for the Sharks, but this team is not kind to goaltenders in recent years and should be near the bottom once again. Kahkonen had been decent until the 2022-23 season but that is much easier to do in Minnesota than San Jose.

Blackwood is looking for a bit of a fresh start after struggling a little over the past three seasons in New Jersey. In 2019-20 he did win 22 times in 47 games and had a save percentage of 91.5.

Joel Hofer – St. Louis (6GP, 3W, 90.5, 0.18)

Hofer is a 23-year-old who has played the past two years in the AHL. He played very well in 2022-23 where he had 27 wins in 47 games in the AHL with a 92.1 save percentage. He played six games with the Blues and had three quality starts. He is the odds on favorite to be the backup with the Blues in 2023-24 and could steal some starts from Binnington.

Tier Six: Backup goalies

Dan Vladar – Calgary (27GP, 14W, 89.5, -5.97)

Spencer Martin – Vancouver (29GP, 11W, 87.1, -27.32)

Alex Stalock – Anaheim (27GP, 9W, 90.8, 2.99)

Kevin Lankinen – Nashville (19GP, 9W, 91.6, 6.97)

Joey Daccord – Seattle (5GP, 2W, 90.0, -0.52)

Scott Wedgewood – Dallas (21GP, 9W, 91.5, 6.89)

Chris Driedger – Seattle (DNP)

Laurent Brossoit – Winnipeg (11GP, 7W, 92.7, 7.43)

These guys are more than likely backups at best. While they all are capable of having some good stretches, they are very unlikely to see more than 25 games in 2023-24.

Thanks for reading and if you have any questions or players you'd like me to look at please message or follow me on Twitter @gampbler15.