Goalies are incredibly important in so many fantasy hockey leagues. Whether they get you wins, lots of starts or saves, a low GAA, high SV%, or some shutouts, options are limited and you can gain a real advantage or big disadvantage by drafting right or wrong. This is why it is so disappointing when a star goalie has a tough season. It is hard to find replacements and you’re fighting an uphill battle all season long. There were a handful of very good goalies who had a challenging season but should bounce back in 2024-25.
Bounce-Back Goalies for 2024-25 Fantasy Hockey
Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning were without their franchise goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy to start last season, but managed to stay in it until his return. Upon returning from injury, Vasilevskiy wasn’t the same goalie he had been for his entire career. He posted the lowest SV% of his career at just .900 as well as the highest GAA, 2.90.
Vasilevskiy had longer to recover this offseason and is healthy going into the season. The Lightning were also without Mikhail Servachev for most of last season. That was a big piece missing to help defend, but Tampa Bay has gone back to Ryan McDonagh and brought in J.J. Moser to help solidify the back-end this season instead. Vasilevskiy has now recorded at least 30 wins in seven consecutive seasons and the Lightning are still a very formidable team who can score and win games. The Lightning’s elite netminder was a Vezina Trophy finalist (winning twice) from 2018-21 and placed in the top six for the following two years as well. All signs point to Vasilevskiy returning to form.
Juuse Saros, Nashville Predators
Juuse Saros may have finished fifth in Vezina Trophy voting last season, but his numbers weren’t where they have been throughout his career. A big part of this was head coach Andrew Brunette coming in and implementing a new system. It took time for the team to learn it and the Nashville Predators struggled for the first half of 2023-24.
Once the team got a handle on things, the Predators and Saros dominated down the stretch. Saros finished last season with 35 wins, a 2.86 GAA, .906 SV%, and three shutouts. While the Predators are much better overall and the team is now fully accustomed to the system, expect at least 35 wins and a much better GAA and SV%. Saros’ lowest SV% in a season before 2023-24 was .914 and he is in line to start the most games again, giving fantasy hockey owners many saves.
Jake Oettinger, Dallas Stars
Jake Oettinger impressed from when he first stepped in the NHL, really taking off in 2022-23. He took a step back last season with a 2.72 GAA and .905 SV%. The Dallas Stars are a very good team and Oettinger has proven to be an elite goalie. He had some blunders which should fix themselves this season. He should be good for at least 35 wins and to vastly improve his GAA and SV%. If not, Dallas has a real problem that nobody anticipated.
Jacob Markstrom, New Jersey Devils
Before 2022-23 when the Calgary Flames really changed the complexion of their team, Jacob Markstrom was in the Vezina conversation. He has struggled the last two seasons because the team hasn’t been good and missed the playoffs. He got what he wanted and was traded to the New Jersey Devils in the offseason. The Devils finally got a very good goalie while Markstrom got a good team in front of him again.
At the very least, Markstrom is going to be getting a good amount of wins again. The Devils are expected to jump right back into the playoffs and can score goals. They also bolstered their back end by bringing in Brett Pesce and Brenden Dillon. Markstrom only won 23 games in each of the past two seasons but should challenge for his career high of 37 this season with new life.
Alexandar Georgiev, Colorado Avalanche
Alexandar Georgiev’s first season as a starter in Colorado went very well, but the second, not so much. Regardless, he is able to get wins as the starter of the Avalanche as the team is very good and can outscore their problems like they did last season. Georgiev went from a 2.53 GAA to a 3.05 GAA and from a .918 SV% to a .897 SV%. Fantasy owners were very upset at such poor numbers, even with all of the wins.
For the most part, Georgiev has proven that he is closer to his first season with the Avalanche than what happened in 2023-24. The Avalanche are still very good and have a strong defensive group. While he may or may not reach a .918 SV%, he should be able to rebound well enough that he is worth the spot fantasy owners draft him at this time around.
Related: 2024-25 Fantasy Hockey: 5 Bounce-Back Forwards
Don’t snooze on these goalies in fantasy drafts this season. They all play for strong teams and are capable of playing at an elite level. Goalies are really important and predicting a bounce-back season for players can be a game-changer.