After two weeks of covering the Monday Ramblings, I'm happy to be back doing the Wild West this week.

This week, we are going to look at each team in the West and see how the goalies are doing, what the current deployment is and what it might be going forward. I'm also going to list each team's AHL goalies and see how they are doing so far and if there is a chance we see them this year in the NHL.

With the disastrous 3-9-1 start to the season for the Edmonton Oilers, it has become fairly obvious how important goaltending is in the NHL. Some teams like Colorado, Edmonton and Vegas (to a degree) can still succeed with average goaltending, but most teams need their goalies to be above average.

For interest’s sake, I've put the Dobber Ranking (DR) from the Top 100 Goalie List and the Dobber Prospect Ranking (DPR) for goalies as well.

*GSAA is goals saved above average.

Anaheim Ducks

John Gibson (30-years-old) 3-4-0, GAA 2.21 Save % 92.6, GSAA 4.95 Dobber Ranking #27

Lukas Dostal (23) 5-2-0, 3.15, 91.1, 1.8 Dobber Prospect Ranking #5

AHL goalies on an NHL contract

Alex Stalock (36) 1-2-1, 3.30, 91.0, 1.11 Not Ranked

Calle Clang (21) 1-4-1, 3.56, 90.2, negative 0.15 NR

While John Gibson has four more years at $6.4 million AAV, there were some rumors during the off-season that he wanted out of Anaheim much sooner than later. He has split the starts roughly 50/50 with Lukas Dostal, but has been the better of the two, so we should see that number extend to 60/40 for Gibson as long as the Ducks remain competitive.

Dostal is proving that he can certainly be a backup in the NHL, but the Ducks are looking for him to prove that he can become a starter in this league. He's had a very good start to the 2023-24 season and if he can maintain his current level of play, he should continue to steal some starts from Gibson.

In the AHL, Alex Stalock is a depth backup in case of an injury to Gibson or Dostal, or if Dostal struggled.

Calle Clang is a Swedish 3rd round draft pick in 2020 who is playing his first full professional season in North America.

Arizona Coyotes

Connor Ingram (26) 5-1-0, 2.87, 91.1, 1.59 NR

Karel Vejmelka (27) 2-5-1, 2.96, 90.8, 1.35 DR #21

AHL goalies

Matt Villalta (24) 5-3-0, 2.39, 91.6, 3.15 NR

Anson Thornton (20) 1-0-0, 3.00, 90.0, negative 0.06 NR

Connor Ingram has marginally outperformed Karel Vejmelka so far this season and the split has been 55/45 in Vejmelka's favor, but Vejmelka has played 50 games in each of the past two years. Ingram played a career-high 27 games in 2022-23. Going forward, Ingram is signed for three more years and Vejmelka two more.

Matt Villalta was a 3rd round pick of the LA Kings in 2017 but was not qualified at the end of 2022-23, so the Coyotes signed him on a one-year deal. He has become a starter at the AHL level for the first time and has had a good start to the season. His backup is undrafted 20-year-old Anson Thornton who played his last season in the OHL in 2022-23 and was signed to a three-year entry level deal with the Coyotes.

Arizona is operating very leanly with just four goalies under contract at the NHL and AHL levels. There is a very good chance they add another at some point.

Calgary Flames

Jacob Markstrom (33) 2-6-1, 2.91, 89.6, negative 1.65 DR #19

Dan Vladar (26) 2-1-1, 3.92, 85.8, negative 5.04 NR

Dustin Wolf (22) 0-1-0, 4.02, 89.5, negative 0.31 DPR #3

AHL goalies

Dustin Wolf (22) 5-1-0, 2.34, 92.4, 4.03 DPR #3

Oscar Dansk (29) 2-0-1, 1.61, 95.4, 2.66 NR

The Flames have struggled with a record of 4-8-2 in their first 12 games and while it can't be pinned on Jacob Markstrom and Dan Vladar, they have both been below average. Many people thought that Dustin Wolf would see some NHL action in 2023-24, but this might be earlier than was hoped for in Calgary. Wolf gave up four goals in his one start with the Flames, but he wasn't given much of a chance on three of the four goals.

In my mind, Wolf will need to steal the crease from Markstrom or Vladar. Even though Markstrom is signed for three more years at $6 million AAV, and Vladar for two at $2.2 million AAV, this is a desperate team who can't afford to have their season over 20 games into it. If Wolf shines, I believe he sticks, and the Flames ride him and deal with the consequences later.

Chicago Blackhawks

Petr Mrazek (31) 4-3-0, 2.84, 92.1, 4.80 NR

Arvid Soderblom (24) 1-5-0, 3.99, 88.0, negative 4.25 DPR #34

AHL goalies

Drew Commesso (21) 3-2-0, 2.22, 91.9, 2.58 DPR #23

Jaxson Stauber (24) 2-2-0, 4.01, 88.9, negative 1.89 DPR #21

I'm a little surprised that Arvid Soderblom has started six games to Petr Mrazek's seven to this point as Mrazek has been the much better goalie of the two to date. I think this will revert to a 60/40 or even 65/35 split for Mrazek going forward.

The future of goaltending in Chicago likely rests with Soderblom, Drew Commesso or Jaxson Stauber, as they are all 24 or younger. Commesso has had an excellent start to his pro career after leaving Boston University at the end of the 2022-23 season. I believe that Commesso has the highest ceiling of the three.

Mrazek is still signed for two more years at $3.8 million AAV.

Colorado Avalanche

Alexandar Georgiev (27) 7-4-0, 3.29, 88.7, negative 5.03 DR #5

Ivan Prosvetov (24) 1-1-0, 2.90, 89.9, negative 0.31 DPR #16

AHL goalies

Justus Annunen (23) 5-1-3, 2.53, 90.6, 0.07 DPR #13

Arvid Holm (25) 1-2-0, 3.37, 86.3, negative 2.85 DPR #42

Trent Miner (21) 0-1-0, 3.18, 88.0, negative 0.55 NR

Colorado is 8-5-0 but might have some pretty large issues on their roster. They have had some trouble scoring and have received less than average goaltending from Alexandar Georgiev, who won 40 games in 2022-23. I think the Avalanche will round out their overall game as the season progresses and Georgiev should get to 35 wins.

If Ivan Prosvetov struggles as the backup, it appears that Justus Annunen should be next in line for the Avalanche.

Dallas Stars

Jake Oettinger (24) 7-2-1, 2.19, 92.9, 7.97 DR #6

Scott Wedgewood (31) 3-1-0, 3.02, 91.7, 2.07 NR

AHL goalies

Matt Murray (25) 2-2-1, 1.80, 93.8, 5.21 NR

Remi Poirier (22) 3-1-2, 3.26, 90.2, 0.36 NR

Oettinger should start 55-65 games once again and could win 35-40 games after winning 37 in 62 games in 2022-23. The Stars have one of the best young goaltenders in the NHL and he could be a top-three goalie in the NHL by the end of the year.

Scott Wedgewood is a perfect backup who might get into 20-25 games and play well.

Edmonton Oilers

Stuart Skinner (25) 2-5-1, 3.53, 86.1, negative 9.05 DR# 15

Jack Campbell (31) 1-4-0, 4.50, 87.1 negative 8.71 NR

Calvin Pickard (31) has not played.

AHL goalies

Jack Campbell (31) 0-2-0, 4.00, 82.6, negative 3.54

Calvin Pickard (31) 2-2-0, 2.03, 93.9, 4.94 NR

Olivier Rodrigue (23) 2-0-0, 1.00, 96.8, 4.17 DPR #26

It could be argued that the Oilers goaltending situation caused the firing of Jay Woodcroft and has put Ken Holland in the crosshairs now. Can the new coach Kris Knoblauch improve the team defense and raise the confidence of Stuart Skinner enough to make this team a threat come playoff time?

The Oilers don't have much in the cupboard of goalies who will help them in the short-term. Calvin Pickard has been called up to Edmonton and he does have 116 NHL games under his belt, but he's unlikely to catch lightning and go on a twenty-game tear for the Oilers. Stranger things have happened with goaltending, so you never quite know. (Full disclosure, as I did pick him up in two of my deeper pools).

Long-term, the Oilers have Jack Campbell signed for four more years at $5 million AAV and Stuart Skinner for three more at $2.6 million AAV. They need at least one of the two to get their game back to an average NHL level (ideally both).

Los Angeles Kings

Cam Talbot (36) 7-3-1, 2.21, 92.3, 6.26 NR

Pheonix Copley (31) 1-0-2, 4.58, 79.2, negative 8.02 DR #24

AHL goalies

David Rittich (31) 3-3-1, 2.90, 90.3, 0.19 NR

Erik Portillo (23) 2-1-0, 3.34, 88.0, negative 1.87 DPR #20

If the Kings can get anything close to Cam Talbot's season with the Wild in 2021-22, where he played 49 games and won 32 times, they should be ecstatic. So far so good, as Talbot has won seven of 11 starts and split the crease 78/22 with Pheonix Copley, who has struggled. Los Angeles could be in trouble if Talbot goes down with an injury or gets fatigued, as Copley has struggled in his three games – and that is being kind.

The Kings do have David Rittich in the AHL who has played 172 NHL games and might be an option for Copley if he can't turn it around sooner than later.

Minnesota Wild

Marc-Andre Fleury (38) 3-4-1, 3.41, 87.9, negative 5.27 NR

Filip Gustavsson (25) 2-4-1, 4.64, 87.2, negative 7.97 DR #8

AHL goalies

Jesper Wallstedt (20) 6-2-0, 2.30, 92.4, 3.95 DPR #10

Zane McIntyre (31) 0-3-1, 5.12, 86.1, negative 5.89

The Wild head to Sweden with a record of 5-8-2 and both of their goalies struggling. It's not often we see a goalie go 22-9-7 with a save percentage of 93.1 and a GSAA of 31.61 in 39 games before reverting to the level that Filip Gustavsson has in 2023-24. I would have thought that Gustavsson would have a 60/40 split with Fleury this season, but it has been 50/50. One of the two will need to emerge as the starter the rest of the way if this team has any hopes of the playoffs.

It's tempting to see what Jesper Wallstedt is doing in the AHL after eight games, but he is still very young and needs more time in the AHL. It certainly makes me think that he might be an option in 2024-25, at least as a backup in the NHL.

Nashville Predators

Juuse Saros (28) 4-8-0, 3.24, 89.4, negative 2.92 DR #7

Kevin Lankinen (28) 1-1-0, 3.01, 90.0, negative 0.24 NR

AHL goalies

Yaroslav Askarov (21) 3-2-0, 1.60, 93.5, 4.15 DPR #4

Troy Grosenick (34) 2-2-0, 2.99, 88.2, negative 1.55 NR

This might be the worst stretch of Juuse Saros's career since he entered the league in 2016-17. He has never had a save percentage under 91.4 in a season, or a GSAA under 4.78. There is no question that the Predators are not the same team in front of Saros which he has had since 2016-17, but he has not been the solution to date.

Saros is signed for two more years at $5 million AAV and ever since Yaroslav Askarov was drafted 11th overall in 2020, the 2025-26 season has been circled on a lot of calendars for Askarov to take over from Saros. I can only think of Saros being in Edmonton or Los Angeles and how good a fit he might be if either team could manage the cap space.

San Jose Sharks

Mackenzie Blackwood (26) 2-7-1, 4.00, 90.0, negative 1.14 NR

Kaapo Kahkonen (27) 0-5-0, 4.44, 87.5, negative 4.93  NR

Magnus Chrona 0-0-0, 7.87, 76.5, negative 2.35 NR

AHL goalies

Magnus Chrona (23) 0-3-1, 4.82, 87.1, negative 4.06 NR

Georgi Romanov (23) 2-0-2, 3.10, 90.3, 0.21

Eetu Makiniemi (24) 0-1-0, 5.15, 78.3, negative 2.75 DPR #18

The Sharks are now 2-12-1 after winning their first two games this past week. Mackenzie Blackwood has been one the rare positive stories for the Sharks so far, even with a GAA of 4.00. He was expected to split starts with Kaapo Kahkonen, but Blackwood has a 67/33 split in his favor so far.

Seattle Kraken

Joey Daccord (27) 2-1-3, 2.59, 91.3, 2.08 NR

Philipp Grubauer (31) 3-6-0, 3.37, 89.1, negative 2.97 NR

AHL goalies

Chris Driedger (29) 5-3-0, 1.90, 92.8, 7.33 NR

Ales Stezka (26) 1-0-0, 3.85, 87.1, negative 0.96 NR

Grubauer hasn't had a save percentage above 89.5 or had a positive GSAA since being in Seattle, which is now 103 games. He is signed for four more seasons at $5.9 million AAV. Joey Daccord should continue to chip away starts from Grubauer as the season progresses, but it is 60/40 for Grubauer as of now.

Chris Driedger has been good in the AHL for his first eight games, after missing most of the 2022-23 season and playing just 14 games in the AHL.

The Kraken are now 5-8-3 and deserve at the very least average goaltending.

St. Louis Blues

Jordan Binnington (30) 4-4-1, 2.52, 92.3, 5.91 DR #17

Joel Hofer (23) 3-1-0, 2.50, 91.8, 1.83 DPR #8

AHL goalies

Vadim Zherenko (22) 4-2-0, 2.52, 92.9, 5.68 DPR #29

Malcolm Subban (29) 3-3-1, 2.59, 91.3, 1.76 NR

Jordan Binnington has had a resurgent start to the 2023-24 season after being a little sub-par since 2020-21. He's enjoyed a 70/30 split with Joel Hofer and if that continues, he should see 55-60 games and could reach 25-30 wins.

The Blues look to have a pretty solid future in goal with Hofer and Vadim Zherenko playing well when they get a chance.

Vancouver Canucks

Thatcher Demko (27) 7-3-0, 1.96, 93.4, 9.13 DR #10

Casey DeSmith (32) 4-0-1, 2.48, 92.2, 3.20 NR

AHL goalies

Arturs Silovs (22) 6-1-1, 2.66, 90.5, 0.41 DPR #28

Nikita Tolopilo (23) 2-3-0, 3.64, 89.4, negative 1.22 NR

Throw out the Toronto game on Saturday night and Bubble Demko appears to be back, which is great news for the Canucks. The split with Casey DeSmith is 67/33 right now. If it continues at that rate, a healthy Demko would play about 52-56 games, which is right around what the Canucks want him to play. DeSmith has been excellent as a backup and could play 25-30 games.

Arturs Silovs had a slow start in the AHL but has played well of late, allowing just one goal in his past three starts.

Vegas Golden Knights

Adin Hill (27) 7-1-1, 1.75, 93.9, 9.41 DR #29

Logan Thompson (26) 5-1-0, 2.31, 92.3, 3.65 DR #23

AHL goalies

Jiri Patera (24) 5-4-0, 3.39, 89.2, negative 2.85 DPR #41

Jesper Vikman (21) 3-0-0, 2.53, 91.7, 1.41 NR

Both Adin Hill and Logan Thompson have been excellent, along with excellent team defense from the Golden Knights. The current split is 60/40 for Hill over Thompson and that would equate to about 48-50 starts for Hill and 32-34 starts for Thompson as it stands.

I'm a little intrigued by 21-year-old Jesper Vikman who played with the Vancouver Giants in 2022-23 and was drafted by the Golden Knights in the 5th round in 2020 out of Sweden. This will be his first full pro season.

Winnipeg Jets

Connor Hellebuyck (30) 6-4-1, 2.98, 89.2, negative 3.32 DR #3

Laurent Brossoit (30) 1-1-1, 3.25, 87.2, negative 2.43 NR

AHL goalies

Collin Delia (29) 3-2-0, 2.96, 89.2, negative 1.38 NR

Oskari Salminen (24) 1-2-0, 3.42, 85.3, negative 3.34 NR

Connor Hellebuyck has started slowly for the 7-5-2 Jets this year. He hasn't had a season with a GSAA below positive, or a save percentage below 91.0 since 2016-17. The Jets need Hellebuyck to be the same goalie he was before, otherwise there will be justified worry about the new seven-year extension at $8.5 million AAV. The current split with backup Laurent Brossoit is 78/22 and there should be no reason outside of injury for that to change much.

Hellebuyck is the foreseeable starter in Winnipeg for the next five years, so there is very little in the way of future assets in goal for the Jets.

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.