Semyon Varlamov, New York Islanders
Varlamov will continue to benefit from the defense-oriented system the Islanders play, and fellow Russia-born goalie Ilya Sorokin pushing him for playing time. Varlamov was 19-11-4 in 36 games (35 starts) with a 2.04 GAA that was fourth best last season (minimum 20 games) and a .929 save percentage that was second behind Alex Nedeljkovic (.932), who was traded to the Detroit Red Wings by the Hurricanes on July 22. Varlamov's seven shutouts were tied with Grubauer for the NHL lead. -- William Douglas, staff writer
Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay Lightning
With all due respect to the other goalies on this list, for me there are three, not two, certainties in life: death, taxes and Vasilevskiy being great. He's the best right now and there's no reason to think he won't be the best in the NHL this season, too. Vasilevskiy was 31-10-1 with a 2.21 GAA, .925 save percentage and five shutouts in 42 regular-season games, and 16-7 with a 1.90 GAA, .937 save percentage and five shutouts in 23 playoff games. You need a team effort to win the Stanley Cup two seasons in a row, like the Lightning have, but it starts in net. -- Tracey Myers, staff writer
I agree with Tracey on Vasilevskiy, a choice that is easy for me. Sure, the numbers are impressive but it's his inner fire and motivation that impress me the most. During the 2019 NHL Player Media Tour in Chicago, I asked Vasilevskiy what happened to the Lightning months earlier when they were swept in the Eastern Conference First Round by the underdog Columbus Blue Jackets. He didn't mince words. "I think we got comfortable, and we just weren't ready in the playoffs," he said. Vasilevskiy has done his part to make sure it hasn't happened again. Since that conversation, he is 34-14 with a 1.90 GAA, .932 save percentage and six shutouts in the playoffs. Along with the lofty skill and stats, he's driven to be the best, a trait that has him and the Lightning seeking their third straight title this season.-- Mike Zeisberger, staff writer