Top 25 NHL-affiliated goalie prospects in 2026-27
There’s no harder position to evaluate in hockey than goaltenders.
Even NHL teams struggle figuring out how to analyze the position. It’s one thing to evaluate two goalies playing in the same league, but it’s another when you’ve got guys all over the world with various levels of defenders, inconsistent statistical reports, and different workloads. It’s why many teams try and select as many goalies as possible to make sure they many bullets in the chamber once the time comes. Detroit, for example, was recently able to trade Sebastian Cossa, who appears in the top five of this list because they already had the second-best goalie prospect in the world in Trey Augustine.
This is the fourth year we’ve done this exercise. Jesper Wallstedt took home top honors in 2023 before Yaroslav Askarov overtook him in 2024 and 2025. Graduates from last year’s list include Askarov (first), Leevi Meriläinen (ninth), Devon Levi (11th), Wallstedt (12th) and Jakub Dobeš (24th… yeah, he was under-ranked, for sure).
To be included, goalies must be 25 or younger and have played fewer than 20 NHL games in the past season or fewer than 30 games over their careers.
With that in mind, here is a look at the top 25 NHL-affiliated goaltending prospects in the game today.
1. Jacob Fowler, 21 (Montreal Canadiens)
2025-26 Rank: 2nd (+1)
Goalies typically develop much slower than regular skaters – but don’t tell Fowler that. The 21-year-old was called up midway through the season and battled for the starter’s gig with Dobeš for a while. Fowler nearly disqualified himself from this list by playing too many games. It was an absolute blast watching Fowler go through the ups and downs of an NHL partial rookie season, while also seeing some brief NHL playoff action. Fowler is the best goaltending prospect in the game thanks to his incredible play reads, his quick movements and fantastic hands and skating. This feels a little like watching a young Carey Price break through the noise as a youngster – Fowler is easily the most skilled Canadiens goalie prospect they’ve had in close to 20 years. Jakub Dobeš might look like a legit No. 1 goalie, but Fowler is going to push him every single night – and that’s huge.
2. Trey Augustine, 21 (Detroit Red Wings)
2025-26 Rank: 3rd (+1)
Augustine has consistently been near the top of these lists for a few years now. The 21-year-old is coming off a strong three-year run with Michigan State, and while he failed to win a national title, he did rack up a career record of 66-25-7 with nine shutouts and a .922 save percentage in 99 games. He was a proven winner at the junior level and is easily one of the most technically sound goalies around, which helped build up the hype. Augustine tends to play better when he’s busier, and he has the lightning-quick reflexes teams absolutely crave – and never seems to slow down during a game. Augustine will have the opportunity to steal starts in the AHL before pushing for the long-time starter gig in Detroit, especially with Cossa now with Utah.
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3. Joshua Ravensbergen, 19 (San Jose Sharks)
2025-26 Rank: 6th (+3)
The fact that the Sharks have another high-end goalie prospect after promoting Yaroslav Askarov to the big leagues is insane. Ravensbergen was one of the top goaltenders in the CHL last year, as expected. The big goalie is competitive with an excellent glove hand, and he never gives up on a play. He stole his fair share of games over the past few years, and I don’t expect that to change at MSU. Ravensbergen has big skates to fill after watching Trey Augustine own the crease, but there’s no question he’ll be one of the best goaltenders in the NCAA this coming season. He’ll probably get two years at MSU before going pro, and it won’t take long after that for him to become an NHLer.
4. Sebastian Cossa, 23 (Utah Mammoth)
2025-26 Rank: 5th (+1)
The Mammoth desperately needed to address their goaltending situation, and Cossa was a perfect fit. Taken 15th overall in 2021, Cossa quickly established himself as one of the top goaltending prospects in the game. He put up excellent numbers in Grand Rapids last year, which included a career-best 26 wins, five shutouts and a .915 SV%, but that included fading in the second half and losing his starting job to Michal Postava by the Calder Cup playoffs. With Detroit’s goalie pipeline was crowded, Utah took advantage, especially with Michael Hrabal still a few years away. Cossa is a 6-foot-6 goaltender who moves well for his size and has an excellent glove hand. He can still allow the odd weak goal, but he’s a confident keeper who just needs the opportunity to prove himself at the next level.
5. Sergei Murashov, 22 (Pittsburgh Penguins)
2025-26 Rank: Unranked
Murashov burst onto the North American hockey scene two years ago by dominating both the AHL and the ECHL. Last year, Murashov put up some of the best numbers in the AHL, which included a .919 SV% and a dazzling record of 24-9-4. Murashov has been a star for years now, so it wasn’t entirely shocking to see him register a 4-0 shutout in just his second NHL game back in November. I think there’s legit starter potential here (something many goalie observers have believed for a few years now), and it’s probably a good thing they didn’t rush him into full-time NHL duty once it was clear Tristan Jarry’s time in Pennsylvania was limited. Barring a last-minute signing, though, Murashov looks set to challenge for NHL minutes this year.
6. Mikhail Yegorov, 20 (New Jersey Devils)
2025-26 Rank: 4th (-2)
It’s easy to look at Yegorov’s stat dip this past year and feel a bit concerned. But Boston University wasn’t good, and Yegorov was left to do a lot of heavy lifting more often than not. The 6-foot-5 goaltender is quite aggressive with his angles, but he also has lightning-quick reflexes and gives opponents little to work with. He never lets a bad goal bother him because he’s one of the most mentally strong goalies you’ll find. It feels like his movements are more refined than they were when he first made the jump to college, and his glove hand has only gotten better with time. Yegorov will spend another year at BU before potentially turning pro and chasing a job in Utica in 2027-28. I see a future NHL starter here; there’s nobody in the system who I think is capable of coming close to challenging him, too.
7. Michael Hrabal, 21 (Utah Mammoth)
2025-26 Rank: 7th (0)
Hrabal was one of the best goaltenders in college last year, posting a 19-9-1 record with four shutouts and a .937 SV%. He also made his AHL debut, going 3-1-1 down the stretch, with the highlight actually being a 44-save loss to Colorado. He looks ready for full-time starter duty in Tucson, and I have no doubt he’ll get a few NHL starts, too. The 6-foot-7 goaltender has the size teams crave, and it feels like his once-problematic glove hand has really improved over time. Hrabal has been forced to steal his fair share of games throughout his career, and it’s only a matter of time until he’s gunning for Utah’s starter gig.
8. Pyotr Andreyanov, 19 (Columbus Blue Jackets)
2025-26 Rank: 10th (+2)
Goalies are so difficult to develop, and Russian-based goaltenders can have a particularly tough go finding adequate playing time. The 2025 first-rounder was expected to play some games for CSKA Moskva this past year after signing a deal until 2030. Instead. Andreyanov split the year between the second-tier VHL and the Russian junior league, the MHL. He’s expected to return to the VHL this year, where he should get plenty of starts – and, just as importantly, a boatload of shots. His glove hand is quick, he’s reactive when he needs to be, and he doesn’t get frazzled when he lets a goal in. From a technical standpoint, Andreyanov is a high-end goaltending prospect, and the Blue Jackets think highly of him.
9. Jack Ivankovic, 19 (Nashville Predators)
2025-26 Rank: 14th (+5)
Ivankovic is one of the small goalie prospects I truly believe in. He’s only 5-foot-11, but you’ll have a hard time finding a more competitive goalkeeper. He’s been a high-pedigree goaltender for a long time now, and Hockey Canada absolutely loves him. Ivankovic has been their starter at various international events and briefly owned the gig at the World Juniors this past winter. He’ll have an opportunity to go for gold on home ice this year in Edmonton, the site of his dominant Hlinka-Gretzky performance in 2024. He’ll also look to chase after a national title and build upon one of the most impressive rookie goaltending campaigns we’ve seen in recent NCAA memory. I love his glove hand, and I love how much of the net he takes up despite being on the smaller side.
10. Hampton Slukynsky, 21 (Los Angeles Kings)
2025-26 Rank: 15th (+5)
Slukynsky became a national college champion in 2025 after going 19-5-1 with Western Michigan. He had another wonderful campaign in 2025-26, albeit without a national title. He then capped off the season with two impressive performances for the Reign, proving he’s ready for pro hockey. It already feels like he isn’t too far off NHL action. He’s mentally strong and physically impressive, giving opponents little to shoot at. He can be downright dominant at times, and he does a tremendous job of staying calm, cool, and collected whenever he needs to be. Slukynsky isn’t big at 6-foot-1, but he makes up for it with his speed and control in the crease. The Kings will want him to try and win the starter’s job (or at least outplay Carter George) in Ontario before potentially giving him a promotion in 2027-28.
11. Carter George, 20 (Los Angeles Kings)
2025-26 Rank: 8th (-3)
George was one of the OHL’s top goaltenders for three straight years – something very few can say. He also backstopped Canada at the past two World Juniors, helping Canada win bronze this past January. At 6-foot-2, George isn’t huge by any means, but he isn’t small, either. He’s as good as they come from a positional standpoint, rarely needing to dive out to make huge saves. Instead, he keeps things simple, often redirecting the shots out of danger. His OHL stats might not look impressive, but anyone who has watched him up close knows how important he was to his teams every chance he got. George has always been applauded for his mental strength. For a guy who has been so busy, workload-wise, George always manages to stay strong and power through everything thrown his way. I’m excited to watch him in the AHL.
12. Yegor Zavragin, 20 (Philadelphia Flyers)
2025-26 Rank: 18th (+6)
Goaltending development in Russia can be a bit of a mixed bag. For starters, the 20-year-old is set for his third KHL team already after spending time with HK Sochi and SKA. St Petersburg. SKA’s crease was a bit busy, so now he’ll have a chance to finally challenge for the starting gig with Metallurg Magnitogorsk. Zavragin had incredible numbers in the VHL with five shutouts and a league-leading .949 SV% in 18 games. Save percentage can be a bit inflated in the second-tier Russian league (40 goalies registered at least a .920) but Zavragin was clearly too good, regardless. He’s quite mobile with a solid 6-foot-2 frame and does an excellent job of tracking pucks. Zavragin’s KHL deal will conclude this spring, and he’ll likely make the jump to the AHL for 2027-28.
13. Dmitri Gamzin, 23 (New York Islanders)
2025-26 Rank: Unranked
Gamzin was drafted as an overage prospect in 2024, but he has quickly established himself as one of the most fascinating goalies outside the NHL. He had a 22-10-6 record with eight shutouts and a .938 SV% in his first year as a KHL starter last year. In particular, he heavily outplayed both Spencer Martin (who’d eventually bolt for an NHL deal) and league veteran and former Russian Olympian Alexander Samonov. Gamzin is quick, has good size and is extremely competitive. I think he’ll be a decent NHL backup, but his deal runs until 2028, so you’ll have to be a bit patient with him.
14. Ilya Nabokov, 23 (Colorado Avalanche)
2025-26 Rank: 13th (-1)
Nabokov is easily Colorado’s top prospect – although that isn’t a huge bar to climb. He built an impressive three-year CV with Metallurg Magnitogorsk in the KHL, and now he’s off to the AHL. Nabokov has shown unbelievable athleticism and post-to-post movement, and he has only gotten quicker with time. Scouts love his ability to move fluently in the crease, and his raw talent is going to excite quite a bit of people. His numbers did fall a bit this past year, despite still having a solid record. But overall, there’s a lot of hype for a goaltender who isn’t too far from getting an NHL look. The Avs have one of the better goaltending duos in the NHL, but if Nabokov has a strong campaign, it could make it easier to move on from pending UFA Scott Wedgewood next summer, if needed.
15. Michal Postava, 24 (Detroit Red Wings)
2025-26 Rank: Unranked
It’s rare for an undrafted free agent signing from Europe to amount to much. But, man, Postava looks legit. He shared the net with Cossa last year, but after posting a 17-6-0 record with four shutouts and an incredible .937 SV%, Postava earned the net for the playoffs. He has been one of the top goalies in just about every league he has played in since junior, and he has used that to parlay himself into the Red Wings’ third-goalie role. I like his athleticism, but he’s also always square to the shooter with his 6-foot-2 frame. If Daniil Tarasov isn’t the answer as backup to John Gibson, Postava could end up getting his first taste of NHL action this coming season.
16. Artur Akhtyamov, 24 (Toronto Maple Leafs)
2025-26 Rank: Unranked
After sharing the net with Dennis Hildeby throughout the season, Akhtyamov stole the crease for the playoffs and never looked back. He was the playoff MVP after boasting one of the most impressive runs we’ve seen from an AHL goaltender in recent memory. Akhtyamov also got into some spot NHL duty but struggled to find his footing. At 24, Akhtyamov is already one of the older goaltending prospects in the game right now. It feels like we know what type of goalie he is at this point, and that’s likely a long-term backup option. Toronto has Sergei Bobrovsky and Anthony Stolarz up with the big club, but if one of them gets hurt (Stolarz has a long injury history), AA will be in the best spot of his career to prove himself.
17. Tobias Trejbal, 18 (Calgary Flames)
2025-26 Rank: New
Trejbal was my favorite goalie from the 2026 draft class, and that’s reflected here. His numbers with the Phantoms were excellent, and being 6-foot-4 doesn’t hurt, either. The busier Trejbal is, the better he plays. His ability to stay calm and composed under pressure is impressive, and he has quick hands and quicker feet. Trejbal’s athleticism has gotten scouts talking, and his big frame makes him an easy project for a team willing to be patient with the UMass commit. I’ve been impressed with just about every viewing of him over the past two years. I feel like he has a legitimate chance of becoming a No. 1 goalie in the NHL, but we’ll have to be patient.
18. Carl Lindbom, 23 (Vegas Golden Knights)
2025-26 Rank: 17th (-1)
Lindbom is fresh off his best pro hockey season to date, posting a 24-5-8 record with three shutouts and a .926 SV% in the AHL. In fact, his pro career has been very productive as a whole, which is what helped earn him an eight-game run with Vegas this past year. I was excited to see what he was going to be able to do, but unfortunately he really struggled for consistency. Granted, the same can be said about pretty much any goalie who played for Vegas last season, but the surface-level stats – a 2-4-2 record with a .873 SV% – weren’t particularly exciting. Goaltending has never really been a strong point for this franchise, but Lindbom could become the first goalie to truly make his way up the ranks. There’s still a bit of a logjam on the big club with Carter Hart and Adin Hill signed on, but look for Lindbom to get another chance once injuries arise. I think we’re talking about a guy who might still have a future as a backup.
19. Semyon Frolov, 19 (Carolina Hurricanes)
2025-26 Rank: 21st (+2)
So many scouts love Frolov’s game. He played only nine MHL regular-season games this past season but delivered some excellent performances with MHK Spartak Moskva. Frolov was one of the top goaltenders in the 2025 NHL Draft, and the Hurricanes clearly liked what they saw. The 6-foot-3 keeper has ideal size; he’s athletic, and he tracks shots well, allowing him to come out on top in 2-on-0 situations quite often. He has all the makings of a solid, smart, calm goaltender who doesn’t let many bad goals. I love the way he moves from post to post, too. Few goalies can steal games as regularly as Frolov does – we’ll see if he continues to progress. The raw talent is undeniable, though.
20. Alexei Medvedev, 18 (Vancouver Canucks)
2025-26 Rank: 16th (-4)
Medvedev’s numbers were lackluster in London, but they weren’t the typical powerhouse team we’ve come to know and love, either. The Russian goaltender is very athletic and moves exceptionally well, which is what made him one of the top goaltenders off the board in 2025. The 6-foot-3 keeper can struggle with rebounds from time to time, but he has the ability to dial himself in and win games on his own. So despite the numbers falling off a bit, I’m not too worried. I still think the raw talent and toolkit are there for Medvedev to be an NHL goaltender, but there’s also no rush to get him there, either.
21. Drew Commesso, 24 (Chicago Blackhawks)
2025-26 Rank: 25th (+5)
Commesso had a solid three-game stretch with the Blackhawks last year, going 2-1-0. He also posted decent numbers in the AHL, despite Rockford missing the playoffs. The Hawks gave Commesso a two-year extension earlier this summer, so they clearly still value him in the system. I think he has what it takes to be an NHL backup, but with Spencer Knight and Arvid Soderblom under contract, I don’t see that happening this year. Soderblom is a UFA next summer, so they could flip him for an asset or let him walk if they truly believe in Commesso. So it might remain a slow burn but, given that he’ll be 24 at the start of 2026-27, it’s time to get him into NHL action.
22. Adam Gajan, 22 (Chicago Blackhawks)
2025-26 Rank: Unranked
Gajan’s stock fell sharply in his first year of college hockey in 2024-25, then rebounded nicely in 2025-26. He was dominant in the first half of the season, and while his numbers ultimately declined in the second half, he still had his fair share of standout performances. The highly athletic goaltender gets praise from scouts for never giving up on a play. The downside is that he can sometimes allow weaker goals from head-on. Still, for a goalie with a nice 6-foot-3 frame, I like how well he gets around his crease. It’ll be interesting to see how he adjusts to the AHL this season after a fairly solid debut to close out the 2025-26 campaign.
23. Dmitri Borichev, 18 (Nashville Predators)
2025-26 Rank: New
Scouts loved watching the 6-foot-3 keeper last year and especially applauded his raw speed. Borichev is positionally sound, using his size to do the hard work. But he has quick enough hands and reflexes to get where he needs to be to make top stops. Notably, he played better when he faced more shots this year, and scouts love it. It’s always hard to judge MHL talent because the league can be a crapshoot at times, but many people love his technical abilities and play reads. It’s hard not to love Nashville’s decision to draft him, giving Ivankovic some nice competition in the long run.
24. Lucas Beckman, 19 (Ottawa Senators)
2025-26 Rank: 23rd (0)
Beckman has been one of the QMJHL’s top goaltenders for a few years now. He had 31 wins for Baie-Comeau Drakkar in 2024-25 before following that up with a 13-1-0 run with four shutouts and a .940 SV% in Chicoutimi last year. That was enough to help lead the Saguenéens to the Memorial Cup, and while the team ultimately fizzled out, Beckman was one of the team’s brightest stars. Now set to join the Eagles, Beckman is definitely one of the more fascinating young goalies in the CHL. He’s strong positionally and seems to play better when he’s busier. He has stolen his fair share of games over the past few years, and I can’t wait to watch him challenge for one of the backup spots on Canada’s World Junior team this winter.
25. Sergei Ivanov, 22 (Columbus Blue Jackets)
2025-26 Rank: Unranked
Ivanov recently signed his entry-level contract, opening the door for him to make the jump over to North America. The move would come at just the right time – he had an impressive 13-11-2 run with three shutouts and a .928 SV% while serving as backup to Artemi Pleshkov with the KHL’s SKA St. Petersburg. The six-foot goaltender does a great job of tracking pucks and anticipating where shots will come from. I still want him to work on his footwork to make sure he can quickly get from post to post, but I like his hands, how he handles traffic for someone his size and his ability to steal games despite heavy workloads.
Also considered: Damian Clara, 21 (Anaheim Ducks); Evan Gardner, 20 (Columbus Blue Jackets); Dylan Garand, 24 (New York Rangers); Marcus Gidlöf, 20 (St. Louis Blues); Love Härenstam, 19 (St. Louis Blues); Thomas Milic, 23 (Winnipeg Jets)
Steven Ellis’ Top 25 NHL Goaltending Prospects
| Rank | Name | NHL Team | Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jacob Fowler | Montreal Canadiens | 21 |
| 2 | Trey Augustine | Detroit Red Wings | 21 |
| 3 | Joshua Ravensbergen | San Jose Sharks | 19 |
| 4 | Sebastian Cossa | Utah Mammoth | 23 |
| 5 | Sergei Murashov | Pittsburgh Penguins | 22 |
| 6 | Mikhail Yegorov | New Jersey Devils | 20 |
| 7 | Michael Hrabal | Utah Mammoth | 21 |
| 8 | Pyotr Andreyanov | Columbus Blue Jackets | 19 |
| 9 | Jack Ivankovic | Nashville Predators | 19 |
| 10 | Hampton Slukynsky | Los Angeles Kings | 21 |
| 11 | Carter George | Los Angeles Kings | 20 |
| 12 | Yegor Zavragin | Philadelphia Flyers | 20 |
| 13 | Dmitri Gamzin | New York Islanders | 23 |
| 14 | Ilya Nabokov | Colorado Avalanche | 23 |
| 15 | Michal Postava | Detroit Red Wings | 24 |
| 16 | Artur Akhtyamov | Toronto Maple Leafs | 24 |
| 17 | Tobias Trejbal | Calgary Flames | 18 |
| 18 | Carl Lindbom | Vegas Golden Knights | 23 |
| 19 | Semyon Frolov | Carolina Hurricanes | 19 |
| 20 | Alexei Medvedev | Vancouver Canucks | 18 |
| 21 | Drew Commesso | Chicago Blackhawks | 24 |
| 22 | Adam Gajan | Chicago Blackhawks | 22 |
| 23 | Dmitri Borichev | Nashville Predators | 18 |
| 24 | Lucas Beckman | Ottawa Senators | 19 |
| 25 | Sergei Ivanov | Columbus Blue Jackets | 22 |
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