Hockey East: Ranking each program’s goaltenders

There should be no shortage of good goaltending in Hockey East this season.

Eight of the 11 league teams boast at least one NHL Draft pick at the position. Ten league goaltenders are property of a NHL organization. Four goaltenders have represented their country at the World Junior Championship and a fifth is likely to do so this December.

There's also a track record of Hockey East developing great goaltenders. Maine’s Jimmy Howard, Scott Darling and Ben Bishop; UMass’ Jonathan Quick; and Boston College’s Cory Schneider now ply their trade in the NHL.

There are some current Hockey East goaltenders who will most certainly make it to the NHL in the coming years. Boston University’s Jake Oettinger was a first-round pick of the Dallas Stars in 2017 and Boston College’s Joe Woll was a third-round pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2016.

While save percentage, particularly even-strength save percentage, is a very good indication of the value of a goaltender, there are other factors. Some in analytics might argue, but a good defense can make a goaltender look better than he is and a bad defense or a team that plays more of a run-and-gun style can make a goaltender look worse than he is.

With that in mind, the following rankings aim to mimic how confident each Hockey East coach should be in his goaltending situation. For the purpose of these rankings, all goaltenders are evaluated as if they played on the same team. A strong goaltending duo or a legitimate backup gives a boost in the rankings. An argument could be made for most of the top six being interchangeable.

1. Boston College - Joseph Woll and Ryan Edquist

Joe Woll, a junior from just outside of St. Louis, Mo., was the best goaltender in Hockey East last season, even if his overall save percentage (.915) was sixth best. The Toronto Maple Leafs' prospect bailed the Eagles out on numerous occasions. He looks the part of a pro goaltender with his size and fundamentals. He’s quiet in net — meaning he’s square to shooters, cuts down on angles and makes saves look easy.

The starting goaltender for USA Hockey at the 2018 World Junior Championship, Woll will almost certainly sign a NHL deal following the conclusion of the 2018-19 season. Making BC’s goaltending situation even better is knowing its backup is a capable starter. Junior Ryan Edquist was originally committed to Minnesota, but chose to come play for the Eagles.

2. Connecticut - Adam Huska and Tomas Vomacka

Both UConn goaltenders, junior Adam Huska (Slovakia) and freshman Tomas Vomacka (Czech Republic), are property of NHL teams. They're draft picks of the New York Rangers and Nashville, Predators, respectively. Huska struggled at times a season ago and did battle injury, but he’s one of the best goalies in the league if healthy. Keep in mind his save percentage has been negatively impacted by playing in front of a lesser team than most of the other top goaltenders in Hockey East. Vomacka comes in highly regarded and will force Huska to elevate his game.

3. Boston University - Jake Oettinger

The Lakeville, Minn., native had a tough first semester a year ago, but was better after returning from the World Junior Championship. Outside of a few mediocre outings, the Dallas Stars' pick was lights out in the second semester. There’s little doubt that Jake Oettinger is one of the top goaltenders in the country when he’s on his game. He’s big and he’s poised in net. He’s unflappable at times. He will have to carry a young BU team that lost several key pieces in the offseason. Senior Max Prawdzik (Andover, Mass.) will serve as the backup.

4. Maine - Jeremy Swayman

Swayman gets the nod this high because he singlehandedly improved the Black Bears' fate a season ago. The Anchorage, Alaska, native and Boston Bruins' draft pick is a goaltender who can be a difference-maker for a middle-of-the-road team. There’s been a long lineage of Maine goaltenders who end up in the NHL and Swayman could very well be the next. Having a senior backup like Rob McGovern (Weymouth, Mass.), who has played significant minutes, is certainly a luxury for Red Gendron.

5. Northeastern - Cayden Primeau

It’s tough to place 2017-18's save percentage leader this low, but those numbers could drop this season with the puck being in the defensive zone for longer stretches. The Huskies were able to capitalize and get breathing room often last year with the forward trio of Adam Gaudette, Dylan Sikura and Nolan Stevens. The other area of concern for the Huskies is what will happen when Cayden Primeau is at the World Juniors? Luckily for the Huskies, the Montreal Canadiens' prospect should only miss two games – maybe three – while away in Vancouver.

6. Providence - Hayden Hawkey

Hayden Hawkey played his best hockey of his collegiate career as a junior. If he continues his upward swing, his senior season should be a dandy for the Friars. The Montreal Canadiens' prospect posted a .919 save percentage last season. He’ll get the benefit of playing in front of the deepest, and arguably best, team in Hockey East this season. Backup Gabe Mollot-Hill is a formidable replacement should anything happen to Hawkey.

7. New Hampshire - Ty Taylor and Mike Robinson

On paper, this could be a fairly solid goaltending duo. Bedford, N.H., native Mike Robinson, a San Jose Sharks' draft pick, and freshman Ty Taylor, a Tampa Bay Lightning draft pick, should provide a formidable one-two punch. Robinson’s development has been halted due to a few injuries. Taylor put up great numbers in the defensively-challenged BCHL, which bodes well for his future success. However, it’s tough to know how that will translate to one of the best collegiate leagues in the country. If Taylor plays up to expectations, he should be a major upgrade over the departed Danny Tirone.

8. UMass Amherst - Matt Murray and Fille Lindberg

The Minutemen return sophomore Matt Murray and welcome the addition of freshman Fille Lindberg, who's reportedly in the running for a roster spot on Finland’s World Junior Championship team. UMass has struggled at the goaltending position over the better part of the last five or six years, but this year could be different. It will also be the best team in Amherst in quite some time.

9. UMass Lowell - Tyler Wall and Christoffer Hernberg

New York Rangers' prospect Tyler Wall was another goaltender to fall victim to the dreaded sophomore slump that has seemingly befuddled many Hockey East goaltenders. He was replaced as the full-time starter and classmate Christoffer Hernberg played well at times, finishing the season with a .921 save percentage. Freshman Eric Green (Easton, Conn.), a former standout at Northfield Mount Hermon, will push both incumbents. One potential issue is the loss of associate head coach Cam Ellsworth, who worked with the goaltenders. He left to become head coach at Norwich, but the void should be aptly replaced by former Niagara goaltender and Colgate assistant Juliano Pagliero.

10. Vermont - Stefanos Lekkas

Stefanos Lekkas, like Michael Santaguida before him, is an undersized goaltender who can steal a game or two. His .914 save percentage in league games last season ranked ninth. While he’s an athletic goaltender with quick reflexes, Lekkas' lack of size comes back to hurt him at times. A lack of a legitimate backup goaltender could hurt, as Lekkas has seemingly run out of gas at times during his collegiate career.

11. Merrimack - Craig Pantano, Drew Vogler and Logan Halladay

Goaltending was the achilles heel of the Warriors, especially to start the 2017-18 season. Craig Pantano (Bridgewater, Mass.) did yeoman’s work when called upon after being the third-string goaltender for much of his first two seasons in North Andover. The recruited walk-on finished the season with a .915 save percentage overall.

Senior Drew Vogler was once a well-regarded recruit and sophomore Logan Halladay was previously committed to Minnesota. The goaltending will have to be better in order for Merrimack to make the playoffs in Scott Borek’s first year at the helm.