Top 25 Fantasy Goalies: How to Play the Crease in 2025-26

Goalies decide fantasy titles more than any other position, and the margin for error is tiny. With the top 25 netminders ranked for the rest of 2025-26, your job is to separate true workhorse anchors from risky volume plays, injury stashes and pure streams. Let’s translate those rankings into concrete moves so you know who to build around, who to stash, and who to avoid burning a roster spot on.

What’s New & Why It Matters

The rankings reinforce what most managers already feel: Andrei Vasilevskiy remains the gold standard in the crease. He’s still treated as a set-and-forget starter whose combination of wins, rate stats and shutout upside is unmatched. Around him, though, the goalie landscape is shifting.

Behind Vasilevskiy, elite options like Connor Hellebuyck and Ilya Sorokin are firmly entrenched near the top of the list. They’re valued for heavy workloads and strong ratios, making them foundational pieces in any build that leans on goalie strength. The takeaway: if you roster one of these three, you’re incentivized to be more aggressive streaming your other goalie slots.

Injuries are a major storyline. Igor Shesterkin and Carter Hart slide in the rankings because of health concerns, while Pyotr Kochetkov is effectively removed from consideration due to a season-ending injury. That pushes more volume and opportunity toward healthy starters and high-end backups in good environments.

On the upside side of the ledger, the list calls out sleepers and breakout candidates. Logan Thompson is flagged as a high-upside option worth stashing once he’s healthy, and Jesper Wallstedt is highlighted as a future-impact rookie. These names matter most in dynasty and deep formats, where you can afford to think beyond this week’s categories.

Finally, the rankings stress the importance of handcuffs and rotation plays. Depth options like David Rittich, Casey DeSmith and Scott Wedgewood gain relevance as streamers or insurance policies behind fragile or heavily used starters. In modern fantasy, you’re not just drafting a goalie—you’re managing a crease.

Fantasy Implications

Points-Only

In points-only formats, volume and team quality dominate the conversation. Vasilevskiy, Hellebuyck and Sorokin are prioritized because they combine heavy workloads with strong win potential and solid ratios. They’re the goalies you build around, not the ones you rotate.

Injury risk is the main reason some big names slide. Shesterkin and Hart can still swing leagues when active, but the rankings remind you to treat them as high-variance assets rather than safe anchors. If you roster one of them, pairing that risk with a stable workhorse like Vasilevskiy is ideal.

Thompson’s inclusion as a notable name despite his injury underscores his ceiling. On a healthy Washington team, he projects as a starter with enough talent to crack the upper tiers of goalies. In points-only leagues with IR spots or deep benches, he’s exactly the type of stash who can turn a midseason roster into a playoff juggernaut.

Wallstedt, meanwhile, is more of a long-view play. His rookie status and uncertain workload cap his short-term value, but his presence in the top 25 conversation tells you the talent is real. In shallower points leagues, he’s more watchlist than roster lock; in deeper formats, he’s worth an early grab if he starts seeing consistent starts.

Categories / Bangers

In multi-category leagues, you’re juggling wins, goals-against average, save percentage and shutouts. The top trio of Vasilevskiy, Hellebuyck and Sorokin are prized because they don’t force you to choose between volume and efficiency—you get both. That flexibility lets you be more aggressive streaming your third goalie without tanking ratios.

The rankings also shine a light on category specialists. Wedgewood is a prime example: as Colorado’s backup, he may not start enough to anchor your team, but when he does play, he’s positioned for wins and strong percentages on a powerhouse roster. That makes him an ideal short-term stream when his team has a favorable schedule or back-to-back set.

Handcuffs like Rittich and DeSmith become especially important in categories leagues where you’re chasing volume without destroying your ratios. They’re not auto-starts, but they give you controlled exposure to strong defensive environments. Think of them as tools to smooth out the volatility of your primary starter’s schedule.

On the flip side, Kochetkov’s season-ending injury is a hard stop. In any categories format, he’s a pure drop unless you’re in a league with extremely deep IR rules. The opportunity cost of holding an inactive goalie is simply too high when streaming options like Wedgewood exist.

Dynasty / Keeper

Dynasty managers should read these rankings very differently. Vasilevskiy remains a premium asset, but the gap between him and the next tier narrows as you factor in age and mileage. Elite but slightly younger workhorses like Sorokin and Hellebuyck become even more appealing in long-term builds.

Thompson is one of the biggest dynasty storylines here. Being flagged as an add despite his injury signals strong organizational belief and fantasy upside. If you’re rebuilding or simply have a deep bench, acquiring him now—before he’s fully healthy and producing—can be a classic buy-low move.

Wallstedt is the pure upside stash. His presence in the rankings as a rookie indicates he’s viewed as a future starter with significant fantasy impact. In dynasty, he should be rostered almost universally; in keeper formats with limited slots, he’s still worth serious consideration if you can afford a slow burn.

Finally, don’t overlook the value of handcuffing in dynasty. If you roster an injury-prone or heavily used starter, securing his backup can protect your long-term investment. That’s where depth options like Wedgewood and other ranked backups come into play—they’re not just streams, they’re insurance.

Who to Add / Stream / Watch

Andrei Vasilevskiy – Add/Hold (all leagues): Elite, high-volume starter who anchors your goalie stats across formats.
Logan Thompson – Add (dynasty, deep redraft): Injured now but carries starter-level upside once he’s back in Washington’s crease.
Jesper Wallstedt – Watchlist/Add (dynasty): Rookie with significant long-term upside; stash where you can afford patience.
Scott Wedgewood – Short-term stream (categories): Backup in Colorado with strong win and ratio potential when he draws starts.
Pyotr Kochetkov – Drop/Avoid (all formats): Season-ending injury removes any realistic path to value this year.

Fantasy Takeaways

Vasilevskiy, Hellebuyck and Sorokin remain the safest anchors for both volume and ratios, letting you be aggressive with your other goalie slots.
Injuries to Shesterkin, Hart and especially Kochetkov force managers to prioritize health and flexibility over pure name value.
Thompson is a prime stash candidate in deeper and dynasty formats, with the potential to jump tiers once fully healthy.
Wallstedt should be rostered or closely monitored in any league that values long-term upside at goalie.
Streaming backups like Wedgewood in strong environments is one of the best ways to squeeze extra wins and ratios from the waiver wire.

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