NHL Super 16 Power Rankings focus on goalie play

The most important position on the ice. That's always the narrative around goalies. Good goaltending makes for great coaches. Bad goaltending makes for fired coaches. Have it and you've got a shot. Don't have it and, well, you get the picture.

So where are we on goaltending to start the season when it comes to the teams that are in the top half of the League, according to our staff of voters for the weekly Super 16 Power Rankings?

Is goaltending a big reason why the Ottawa Senators, Boston Bruins and Seattle Kraken are in the Super 16 this week? Is it a reason why the Washington Capitals, Buffalo Sabres and Pittsburgh Penguins have been voted out?

Let's find out.

As always, to generate the Super 16 Power Rankings, the 14 voters this week put together their own version of what they think the rankings should look like and a point total gets assigned to each, with the team selected first given 16 points, second 15, third 14, and so on.

Here is the Super 16 Power Rankings, the early-season goaltending edition:

1. Carolina Hurricanes (6-1-1)

Total points: 222
Last week: No. 3

"Goaltending was a question even as the Hurricanes were marching to the Stanley Cup last season, and the position remained a question this season after Frederik Andersen left in free agency. Could Brandon Bussi, last season's surprising starter, keep that standard? And what about Pyotr Kochetkov, who missed most of last season because of a lower-body injury? So far, goaltending has been one of Carolina's strengths. Kochetkov has allowed two goals or fewer in each of his first four starts and looks like he's ready to assume the full-time No. 1 job. Bussi hasn't had as smooth a road but has played well enough that the Hurricanes have points in three of his four starts. Together, they've kept the Hurricanes looking like a team with a realistic chance to have another deep playoff run." -- Adam Kimelman, deputy managing editor

2. Vegas Golden Knights (6-2-0)

Total points: 196
Last week: No. 4

"Carter Hart and Adin Hill have given the Golden Knights a solid tandem, helping them start with six wins in eight games. First-year coach Ryan Craig entered the season saying both goalies would play early, and that is exactly what has happened. Hart, who led Vegas to the Stanley Cup Final last season, is 3-2-0 with a 2.41 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage. Hill, who led Vegas to the Cup in 2023, is 3-0-0 with a 2.27 GAA and a .901 save percentage." -- Nicholas J. Cotsonika, columnist

3. Edmonton Oilers (5-0-1)

Total points: 175
Last week: No. 10

"Once again, goaltending was the biggest question for the Oilers heading into the season with Tristan Jarry and Devon Levi sharing the net while waiting for Frederik Andersen to get healthy. Jarry and Levi each have had rocky starts to the season, giving up six and seven goals respectively in their debuts, but have since settled in and given Edmonton solid goaltending. Consistency will be the key for each goalie, who has yet to prove he can string together multiple quality outings in Edmonton. Levi played the past two seasons for Rochester in the American Hockey League before the Oilers acquired him from the Buffalo Sabres on July 1. Jarry was acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins last season and lost his starting job to Connor Ingram because of inconsistent play. Andersen is not expected back until at least December with an undisclosed injury sustained in the offseason, so it will be up to Jarry and Levi to carry the load until then." -- Derek Van Diest, staff writer

4. Colorado Avalanche (4-2-1)

Total points: 174
Last week: No. 1

"Goaltending is the only question on a team considered to be among the best in the League this season because of the talent at every other position. The goaltending for the Avalanche has not been elite with starter Mackenzie Blackwood playing to a .879 save percentage through five games. He faced more than 30 shots in only one of those five starts, which is problematic. But the blueprint to success was on display Tuesday. Blackwood was good enough, stopping 24 of 26 shots and keeping the rival Dallas Stars at bay until Colorado’s high-powered offense could take over. More of that and the Avalanche will be more than fine." -- Shawn P. Roarke, senior director of editorial

5. New York Rangers (6-2-0)

Total points: 154
Last week: No. 6

"Well, well, well, talk about intrigue and, well, injury. The Rangers have started out hot, really hot at home, going 5-0-0 at Madison Square Garden, the first time they've won at least five straight at home to start a season since 1990-91. But Igor Shesterkin is gone for the season, sidelined by a lower-body injury sustained in a 3-1 loss at the Washington Capitals on Friday. Shesterkin was off to a terrific start, and even had a goal and an assist. Now it's on 24-year-old rookie Dylan Garand, who the Rangers put on waivers -- and he cleared, by the way -- prior to the start of the season. But Garand has looked strong in his three starts this season, two since Shesterkin went down. He has allowed three goals on 47 shots in wins against the Vancouver Canucks and Tampa Bay Lightning. The question is not about Garand's ability. He is proving himself to be a quality NHL goalie. The question is now about sustainability, because until he played Tuesday against the Lightning, Garand never started consecutive games in the NHL. He's going to be playing a lot, especially until veteran backup Joonas Korpisalo (lower body) is able to return in about three weeks. Garand has to prove he can handle the workload if the Rangers are going to survive without Shesterkin." -- Dan Rosen, senior writer

6. Minnesota Wild (4-2-1)

Total points: 138
Last week: No. 2

"With Filip Gustavsson still rehabbing from offseason hip surgery and no official timetable for his return, Jesper Wallstedt has done a brilliant job holding down the fort. The 23-year-old Swede played every minute of Minnesota's first six games, four on the road, going 4-1-1 with a 1.82 GAA and .933 save percentage. He didn’t allow more than three goals in any game and gave up just one in two of those starts, numbers that make 'early Vezina candidate' sound perfectly reasonable. Wallstedt finally got a night off Tuesday at the tail end of a back to back, and Calvin Pickard's Minnesota debut was considerably less relaxing: five goals on 25 shots in a 5-2 loss at the Winnipeg Jets. Wallstedt has erased plenty of concern, but Gustavsson's return would still let everyone in St. Paul exhale." -- Paul Strizhevsky, staff writer

7. Utah Mammoth (5-2-0)

Total points: 125
Last week: No. 5

"So far, the goaltending has looked good for the Mammoth. Karel Vejmelka has gotten most of the action as expected and is 4-1-0 with a 2.46 GAA, .895 save percentage and one shutout in six games (five starts). Sebastian Cossa is 1-1-0 with a 3.16 GAA and .852 save percentage. Certainly, the Mammoth would prefer better numbers from Cossa, but Vejmelka is going to get much of the workload, like he did last season when he started 63 games. There aren't any concerns at the moment in net. The Mammoth have gotten off to a great start, and Vejmelka has played his part in that." -- Tracey Myers, staff writer

8. Tampa Bay Lightning (4-2-0)

Total points: 107
Last week: No. 7

"Tampa Bay's goaltending has been dependable, though not dominant. Andrei Vasilevskiy is 3-2-0 with a 2.45 GAA, but his .886 save percentage suggests there is room for improvement. Backup Dennis Hildeby impressed in his lone start, stopping 34 shots in a 3-2 win against the Wild on Oct. 8. The Lightning have allowed 16 goals through six games, tied for fourth fewest in the NHL. The early returns are encouraging, but Vasilevskiy's save percentage and the penalty kill, which ranks 17th in the NHL (80.0 percent; 12-for-15), bear monitoring as the season progresses." -- Mike G. Morreale, senior draft writer

9. Ottawa Senators (5-2-0)

Total points: 99
Last week: N/R

"There's lots to like about Linus Ullmark, the 2023 Vezina Trophy winner with the Boston Bruins who this season is 5-0-0 with a 1.27 GAA and .948 save percentage. You can credit the Senators for excelling behind leading scorer Tim Stutzle (11 points; five goals, six assists) and defenseman Thomas Chabot averaging 27:19 per game that's second in the NHL behind Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski (28:55). The backbone is Ullmark, especially without injured defensemen Jake Sanderson and Artem Zub, and he was a big reason why the Senators clinched a playoff berth last season by going 12-4-3 with a 2.51 GAA, .902 save percentage and two shutouts after the Olympic break. He also had a 2.03 GAA and .932 save percentage when Ottawa was swept by Carolina in the first round. He's enjoying a second wind at age 33, and the Senators need him at peak capacity to build on their fast start and must play better in front of backup Samuel Ersson (11 goals against on 57 shots in his two starts)." -- Jon Lane, staff writer

10. Winnipeg Jets (4-1-1)

Total points: 98
Last week: No. 15

"All the concern about the Jets goaltending without Connor Hellebuyck has gone by the wayside, at least for now. Hellebuyck is still suspended by the team for failing to report. His trade request is still in place and the Jets still, of course, have not traded him. But they're getting by without him, again, at least for now. Stuart Skinner, who certainly has the experience the Jets want in a No. 1 goalie considering his two runs to the Stanley Cup Final with the Oilers, is 3-0-1 with a 2.47 GAA and .917 save percentage. He has won three straight starts, allowing two goals in each. Clay Stevenson gave the Jets a quality start in a 3-2 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Oct. 5, and then allowed four goals on 16 shots in a 5-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks four nights later. Who knows where the Hellebuyck saga goes, whether he returns to play, is eventually traded, or stays suspended. That remains to be seen. It's on Skinner and Stevenson to keep the Jets going, and they've done their part so far." -- Rosen

11. Boston Bruins (5-2-0)

Total points: 94
Last week: N/R

"I've said over and over in this space that the Bruins will go as far as Jeremy Swayman takes them. And the fact that they’re doing as well as they are to start the season with five wins in seven games starts with Swayman and his 1.99 GAA and his .930 save percentage. He has allowed 12 goals in six games this season, giving up more than three only once, in a game against the Senators when the entire team came out flat. It will be interesting to see how many starts he gets as compared with inexperienced backup Michael DiPietro, but at the start of the season, Swayman has been exactly the star the Bruins need, and perhaps on his way to a second straight Vezina-finalist spot." -- Amalie Benjamin, senior writer

12. Florida Panthers (3-2-2)

Total points: 66
Last week: No. 8

"The Panthers' goaltending has mirrored their start to the season. It's been OK. Fine. Solid. Nothing great. Nothing bad. But there is a health question. Jacob Markstrom was pulled from his start against the Buffalo Sabres on Monday and he didn't dress Tuesday. He's day to day, coach Paul Maurice said. Markstrom is 2-1-1 with a 2.03 GAA and .904 save percentage. Akira Schmid, who made 24 saves in a 7-3 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday, is 1-1-1 with 10 goals allowed in three starts. The Panthers obviously need Markstrom healthy and playing regularly. He should not have to be elite for them to be a playoff team. How he's played so far should be good enough provided Schmid can deliver clutch performances when called upon." -- Rosen 

13. Montreal Canadiens (3-3-1)

Total points: 64
Last week: No. 11

"Jakub or Jacob? Martin St. Louis put his trust in Jacob Fowler for the team's past three games in Montreal. And Fowler, who had started the season with Laval in the American Hockey League, did not disappoint. He recorded two wins in three starts with a 1.91 GAA and .906 save percentage. Dobes will need to bounce back quickly if he hopes to retain his status as the Canadiens' No. 1 goaltender. Sam Montembeault, who sustained a lower-body injury during practice Oct. 7, is expected to return to action within a few days. The Canadiens will face a major decision upon Montembeault's return." -- Jean-Francois Chaumont, LNH.com senior writer

14. Anaheim Ducks (4-2-0)

Total points: 51
Last week: No. 9

"Yes, the Ducks finally broke through last season and ended a seven-season playoff drought. Yes, Lukas Dostal won 30 games for the first time in his NHL career. Yes, the vibes are indeed high in Anaheim right now. But I'm still concerned about this goalie tandem. Dostal had an NHL career low .888 save percentage last season. The Ducks allowed 3.51 goals per game last year, the fourth worst mark in the NHL. Simply put, that's not good enough if they want to make the playoffs for a second consecutive season. However, the Ducks have started well this season and Dostal and Ville Husso have played well for the most part. The tandem has allowed three goals or fewer in all but two games. Dostal allowed five goals in the second period against Edmonton on Oct. 7 before being pulled. As long as the Ducks avoid blow up games like that, their high-powered offense will have them playing hockey deep into the spring once again." -- Jesse Finver, producer

15. Seattle Kraken (5-2-0)

Total points: 48
Last week: N/R

"Eight games into the season and the Kraken have to be happy with the goaltending they've gotten from Joey Daccord and Philipp Grubauer. Daccord is 3-1-0 with a 2.73 GAA and .913 save percentage, and Grubauer is 2-1-0 with a 2.35 GAA and .918 save percentage. Last season, Daccord had a 3.03 GAA and an .897 save percentage. The team save percentage is .911 after it was .894 last season. If this holds up, Seattle should be in good position to end its three-season playoff drought." -- David Satriano, staff writer

16. Dallas Stars (3-3-1)

Total points: 40
Last week: No. 14

"Goaltending, specifically Jake Oettinger but with a hat tip to Casey DeSmith, is the reason the Stars are still in the Super 16 this week. Oettinger has allowed just six goals on 107 shots for a 1.20 GAA and .944 save percentage in five starts. He has two wins. DeSmith stopped 24 of 26 shots and lost in his first start of the season, then helped Dallas hold on for a 3-2 shootout win with another 25 saves and two goals allowed Wednesday against Colorado. The Stars have had an inconsistent start offensively. They're fortunate to be getting the goaltending they've gotten or things could be looking much worse in Dallas." -- Rosen

Others receiving points: Washington Capitals 26, Buffalo Sabres 13, Pittsburgh Penguins 7, Toronto Maple Leafs 4, St. Louis Blues 3

Dropped out from last week: Capitals (No. 12), Sabres (No. 13), Penguins (No. 16)

HERE'S HOW WE RANKED 'EM

AMALIE BENJAMIN

1. Carolina Hurricanes; 2. Vegas Golden Knights; 3. Colorado Avalanche; 4. Edmonton Oilers; 5. Minnesota Wild; 6. Utah Mammoth; 7. Winnipeg Jets; 8. Boston Bruins; 9. Montreal Canadiens; 10. Dallas Stars; 11. Ottawa Senators; 12. New York Rangers; 13. Florida Panthers; 14. Seattle Kraken; 15. Tampa Bay Lightning; 16. Anaheim Ducks

JEAN-FRANCOIS CHAUMONT

1. Carolina Hurricanes; 2. Colorado Avalanche; 3. Vegas Golden Knights; 4. Utah Mammoth; 5. Edmonton Oilers; 6. Tampa Bay Lightning; 7. Minnesota Wild; 8. Boston Bruins; 9. Montreal Canadiens; 10. Ottawa Senators; 11. Winnipeg Jets; 12. New York Rangers; 13. Florida Panthers; 14. Anaheim Ducks; 15. Washington Capitals; 16. Dallas Stars

NICHOLAS J. COTSONIKA

1. Edmonton Oilers; 2. Carolina Hurricanes; 3. Vegas Golden Knights; 4. New York Rangers; 5. Winnipeg Jets; 6. Utah Mammoth; 7. Boston Bruins; 8. Ottawa Senators; 9. Seattle Kraken; 10. Colorado Avalanche; 11. Tampa Bay Lightning; 12. Anaheim Ducks; 13. Minnesota Wild; 14. Montreal Canadiens; 15. St. Louis Blues; 16. Florida Panthers

JESSE FINVER

1. Carolina Hurricanes; 2. Vegas Golden Knights; 3. Colorado Avalanche; 4. New York Rangers; 5. Minnesota Wild; 6. Tampa Bay Lightning; 7. Winnipeg Jets; 8. Edmonton Oilers; 9. Montreal Canadiens; 10. Buffalo Sabres; 11. Florida Panthers; 12. Dallas Stars; 13. Ottawa Senators; 14. Boston Bruins; 15. Utah Mammoth; 16. Anaheim Ducks

TOM GULITTI

1. Carolina Hurricanes; 2. Edmonton Oilers; 3. Vegas Golden Knights; 4. Colorado Avalanche; 5. Minnesota Wild; 6. New York Rangers; 7. Tampa Bay Lightning; 8. Florida Panthers; 9. Boston Bruins; 10. Winnipeg Jets; 11. Utah Mammoth; 12. Ottawa Senators; 13. Washington Capitals; 14. Seattle Kraken; 15. Montreal Canadiens; 16. Anaheim Ducks

ADAM KIMELMAN

1. Carolina Hurricanes; 2. Colorado Avalanche; 3. Vegas Golden Knights; 4. Utah Mammoth; 5. Boston Bruins; 6. Edmonton Oilers; 7. New York Rangers; 8. Tampa Bay Lightning; 9. Minnesota Wild; 10. Florida Panthers; 11. Pittsburgh Penguins; 12. Ottawa Senators; 13. Winnipeg Jets; 14. Seattle Kraken; 15. Montreal Canadiens; 16. Anaheim Ducks

JON LANE

1. Carolina Hurricanes; 2. New York Rangers; 3. Edmonton Oilers; 4. Vegas Golden Knights; 5. Ottawa Senators; 6. Utah Mammoth; 7. Minnesota Wild; 8. Tampa Bay Lightning; 9. Colorado Avalanche; 10. Seattle Kraken; 11. Anaheim Ducks; 12. Boston Bruins; 13. Winnipeg Jets; 14. Washington Capitals; 15. Florida Panthers; 16. St. Louis Blues

MIKE G. MORREALE

1. Colorado Avalanche; 2. Carolina Hurricanes; 3. Dallas Stars; 4. Vegas Golden Knights; 5. Edmonton Oilers; 6. New York Rangers; 7. Washington Capitals; 8. Minnesota Wild; 9. Tampa Bay Lightning; 10. Ottawa Senators; 11. Florida Panthers; 12. Utah Mammoth; 13. Winnipeg Jets; 14. Montreal Canadiens; 15. Boston Bruins; 16. Seattle Kraken

TRACEY MYERS 

1. Carolina Hurricanes; 2. New York Rangers; 3. Vegas Golden Knights; 4. Utah Mammoth; 5. Winnipeg Jets; 6. Minnesota Wild; 7. Edmonton Oilers; 8. Seattle Kraken; 9. Colorado Avalanche; 10. Ottawa Senators; 11. Anaheim Ducks; 12. Boston Bruins; 13. Tampa Bay Lightning; 14. Florida Panthers; 15. Montreal Canadiens; 16. Buffalo Sabres

SHAWN P. ROARKE 

1. Carolina Hurricanes; 2. Colorado Avalanche; 3. Vegas Golden Knights; 4. Dallas Stars; 5. Florida Panthers; 6. Edmonton Oilers; 7. Minnesota Wild; 8. Montreal Canadiens; 9. New York Rangers; 10. Anaheim Ducks; 11. Utah Mammoth; 12. Tampa Bay Lightning; 13. Boston Bruins; 14. Winnipeg Jets; 15. Buffalo Sabres; 16. Ottawa Senators

DAN ROSEN

1. Carolina Hurricanes; 2. Vegas Golden Knights; 3. Colorado Avalanche; 4. Edmonton Oilers; 5. New York Rangers; 6. Utah Mammoth; 7. Tampa Bay Lightning; 8. Minnesota Wild; 9. Montreal Canadiens; 10. Washington Capitals; 11. Boston Bruins; 12. Anaheim Ducks; 13. Winnipeg Jets; 14. Ottawa Senators; 15. Florida Panthers; 16. Seattle Kraken

DAVID SATRIANO

1. Carolina Hurricanes; 2. Edmonton Oilers; 3. Vegas Golden Knights; 4. Colorado Avalanche; 5. Boston Bruins; 6. New York Rangers; 7. Winnipeg Jets; 8. Montreal Canadiens; 9. Ottawa Senators; 10. Minnesota Wild; 11. Utah Mammoth; 12. Tampa Bay Lightning; 13. Florida Panthers; 14. Buffalo Sabres; 15. Anaheim Ducks; 16. Seattle Kraken 

PAUL STRIZHEVSKY

1. Carolina Hurricanes; 2. Vegas Golden Knights; 3. Colorado Avalanche; 4. Minnesota Wild; 5. New York Rangers; 6. Ottawa Senators; 7. Utah Mammoth; 8. Edmonton Oilers; 9. Tampa Bay Lightning; 10. Seattle Kraken; 11. Winnipeg Jets; 12. Boston Bruins; 13. Florida Panthers; 14. Anaheim Ducks; 15. Montreal Canadiens; 16. Toronto Maple Leafs

DEREK VAN DIEST

1. Carolina Hurricanes; 2. Edmonton Oilers; 3. Ottawa Senators; 4. New York Rangers; 5. Vegas Golden Knights; 6. Minnesota Wild; 7. Anaheim Ducks; 8. Tampa Bay Lightning; 9. Colorado Avalanche; 10. Utah Mammoth; 11. Winnipeg Jets; 12. Seattle Kraken; 13. Boston Bruins; 14. Toronto Maple Leafs; 15. Florida Panthers; 16. Pittsburgh Penguins