Logan Thompson’s Rise and the New Goalie Landscape in Fantasy Hockey

Goalies are back in the fantasy spotlight. With Logan Thompson vaulting to No. 2 overall in ESPN’s latest projections from December 12 onward, the entire crease market has shifted. Fewer true workhorses and more timeshares mean managers need to rethink how they value elite starters, upside stashes, and trade chips for the rest of the season.

What’s New & Why It Matters

The headline change is Thompson’s surge near the top of the overall rankings. As the projected No. 2 fantasy asset from this point forward, the Washington Capitals starter is now being treated like a foundational piece rather than a fringe No. 1 goalie. That jump reflects confidence in both his performance and his opportunity to carry a heavy workload.

At the same time, the rankings underscore how rare true volume workhorses have become. Igor Shesterkin still leads the league in crease share, but even he’s dealing with a slightly reduced stranglehold on the net. The takeaway isn’t to panic; it’s that even elite goalies are sharing more starts, which compresses the gap between tiers and makes smart portfolio management more important.

Behind the clear starters, a cluster of timeshare options—Brandon Bussi, Joseph Woll, and Akira Schmid—emerge as high-upside bets. The rankings explicitly flag these names as potential breakout candidates if their share of starts grows. In a world where 60+ start seasons are rare, landing the next goalie who jumps from 30 to 45 games can swing leagues.

On the skater side, the top of the board remains familiar. Nathan MacKinnon holds the No. 1 overall spot, with Auston Matthews and Connor Bedard clustered near the top and Connor McDavid still firmly elite. Cale Makar sits as the top defenseman. The real story, though, is that Thompson has muscled his way into that superstar company, signaling just how valuable a locked-in, high-performing starter can be in this environment.

Fantasy Implications

Points-Only

In points-only formats, Thompson’s rise to No. 2 overall makes him a legitimate centerpiece. Goalie scoring tends to be volatile, but when projections elevate a netminder into the same tier as Nathan MacKinnon and Auston Matthews, you treat him like a core asset. If you already roster Thompson, you’re in a position of strength; you can build around him rather than chasing marginal goalie upgrades.

For Shesterkin managers, the message is to stay the course. Even with a slightly reduced share of the New York Rangers’ net, he still leads the league in crease time and remains one of the few goalies whose volume and quality can anchor your totals. Moving him for a skater upgrade only makes sense if you’re absolutely loaded in net and can replace his starts without a major drop-off.

The timeshare trio—Bussi, Woll, and Schmid—are more format- and depth-dependent. In shallow points-only leagues, they’re still more speculative than stable. But in deeper setups where every goalie start matters, these names become priority stashes. If any of them graduate from 1B to clear No. 1 on their team, their point projections can spike quickly, especially if the underlying team is strong.

On the skater side, MacKinnon’s hold on the top spot reaffirms his status as the safest elite scorer, while Matthews, Bedard, and McDavid remain the engines of their respective offenses. Cale Makar’s placement as the top defenseman reinforces the idea that true PP1 quarterbacks with elite scoring rates are still worth paying a premium for in points-only leagues.

Categories / Bangers

In multi-category formats, Thompson’s rise is even more impactful. A goalie who can deliver wins, strong ratios, and consistent volume allows you to take on more risk elsewhere on your roster. You can chase high-shot, low-efficiency forwards or peripheral-heavy defensemen knowing your goalie base is secure.

Shesterkin’s situation is similar: even with a slightly lighter workload, his combination of save percentage, wins potential, and sheer number of appearances keeps him in the top tier for categories leagues. Trading him purely because his crease share isn’t quite as massive as before is a classic overreaction; the rankings still view him as a premium asset.

For Bussi, Woll, and Schmid, categories formats are where they can quietly win you weeks. Even if they don’t start every game, a run of strong outings can buoy your ratios and add a couple of wins or shutouts. They’re ideal as G3/G4 options in deeper leagues: you don’t rely on them nightly, but you deploy them in good matchups to maximize categories like wins, save percentage, and goals-against average.

Because goalie starts are more spread out league-wide, volume streaming becomes harder. That makes holding high-quality options more valuable than cycling through fringe starters. The rankings’ emphasis on Thompson and Shesterkin, plus the upside of the timeshare crew, reinforces a strategy of consolidating quality rather than chasing quantity.

Dynasty / Keeper

In dynasty and keeper formats, Thompson’s leap into the No. 2 overall slot is a flashing neon sign. It suggests not just short-term performance, but confidence in his trajectory as a long-term starting goalie. If your window is the next 2–3 years, he’s exactly the kind of asset you consider building around, especially if your league heavily rewards goalie categories.

Shesterkin remains a foundational dynasty piece. A slightly reduced share of the Rangers’ net doesn’t change his profile as one of the safest long-term bets in goal. Unless someone in your league is willing to pay a true superstar price in skaters, you’re generally better off holding him and enjoying elite production for years.

Bussi, Woll, and Schmid are classic dynasty stashes. They’re already in timeshares, which means their organizations trust them enough to give them meaningful work. If any of them seize a full-time starting role, their value can jump multiple tiers. These are the types of goalies you tuck on a farm or reserve spot and revisit in a year or two, rather than expecting immediate stardom.

Because elite, long-term starters are scarce, it’s often smarter to overpay slightly for a Thompson or Shesterkin than to spread your assets across multiple uncertain goalie prospects. Use tools like the NHL Trade Analyzer to gauge whether you’re offering too much future value for present-day stability in net.

Who to Add / Stream / Watch

Logan Thompson – Trade target (all leagues): Treat him like a top-tier fantasy cornerstone; explore buying high if the manager in your league still views him as a mid-tier goalie.
Igor Shesterkin – Hold (all leagues): Don’t sell just because his crease share dipped slightly—he still offers elite volume and ratios.
Brandon Bussi – Add (deep leagues): A timeshare goalie with breakout potential if he grabs a larger slice of starts.
Joseph Woll – Add (deep leagues): Another timeshare option who could quickly gain value with even a modest bump in workload.
Akira Schmid – Watchlist (all leagues): Keep him on your radar; any shift toward a true starter’s role would make him an immediate pickup.

Fantasy Takeaways

Logan Thompson’s jump to No. 2 overall means he should be treated as a premium trade target and rest-of-season anchor in goal.
Igor Shesterkin remains a hold across formats; a small dip in crease share doesn’t erase his elite fantasy profile.
Brandon Bussi and Joseph Woll are priority adds in deeper leagues as high-upside timeshare goalies who could grow into larger roles.
Akira Schmid belongs on every manager’s watchlist as another timeshare option who could quickly gain value with more starts.
With fewer true workhorses, focusing on quality over sheer volume in net—and stashing the right breakout candidates—is the optimal path forward.

Source: ESPN.com. See the original for full details.