Welcome back to The Journey, where we track the development of prospects as they excel in junior, make the NHL, and push towards stardom.

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While not a lot of young goaltenders have taken over as the undisputed starter just yet, plenty are making the most of their chances and a few have already staked their claim. Guys like Filip Gustavsson, Jake Oettinger, and Jeremy Swayman have moved into that next tier, showing they can carry the load. For this piece, I am leaning on the Top 100 Keeper League Goaltender Rankings – May 2025 as the framework to highlight where some of these young goalies stand. To keep things focused, I have narrowed it down to goalies who have seen NHL action this season and played at least 15 games, otherwise, we would be going deep into the entire prospect pool, which is not off the table for another time.

Enjoy!

Tier 1

Dustin Wolf – Calgary Flames – 53 games played

Wolf's rookie campaign was everything Calgary could have hoped for. The 24-year-old took on a full starter's workload, appearing in 53 games and delivering 29 wins with a .910 save percentage. Those stats only scratch the surface of what he accomplished. At even strength, Wolf posted an elite .926 save percentage on 1,216 shots, and his 5-on-5 xGA came in at 107.11, an outstanding mark that speaks to his strong positioning and shot suppression. This level of performance at 5-on-5, where most games are decided, signals the presence of a legitimate high-end starter.

Dustin Wolf is built different pic.twitter.com/QpCfuGOJLz

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) March 15, 2025

His consistently gave Calgary a chance to win, recording seven game "steals", that means games where his play directly salvaged points, often in otherwise losing scenarios. What is most telling is Calgary's faith in him. Rarely are rookie goalies trusted with this level of responsibility. He was pulled just twice all season, a testament to being calm under pressure, even when Calgary's structure broke down. He does not over commit situations, does not beat himself, and rarely loses composure.

The ability to perform regardless of team quality makes him a reliable fantasy option. His game is not reliant on highlight-reel acrobatics, but rather it is built sound technique and mental resilience. He is already a Calder Memorial Trophy Finalist and if he maintains this trajectory, Wolf is not just Calgary's long-term No. 1, he is tracking toward top-10 fantasy relevance within the next two seasons.

TOP ROOKIES! 👏

Macklin Celebrini, Lane Hutson & Dustin Wolf are your Calder Trophy finalists — awarded to the NHL's most outstanding first-year player. #NHLAwards

Find out where the next wave of young talent might be going during tonight's #NHLDraft Lottery which is about to… pic.twitter.com/k14qihgZRx

— NHL (@NHL) May 5, 2025

Tier 2

Lukas Dostal – Anaheim Ducks – 54 games played

In his sophomore season, Dostal took the lions share as Anaheim's primary netminder logging 54 appearances and firmly taking the reins while John Gibson dealt with injuries, including a 12-game absence to start the year following an appendectomy. This gave Dostal an extended opportunity to prove himself. His 23-23-7 record mirrored the Ducks' struggles but also reflected his own developmental curve.

Dostal's .903 save percentage and 3.10 goals-against average were modest gains from last season, but the real progress came in quality of starts. His Quality Start percentage jumped from 38.6% to 50%, and he managed to steal 10 games which is particularly impressive on a team that finished among the bottom three in Western Conference scoring. Not to mention behind one of the league's weakest defensive structures, Dostal managed a post an impressive GSAx of 12.04.

Lukas Dostal's sprawling save fooled EVERYONE in the building, including the broadcasters 🤣 pic.twitter.com/FQ6ViQwmpr

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) October 23, 2024

As for Gibson, trade rumors will continue to swirl but it continues to feel more hypothetical than imminent. Until a move materializes, Dostal is likely to share duties in a 1A/1B split. However, with Joel Quenneville now part of the Ducks' organization, Anaheim may become a more attractive landing spot potentially shifting the team's trajectory. If the blue line gets some help, Dostal's mix of high-leverage performance and growing workload could push him beyond a value pick and into reliable fantasy starter territory.

Tier 3

Spencer Knight – Chicago Blackhawks – 38 games played

It is actually hard to believe as it seems we have been talking about Knight for some time now, but he is only 24 years old and nearly has 100 games under his belt across four seasons. After a full year away from NHL action in 2023–24, Knight returned to the NHL this season and took meaningful steps forward, splitting the season between Florida and Chicago.

Knight appeared in a total 38 games earning a 17-16-3 record behind two very different defensive structures. His 0.902 SV% and 2.70 GAA were solid considering the volume and environment and underlying numbers show a goaltender starting to reassert himself. Good GSAx stats a 6.1, he posted a GSAA of 1.9, indicating that his performance was slightly better than league average even after transitioning mid-season from a contender (Florida) to a rebuilding team (Chicago).

Knight is under contract for another season at which point he will be a free agent. Chicago appears to be positioning him as their go-to option in the crease, and next season will be his true test, both in handling the weight that comes with a big-market spotlight and managing the grind of a full NHL schedule. If he can solidify himself as the clear starter, the volume alone could translate into meaningful value.

Spencer Knight has been traded to Chicago. Knight has a potential to be a legit No. 1 goalie. Bedard as a 1C, Levshunov as a 1D, Knight as a 1G. That's a good start in my eyes. Chicago acquired a 1st round draft pick as well. Only time will tell us who wins this trade. pic.twitter.com/ViDURgGjtz

— Rono (@RonoAnalyst) March 2, 2025

Tier 4

Joel Hofer – St. Louis Blues – 31 games played

Hofer continues to quietly build his case as a long-term piece in the Blues' crease. While his surface stats took a slight dip from his rookie campaign, Hofer remains a reliable tandem option with strong fantasy streaming appeal. His 5v5 SV% held steady at .923, with an even-strength SV% of .922, nearly identical to last year.

Hofer is shaping into a dependable 1B with potential or more if the Blues ever pivot from Binnington or shift toward a youth movement. Keep an eye on his deployment, if the starts climb into the 35–40 range. Jordan Binnington remains the established starter in St. Louis, and while Hofer has shown promising development, the crease still belongs primarily to Binnington, at least for now.

If it were not for Binnington's Four Nations performance, I feel Hofer would be a little further in the conversation of creeping in on Binnington's numbers.  Despite periodic stretches of strong play from Binnington, his inconsistency continues to be a storyline. However, his veteran status, contract security (still signed through 2026–27), and past success (2019 Stanley Cup win) continue to earn him the trust of the coaching staff.

Tier 5

Jakub Dobeš – Montreal Canadians – 16 games

Dobeš had limited but encouraging showing in his first go at the NHL, appearing in 16 games for the Canadiens. He performed well above expectations in spot starts and held his own as a number two option when called upon. Compared to Sam Montembeault, who saw 62 starts, Dobeš still trails in role security. Montembeault remains the trusted go-to option, offering stability despite some inconsistent stretches.

Jakub Dobes through his first four career starts:

-4-0-0
-0.98 GAA
-.963 SV%
-1 shutout pic.twitter.com/NTbAGzpuNM

— NHL (@NHL) January 17, 2025

His small sample suggests he is a name to monitor as the season progress. Unless Montembeault regresses or suffers an injury, Dobeš is likely headed for another season in a backup role. The Canadiens early playoff exits leaves a lot to wonder whether a healthy Montembeault could have changed the outcome against Washington.

Montreal is clearly building toward the future, and giving Dobeš more starts next season would be a logical step. A 20+ game workload is realistic if his progression continues. He is not ready to steal the crease outright, but he is shaping into a viable 1B option with long-term upside. The wildcard here is Jacob Fowler, who is waiting in the wings. His rise could complicate the picture, but for now, a stretch of strong, low-volatility play could give Dobeš a real shot at pushing for more starts by midseason.

Joel Blomqvist – Pittsburgh Penguins – 15 games

In the bigger picture, Blomqvist remains behind both Tristan Jarry and Alex Nedeljkovic on the Penguins' depth chart, which is not saying a lot. Jarry continues to hold the starter’s crease when healthy, despite ongoing inconsistencies, while Nedeljkovic gives the team a stopgap option albeit not the greatest.

Blomqvist, meanwhile, is clearly in a development phase, adjusting to NHL-caliber shooters and working through the growing pains that come with the transition. His numbers have taken a hit this season, but that is just as much a reflection of Pittsburgh's defensive issues as it is his own performance. Rebound control and consistency remain areas of concern, and until those improve, it is tough to see a clear NHL path, let alone fantasy relevance. Even with the goalies ahead of him struggling to lock things down, Blomqvist is not ready to capitalize just yet. For now, he is a long-term project with some upside, but fantasy managers can safely pass unless the situation in Pittsburgh shifts dramatically.

Thanks for reading! See you next week. For more content/fantasy hockey analysis, or if there’s a prospect, you’d like me to cover, follow and message me on X @Punters_hockey