Few positions test dynasty managers' patience like goaltender. Unlike skaters, goalie development is rarely linear, with prospects capable of rising, stalling, and rebounding quickly.

That makes Dobber's annual August goalie audit particularly useful. Rather than focusing on established NHL starters, I'm looking at younger goalies whose dynasty value is still developing and asking whether significant ranking movement reflects a real change in trajectory or simply the volatility of goalie development.

Devon Levi, Edmonton Oilers

Previous: 45 | August: 26 | Change: +19

Levi is one of the biggest young-goalie risers, jumping 19 spots into Tier 3. The rise makes sense, as his move to Edmonton gives him a legitimate path to NHL starts and potentially even the starting job. Tristan Jarry has a track record of being vulnerable to competition, so Levi may have more immediate opportunity than most young goalies. For a player who was once considered one of the better goalie prospects in hockey, a change of scenery and a clearer path to playing time could be exactly what he needs.

For Levi, the question is becoming less about whether he is a legitimate prospect and more about whether he can seize that opportunity and establish himself as an NHL starter. Goalie values can change quickly once opportunity meets performance, and Levi could be in position for exactly that type of jump. If he can push Jarry and earn a meaningful share of Edmonton's starts, his dynasty value could rise considerably, making the move from 45th to 26th understandable.

Nico Daws, New Jersey Devils

Previous: 64 | August: 38 | Change: +26

Daws makes one of the larger moves, climbing 26 spots into Tier 4. The opportunity is becoming interesting as well. Jake Allen come into the season as the de facto starter with Jacob Markstrom moving on, but has only had a tandem workload for years, playing just 34, 31, and 37 games over the past three seasons, respectively. That leaves a meaningful number of starts available, and Daws has already had a couple of stretches of NHL action, giving New Jersey some familiarity with what he can provide.

At 38th overall, Daws isn’t suddenly an elite dynasty asset, but the combination of age, previous NHL experience, and a plausible path to more games makes the 26-spot rise interesting. Goalies like Daws are why I'm reluctant to write off young netminders who have already reached the NHL. If he gets another extended opportunity and performs well, his value could change quickly.

Sergei Murashov, Pittsburgh Penguins

Previous: 56 | August: 39 | Change: +17

Murashov climbs 17 spots to 39th, and he may have the purest skill of any goalie on this list. Pair that talent with Pittsburgh's increasingly open crease, and the upside is enormous. After posting a .919 save percentage and 2.20 GAA in the AHL last season, Murashov has moved ahead of Joel Blomqvist in the organization's hierarchy.

The opportunity may arrive quickly. Artūrs Šilovs enters camp as the likely starter, but Pittsburgh does not have an established long-term No.1, and it is likely only be a matter of time before Murashov takes over. The Penguins have long viewed him as a potential future starter, and his combination of talent, professional production, and opportunity makes the jump into the top 40 easy to understand. Of the goalies on this list, Murashov may have the clearest path to eventually becoming a high-end dynasty asset.

Sebastian Cossa, Utah Mammoth

Previous: 39 | August: 40 | Change: -1

Cossa barely moves in the rankings, but his change of organizations could ultimately be a positive for his dynasty value. Yes, he lost his AHL job to Michal Postava last season, but I wouldn't take that as an indictment of Cossa's future. The former 15th-overall pick still possesses an intriguing combination of size, pedigree, and upside, and a fresh start may be exactly what he needs.

Utah also provides an interesting opportunity. Michal Hrabal is a strong prospect in his own right, but Cossa is a couple of years ahead of him in professional experience and should have the first chance to push toward an NHL role. At this point, Cossa does need to turn some of that potential into results, but I'm not giving up on the ceiling. The path may have changed, but the opportunity and long-term upside remain very much alive.

Colten Ellis, Buffalo Sabres

Previous: 54 | August: 46 | Change: +8

Ellis moves eight spots to 46th, and his recent NHL performance gives the rise some substance. In a limited 16-game run with Buffalo last season, Ellis went 8-4-2 with a .903 save percentage and 2.90 GAA, including a 37-save shutout. Among NHL rookie goalies with at least five appearances, he ranked fourth in save percentage.

Ellis is exactly the type of goalie investment I like in dynasty. He doesn’t carry the acquisition cost of the elite goalie prospects, but he has already demonstrated that he can handle NHL minutes. Buffalo still has Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Alex Lyon ahead of him, so the path isn’t wide open, but another strong opportunity could change his value quickly. The eight-spot rise feels warranted, and Ellis is someone I'd rather acquire before his role becomes clearer.

Dennis Hildeby, Tampa Bay Lightning

Previous: 80 | August: 61 | Change: +19

Hildeby jumps 19 spots, and I love the opportunity in Tampa Bay. He has shown enough ability to be intriguing, but the situation may be even more important. Andrei Vasilevskiy remains one of the league's elite goalies, but Tampa Bay has continued to lean heavily on him, with 63 appearances in 2024-25 and another 58 last season. The Lightning haven't had a backup they've trusted enough to substantially reduce that workload, creating an opening for Hildeby to earn meaningful starts.

That makes the move from 80th to 61st particularly interesting. Hildeby doesn't need to displace Vasilevskiy to become fantasy relevant. If he can establish himself as a reliable backup who allows Tampa Bay to give Vasilevskiy more rest, there could be enough starts on a strong team to create real value. For a goalie still relatively inexpensive in dynasty leagues, I really like the combination of talent and opportunity here.

Nikke Kokko, Seattle Kraken

Previous: 108 | August: 68 | Change: +40

Kokko rockets from 108th to 68th, a 40-position jump and one of the largest moves among the young goalies on this list. I wouldn't interpret that as Kokko suddenly becoming 40 spots better, because goalie rankings simply aren't that precise. But movement this significant tells us that his trajectory has meaningfully improved and that he deserves considerably more attention than he was receiving a few months ago.

This is exactly the range where prospect-focused dynasty managers can find value. Kokko remains far enough from an NHL role that the market may not have fully reacted, but that also keeps his acquisition cost relatively low. In deeper leagues, I'd rather take a chance on a goalie whose development is clearly trending upward before the NHL opportunity arrives than wait until everyone else notices.

Artur Akhtyamov, Toronto Maple Leafs

Previous: 116 | August: 82 | Change: +34

Akhtyamov jumps 34 spots after a breakout postseason in which he led the Marlies to the Calder Cup and won playoff MVP, going 15-7 with a .923 save percentage. His emergence also helped make Hildeby expendable, with Toronto trading Hildeby to Tampa Bay this summer.

The immediate NHL opportunity is limited behind Sergei Bobrovsky and Anthony Stolarz, but that may not last forever. Bobrovsky is 37, while Stolarz has dealt with injuries, so Akhtyamov should still have opportunities to see NHL games this season. More importantly, Toronto appears to be grooming him for a much larger role down the road. He may still be a year or two away, but after his Calder Cup run, Akhtyamov looks increasingly like a legitimate candidate to become the Maple Leafs' future starter.

Michal Postava, Detroit Red Wings

Previous: NR | August: 77

Postava enters the rankings at 77th after an outstanding first season in North America. He went 17-6-0 with a .937 save percentage and 1.71 GAA for Grand Rapids, then earned the net for the Calder Cup Playoffs ahead of Sebastian Cossa. His emergence was significant enough that Detroit subsequently traded Cossa, while Postava now enters the season competing for NHL opportunities.

This is exactly the type of goalie I'd check the waiver wire for. Because Postava was previously unranked, he may still be available in deeper dynasty leagues, and he looks like an excellent free asset if he is. He has already shown he can excel at the professional level, and while Trey Augustine remains Detroit's premier long-term goalie prospect, Postava has put himself firmly into the NHL conversation.

Final Thoughts

Goalie rankings should be treated as signals, not answers. A big jump or fall matters less than why the evaluation changed and whether your dynasty market has reacted appropriately. Patience remains essential with young goalies, but so does tracking their development, professional performance, and path to NHL starts. The biggest dynasty advantage often comes before a goalie becomes obvious, because once everyone agrees he is an NHL starter, much of the value has already been captured.

Thanks for reading! See you next week. For more fantasy hockey analysis, or if there's a prospect, topic, or theme you'd like me to cover, follow and message me on X: @VictorNuno12