Nashville Predators: Ranking the Central Division Goalies for 2022-23

With the 2022-23 regular season less than two weeks away, the Nashville Predators enter the season with a major box checked at goaltender with Juuse Saros between the pipes. They’re no strangers to having that luxury over the last decade-plus.

The rest of the Central Division doesn’t look nearly as daunting as it has looked in the past, but there is still plenty of top-notch goaltending for teams to contend with.

Do the Nashville Predators unequivocally have the best goaltender in the Central Division with Saros at the helm, or is there someone else who is emerging to take over at the top?

As preseason hockey is about to start and teams already active at training, let’s rank every projected starting goaltender in the Central Division.

#8: Karel Vejmelka, Arizona Coyotes

2021-22 Stats: 13-32-3 Record, 52 Games, 3.68 GAA, .898 Save %, 1 Shutout

Surprise, surprise. One reason, among several, that the Arizona Coyotes are stuck in the pit of doom in the Central Division is they don’t have reliable goaltending and are extremely inexperienced at the position.

Vejmelka is expected to be the primary starter for a Coyotes team that will once again be a transitioning team that will go through a lot of growing pains.

However, if Vejmelka turns in a commendable sophomore campaign in the NHL, then perhaps the Coyotes can be modestly surprising and avoid last place in the division.

Vejmelka got a heavy workload during his rookie season appearing in over 50 games. You can’t fault him for not having much around him, and it will probably be another rough year in his second season in the NHL.

The projected backup to Vejmelka will be 28-year-old Jon Gillies, who also played in his first NHL season in 2021-22. He appeared in just 20 games and also had less than ideal numbers.

#7: Petr Mrazek, Chicago Blackhawks

2021-22 Stats: 12-6-0 Record, 20 Games, 3.34 GAA, .888 Save %

The two teams that are fully expected to finish at the bottom of the division also have the two lowest ranked goaltenders on my list. With that said, Mrazek isn’t a scrub by any means.

I would be tempted to put Mrazek higher on this list if he hadn’t missed so much time last season, and if he wasn’t coming into a difficult situation with the Blackhawks.

Mrazek appeared in just 20 games last season for the Maple Leafs, while posting his worst career numbers in GAA and Save Percentage. It’s going to be a tall order to improve with what’s going to be one of the worst lineups in the NHL lining up in front of him.

It is worth noting that the season before in limited action for the Carolina Hurricanes, Mrazek put up very respectable numbers with a save percentage above 92 and a rock-solid GAA of 2.06. So we know the talent level is there.

Veteran Alex Stalock will line up behind Mrazek, and don’t be shocked at all if the starts end up being split more evenly between the two. Either way, probably going to be another rocky year for Chicago goaltending.

#6: Alexandar Georgiev, Colorado Avalanche

2021-22 Stats: 15-10-2 Record, 33 Games, 2.92 GAA, .898 Save %, 2 Shutouts

Yes, it feels very strange for me to rank the current Stanley Cup champs and heavy favorites to repeat in 2022-23 so low at goaltender. However, the Avalanche will be fine even with sub-par goaltending because they’re just absolutely loaded both offensively and defensively.

Georgiev is getting his prime opportunity to be the main starter between the pipes after backing up Igor Shesterkin on the New York Rangers last season. Georgiev had played his entire NHL career with the Rangers going back to 2017-18 when he had nine starts.

There are too many accomplished veterans in the Central Division for me to put Georgiev any higher, although I do think he has a high ceiling and should benefit from an outstanding defensive team in front of him.

Georgiev’s career high is only 32 starts, and he should surpass that unless he stumbles out of the gate and forces the Avalanche to turn back to Pavel Francouz who has already illustrated he’s a trusted backup.

Again, the Avalanche aren’t as reliant on elite goaltending as say, the Nashville Predators are. So they’ll be dangerous either way. But Georgiev’s ascension into being a quality starter will make the Avalanche even more unstoppable than they already are.

#5: Jordan Binnington, St. Louis Blues

2021-22 Stats: 37 Games, 18-14-4 Record, 3.13 GAA, .901 Save %, 2 Shutouts

Binnington is coming off a shockingly average year by his standards and expectations. He was very streaky and unreliable, and forced Ville Husso to save the day many times for the Blues.

Husso is now on the Detroit Red Wings, and Binnington will have to be much more consistent to keep the Blues as the top competition to the Avalanche in the division. I’m just having a hard time trusting Binnington to be anything more than they occasional lights out goalie that can shut a team down, followed by a start where he lets four goals leak by to lose the game.

The only reason I put Binnington ahead of the first three on this list is because he does have that undeniable talent, and he’ll still show up and bring that edge that will win some games.

Binnington’s emotional play can sometimes be a strength but can also be a major weakness when he lets it get the best of him. Again, he’s just untrustworthy as far as being considered elite.

With Binnington being on a gradual decline over the last two seasons, I have my serious doubts that he can return to being a quality Vezina Trophy contender. He’s middle-of-the-road at best.

#4: Marc-Andre Fleury, Minnesota Wild

2021-22 Stats: 56 Games, 28-23-5 Record, 2.90 GAA, .908 Save %, 4 Shutouts

Not the lights out numbers we’ve come to know from the great Marc-Andre Fleury, but still very much a quality goaltender in this league at age 37.

Fleury spent most of last season with the Blackhawks, but his numbers improved considerably after being acquired by the Wild late in the season. With quality play in front of him, Fleury still has all the tools to be in the top half of the league’s best goaltenders.

What will be interesting about this season is will Fleury finally start to show some regression as he’s getting towards the end of his illustrious career. That remains to be seen, but until he gives us reason to say he’s done, we should assume he’ll keep putting up strong numbers.

The Wild are difficult to put a peg on coming into the season. Maybe they’re good enough to finish second behind the Avalanche, or maybe they take a step back and fall on the playoff bubble. One thing we know is they’ll always have a decent chance with Fleury in net.

#3: Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets

2021-22 Stats: 66 Games, 29-27-10 Record, 2.97 GAA, .910 Save %, 4 Shutouts

Hellebuyck is one of three goaltenders in the Central Division who I consider to be legitimate Vezina Trophy caliber. And he’s playing for a team that he’ll have to put on his back with another heavy workload.

The Jets are predicted by many to take a step back in 2022-23, but Hellebuyck can squeeze the most out of this team to possibly still snag a postseason spot.

Hellebuyck won the Vezina Trophy in 2020, finished runner-up in 2018, and finished a respectable fourth place in 2021. He has gotten Hart Trophy votes in the past as well. He is so vital to how far the Jets may go this season.

The Jets may get an uptick in defensive play to benefit Hellebuyck with old school head coach Rick Bowness taking over. This coaching change could possibly help Hellebuyck return to Vezina glory.

Don’t be surprised even if the Jets miss the playoffs that Hellebuyck is once again in the conversation as one of the best goalies in the NHL.

#2: Jake Oettinger, Dallas Stars

2021-22 Stats: 48 Games, 30-15-1, 2.53 GAA, .914 Save %, 1 Shutout

I firmly believe Oettinger has a Vezina Trophy in his future. It’s just a matter of “when”, not “if”.

Oettinger was in the middle of a goalie logjam for the Dallas Stars initially as he was coming out of the minor league ranks. But with Ben Bishop, Braden Holtby, and Anton Khudobin all gone now, it’s Oettinger’s show to lead.

A main reason you still have to take the Stars seriously in the Central Division is that they’re balanced with a combination of young scorers and high-end goaltending with Oettinger.

I have a strong feeling that Oettinger breaks out in 2022-23 and leads the Stars into the playoffs and make them dangerous to a team like the Avalanche or Oilers in a seven-game playoff series. He’s just got the physical frame and skills to be the prototypical shutdown goalie.

My dark horse candidate to win the 2023 Vezina Trophy is Jake Oettinger. We’ll see how he puts it all together after being a bit streaky during the regular season, but being all-time great in the 2022 playoffs.