Goaltending Trends: Targeting Top Fantasy Goalies for 2024-25

The landscape of goaltending in the NHL is shifting, with a notable trend emerging as teams increasingly rely on goaltending tandems. Yet, players like Connor Hellebuyck and Andrei Vasilevskiy are proving that traditional No. 1 goaltenders are still a vital part of the game. As the 2024-25 season approaches, a closer look at the statistics reveals significant changes in crease share among top fantasy goalies over the last 16 seasons.

From the 2009-10 to 2016-17 seasons, the average crease share for the top-12 fantasy goalies was a robust 74.1%, with these players managing an average of 35.2 wins and 215.7 fantasy points. During this period, 25% of teams featured a goaltender with a crease share of 75% or higher, while 54.2% had at least a 65% share.

The narrative shifted following the expansion of the Vegas Golden Knights in 2017. From the 2017-18 season through 2024-25, the average crease share for the top-12 fantasy goalies dropped to 65.0%, with an average of 32.6 wins and 181.2 fantasy points. In this timeframe, only 7.9% of teams had a goaltender with a crease share of 75% or higher, and only 33.3% had at least 65%.

Among the top performers, Hellebuyck and Vasilevskiy stand out, each contributing significantly to a limited number of campaigns with a crease share above 75%. In fact, Hellebuyck and Vasilevskiy accounted for 11 of the 20 such seasons recorded. This concentration highlights the rarity of high-usage goaltenders in today’s NHL.

Moving past the traditional 75% threshold, the analysis reveals that a 65% crease share serves as a more realistic benchmark for identifying No. 1 goaltenders in fantasy hockey. Last season, 15 goaltenders achieved this standard, a significant increase from just 8 in the previous season.

Monitoring potential goaltending tandems for the upcoming season remains crucial. Not all goaltenders with substantial workloads yield corresponding fantasy results. For instance, Juuse Saros and the Nashville Predators faced challenges last season, demonstrating that the workload does not guarantee fantasy success.

In daily fantasy leagues, the value of goaltending tandems can be more pronounced due to the lower draft costs associated with backup goalies. Additionally, young goaltenders may transition from a tandem situation to becoming dominant forces in fantasy leagues.

As the NHL prepares for the 2024-25 season, here are key goaltenders from teams that may not have a clear No. 1 projected, listed alphabetically:

**Buffalo Sabres**
– Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen: 64.8% crease share, 33.2 fantasy points
– James Reimer: 33.9% crease share, 32.6 fantasy points
– Devon Levi: 9.8% crease share, -13.0 fantasy points

**Carolina Hurricanes**
– Pyotr Kochetkov: 57.0% crease share, 84.8 fantasy points
– Frederik Andersen: 27.0% crease share, 44.0 fantasy points

**Columbus Blue Jackets**
– Elvis Merzlikins: 64.3% crease share, 53.6 fantasy points
– Daniil Tarasov: 22.3% crease share, -1.0 fantasy points

**Detroit Red Wings**
– Cam Talbot: 53.6% crease share, 70.4 fantasy points
– Alex Lyon: 31.7% crease share, 40.2 fantasy points

**Edmonton Oilers**
– Stuart Skinner: 60.0% crease share, 78.0 fantasy points
– Calvin Pickard: 38.4% crease share, 71.6 fantasy points

**Philadelphia Flyers**
– Samuel Ersson: 52.8% crease share, 32.6 fantasy points
– Ivan Fedotov: 29.0% crease share, -12.0 fantasy points

**Pittsburgh Penguins**
– Tristan Jarry: 40.9% crease share, 39.4 fantasy points
– Alex Nedeljkovic: 43.5% crease share, 28.8 fantasy points

**San Jose Sharks**
– Alexandar Georgiev: 56.8% crease share, -35.2 fantasy points
– Mackenzie Blackwood: 54.1% crease share, 29.4 fantasy points

**Toronto Maple Leafs**
– Anthony Stolarz: 40.5% crease share, 133.6 fantasy points
– Joseph Woll: 49.8% crease share, 110.6 fantasy points

As teams finalize their rosters and strategies, the dynamics of goaltending will continue to evolve. For fantasy hockey enthusiasts, understanding these trends and the potential of each goaltender will be critical in drafting effective lineups for the upcoming season.