Some teams are experiencing failures at the start of the season and to explain their troubles, look no further than these six goalkeepers who certainly have things to be forgiven for.
• Also read: Six goalkeepers who are causing quite a surprise this season
Defending a National Hockey League (NHL) net is far from fun and confidence can sometimes be lacking even for the best. Here are some masked men who are just plain disappointing after a little over a month.
Cayden Primeau
Primeau kicked out of the match after a weak goal –
Having been part of the Montreal Canadiens’ menage a trois in front of the net last year, Primeau was the one who showed the best individual statistics and we finally said that the American was ready for the NHL.
Let’s say that fans were quickly disenchanted with its performances. In seven outings, he has never allowed fewer than three goals and has given up at least five times on three occasions.
It’s sad to say, but Primeau is one of the worst in his profession at the start of the season. In Laval, Jakub Dobes and even Connor Hughes must be thinking about a recall with the big club.
Jeremy Swayman
Jeremy Swayman in the showers –
For a goalkeeper who would have insisted on becoming the highest paid in the National League, being at the back of the pack cannot be satisfactory. Swayman and the Boston Bruins have fallen a bit from their pedestal, who are usually dominant in the regular season.
The Alaska native has a save percentage of .896 and a goals against average of 3.13. Nothing to worry about, but the Bruins are patiently waiting for the return on their investment of $8.25 million per season until 2032…
Ivan Fedotov
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The Flyers have a backup problem. While Samuel Ersson struggles to help the team keep its head above water, Alexei Kolosov and Ivan Fedotov… make an appearance.
We especially wonder about the performances of Fedotov, who is still looking for his bearings. The Russian with the impressive 6’7″ frame is unable to keep his nets allowed average below 4.00.
The one who will be 28 at the end of November was very good in the KHL, but at the NHL level, it’s obviously a different story.
Devon Levi
AFP
Quebecer Devon Levi arrived at the Buffalo Sabers full of promise and many saw him as the goaltender of the future. At only 22 years old, the goalkeeper still has a lot of time ahead of him, but his first five games in 2024-2025 are not convincing.
A 1-4-0 record, a 4.10 goals-against average and a .866 save percentage mean that Levi is no longer a threat to Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. Monday afternoon against the Canadian, he gave up twice in four shots…
Another stay in the American League may be preferable in his case.
Tristan Jarry
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Two games: That’s all the Pittsburgh Penguins needed to agree that Tristan Jarry needed a step back. The British Columbian thus found himself in the American League for the first time in four years.
This situation well sums up the last weeks of the team, which depends enormously on the aging Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. In search of solutions in front of the net, they were forced to throw Joel Blomqvist into the den of the wolf.
Jarry was brilliant in his five games in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, so we’ll have to see if he gets back on his feet.
Alexander Georgiev
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Things are slowly getting back on track for the Colorado Avalanche goaltender with a good start to November, but the previous weeks have been simply awful.
The Bulgarian had to be removed from the game in his first two starts, allowing eight goals in 25 shots. With the injuries and the horrible performance of their trusted man, the Avalanche visited the cellar of the standings for a rare time.
Honorable mentions: Philipp Grubauer (Seattle Kraken), Linus Ullmark (Ottawa Senators), Ville Husso (Detroit Red Wings) and Stuart Skinner (Edmonton Oilers)
