Former NHL goaltender Corey Hirsch ranks the league’s goalies in terms of pressure this season.
Western Conference
15. Colorado – Semyon Varlamov
Plays behind one of the most challenged defensive corps in the NHL. Any chance of this team even being respectable lies on Varlamov’s shoulders.
14. Arizona – Antti Raanta
Never been a No. 1. Coyotes have one of the best defences in the NHL that other goalies would salivate to play behind.
13. Vegas – Marc-Andre Fleury
Fleury is the star on a team that otherwise has no stars. He will need to be super human some nights to keep this team from getting embarrassed.
12. LA Kings – Jonathan Quick
This team is only as good as Quick. It’s a big weight to carry on a guy that missed almost all of last season.
11. Vancouver – Jacob Markstrom
First opportunity to be a No. 1 goalie in the NHL. Fail and he’s labeled a career backup.
10. Winnipeg – Steve Mason
Can’t seem to stick in any market he’s been in. Has to prove Winnipeg didn’t throw a dart hoping he can be its saviour.
9. San Jose – Martin Jones
Big Joe isn’t getting any younger. Don’t be the reason a legend never wins a Cup.
8. Nashville – Pekka Rinne
Can he perform the same magic two seasons in a row?
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7. St. Louis – Jake Allen
Got sent home at one point to clear his head, but was incredible in the playoffs. Which goalie shows up?
6. Minnesota – Devan Dubnyk
Vezina candidate for three quarters of the year last season. Down the stretch not so much. Needs a complete season start to finish.
5. Anaheim – John Gibson
Hasn’t been able to get through the Conference Finals. His pressure won’t come until the playoffs.
4. Chicago – Corey Crawford
A first round sweep with that lineup can’t happen again.
3. Dallas – Ben Bishop
Dallas has some serious firepower and goaltending let them down last year. Bishop is expected to be the savior.
2. Calgary – Mike Smith
Smith wanted to go somewhere with a chance to win. Needs to prove he’s not just a good goalie on bad teams.
1. Edmonton – Cam Talbot
Oilers have the best player in the world and a legitimate chance to win the Cup. Snubbed of a Vezina nod, Talbot needs prove last year wasn’t a fluke.
Eastern Conference
16. Carolina – Scott Darling
Was incredible at times in Chicago, but now doesn’t have an all-star defence in front of him.
15. Ottawa – Craig Anderson
Anderson has arguably the best defenceman in the NHL on his team. Needs to follow up on last season’s playoff performance.
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14. Florida – Roberto Luongo
At 38 years old, needs to prove that his best years aren’t over or he’ll be on the end of the bench.
13. Boston – Tuukka Rask
Boston has underachieved the last few seasons. Rask is 30 years old, time is running out.
12. Pittsburgh – Matt Murray
Already won two Cups and has Crosby on his team looking for a three peat.
11. Buffalo – Robin Lehner
Buffalo changed its whole front office staff. Lehner was a Tim Murray trade. His safety blanket is gone.
10. New Jersey – Cory Schneider
Nico Hischier gives them a chance to be playoff contenders. Can Schneider provide the rest?
9. Tampa Bay – Andrei Vasilevskiy
Tampa traded Ben Bishop so he could be the No 1.
8. New York Islanders – Jaroslav Halak/Thomas Greiss
Halak got sent to the minors with a $4 million salary. If that doesn’t say shape up, I don’t know what does.
7. Philadelphia – Brian Elliott
Needs to shake off the inconsistency that plagues him or the Flyers faithful will run him out of town.
6. Detroit – Petr Mrazek
Detroit didn’t make the playoffs for the first time in 25 years last season. A new building and a new attitude, Red Wings fans expect more this year.
5. New York Rangers – Henrik Lundqvist
He’s 35 years old now. How long until the Rangers decide he’s not the guy that can get them a Cup anymore?
4. Columbus – Sergei Bobrovsky
See Montreal and Carey Price…they should be called the Columbus Bobrovskys. He’s the team.
3. Washington – Braden Holtby
Being the best in regular season means nothing if you can’t get it done in the playoffs.
2. Montreal – Carey Price
The Montreal Canadiens are Carey Price and Carey Price is the Montreal Canadiens. How’s that for pressure in the world’s most legendary goalie market?
1. Toronto – Frederik Andersen
Last year he had zero pressure. This year the Toronto faithful are tentatively planning a parade route.
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