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In this edition of the hotstove, we rank the top-5 goaltenders in the Western Conference.
Todd Cordell
1. John Gibson
Gibson is easily one of the league's most underappreciated stars. He ranks 1st among starters in save percentage over the last three seasons and yet he's rarely mentioned as one of the elite at his position. That needs to change.
2. Corey Crawford
Over the last three years, 37 goaltenders have logged at least 5,000 minutes at 5v5. Crawford ranks 2nd among them in save percentage. Chicago's performance after he went down last season showed just how important he is to the team.
3. Pekka Rinne
After a down year in 2015-16 as a 33-year-old, I figured Rinne's best days were behind him. Apparently not. He has posted a .923 save percentage in two years since and was last season's Vezina winner.
4. Jonathan Quick
He has recorded a .918 save percentage or better in each of his last three full seasons while averaging 68 games per.
5. Antti Raanta
His numbers have been excellent for years. People questioned whether they would remain so as a starter and he erased any doubt last season stopping 93% of the shots he faced while playing behind a bad Arizona team. If he has another strong year, he'll move up the list.
Honorable mentions: Marc-Andre Fleury, Connor Hellebuyck, Devan Dubnyk.
Peter Tessier
This is an interesting one and I think I should have been a bit more thorough when I did the east. I think there's a bit more talent, or at least goalies played a bit better in the west last season.
1. Gibson- had a .926 save% overall and .928 at 5 vs 5 and played 60 games- to me durability matters
2. Rinne- with a .927% and then a .937 at 5vs5 he was very good but the playoffs showed his consistency is wearing
3. Hellebuyck- .924 for the season and then .930 at 5vs5 this was his coming our party and he turned that into a huge contract. Hopefully this is the player Jets fans see for the future
4. Dubnyk- Maybe a bit of down season but 60 games and a .918 and then .930 is impressive still.
5. Jones- I simply think he flies under the radar far too much. 60 games .915 and .915. Maybe he's not everyone's choice but I like him and he's done wonders for San Jose.
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