Unlike the 2015 NHL draft class of skater prospects, the goalie class this season isn't great. On the other hand, the top few guys all have significant upside, and a case can be made for any of the top four goalies to be the top player.
The class does lack a true top-tier goalie prospect, however, and the second round appears to be the ceiling in terms of when any of them will be selected.
Note: To see rankings and scouting notes on the top 100 skaters, click here.
1. Felix Sandstrom
Brynas (SHL)
DOB: 1/12/97 | Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 192
2014-15 GP: 2 | GAA: 1.09 | SV%: .963
Sandstrom missed chunks of the season due to various ailments, after he came into the season as a top prospect. This lack of playing time has led to divisive stances within the industry, with some scouts claiming he's clearly good enough to go in the top two rounds and others stating he's more of a middle-round selection. Sandstrom has shown advanced play for several seasons and has impressive raw tools. He moves pretty well for a player his size, while not being erratic. His goaltender IQ grades high, as he tracks the puck pretty well and stays ahead of the play. Sandstrom is a roll of the dice, as its not outside the realm of possibility that he's in the NHL within three or four years, but his lack of playing time could scare teams.
2. Daniel Vladar
HC Kladno (Czech-2)
DOB: 8/20/97 | Ht: 6-5 | Wt: 185
2014-15 GP: 8 | GAA: 1.97 | SV%: .933
Vladar's been a top goalie prospect for a number of years. He has regularly played ahead of his age group and shown an impressive overall talent level for a big man. He didn't get a ton of repetitions this season, between league and International play, which means scouts have had to drill down on his abilities, rather than lean on statistical analysis. He gets down into his butterfly quickly, and his lower-body movements are as quick as those of a 6-foot-1 goalie. When things are going well, Vladar is very quiet in the net and uses his big frame and lateral agility to square up a ton of pucks. However, he can get a little too energetic at times with his positioning and get out of his technique. Improving his reads to get his eyes on the puck a little faster will be critical.
3. Ilya Samsonov
Magnitogorsk (MHL)
DOB: 2/22/97 | Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 201
2014-15 GP: 18 | GAA: 2.66 | SV%: .918
Another goalie prospect who didn't get a ton of playing time this season, Samsonov was very impressive at the junior and international levels -- when he did play. He screams "upside" as a bigger netminder who moves like he's 5-10. Samsonov can make some very acrobatic saves, exhibits quick feet out of his butterfly and has a solid glove hand. He challenges shooters high in his crease, though he can get caught scrambling a little due to that aggressiveness. Samsonov's reads are fine, but they need some tweaking. Overall, he squares up a lot of pucks and exhibits good effort.
4. Mackenzie Blackwood
Barrie (OHL)
DOB: 12/9/96 | Ht: 6-4 | Wt: 205
2014-15 GP: 51 | GAA: 3.09 | SV%: .906
The Thunder Bay, Ontario, native won't stand out with flashy cross-crease saves that wow the crowd, but his physical and mental tools make him a solid prospect. Given his frame, he doesn't leave shooters much room to find corners. He's very economical with his movements in the net, and overall, he displays a calm demeanor. His hockey IQ and butterfly technique are advanced for his age. Blackwood could be a little better on rebounds.
5. Veini Vehvilainen
JYP (Mestis)
DOB: 2/13/97 | Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 185
2014-15 GP: 26 | GAA: 2.57 | SV%: .917
Vehvilainen isn't the typical, dominant Finnish goalie prospect we've become used to seeing, but he's the top goalie available from that country with a 1997 birth date, and he led Team Finland to a strong finish at the IIHF under-18 championship. He's at his best when he's playing a quiet, low-movement type of game. His puck-tracking skills are certainly above average, and his footwork technique is pretty refined. His athleticism isn't top-end, as his lateral movements aren't the best when he needs to move over to square up a puck quickly. That's not to say he can't scramble and get to a difficult puck, but it's just not his strength.
6. Matej Tomek
Topeka (NAHL)
DOB: 5/24/97 | Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 181
2014-15 GP: 33 | GAA: 1.83 | SV%: .928
After being a top prospect in the Slovak program for a few years, Tomek came to North America this season to play in the NAHL (a tier below the USHL in quality of competition), where he was dominant. He's very athletic for a man his size, and while he still has room to fill out in his frame, his athleticism and size are notable. He is gifted in his movements and stays composed. The issue with Tomek isn't one of a glaring hole as much as the quality of opponents; his puck-tracking and hockey sense haven't been truly tested at the NAHL level. He has committed to play at North Dakota in 2015-16.
7. Callum Booth
Quebec (QMJHL)
DOB: 5/21/97 | Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 196
2014-15 GP: 41 | GAA: 3.05 | SV%: .900
Booth got off to a great start this season before his performance tailed off, while Quebec went out and acquired Canadiens prospect Zach Fucale to start in front of him as they prepped for the Memorial Cup. As a result, his stats don't have much merit. From a scouting perspective, he plays his angles well and takes shooting angles away pretty effectively. He plays at the top of his crease and doesn't mind challenging shooters. His movements aren't too nimble, but he moves fine for his size and is able to get across the crease. He has notable struggles when opponents make him move laterally.
8. Denis Godla
Slovan Bratislava (KHL)
DOB: 4/4/95 | Ht: 5-11 | Wt: 176
2014-15 GP: 4 | GAA: 5.17 | SV%: .839
Godla became a household name around the holiday season, as he was dominant for Slovakia at the IIHF World Junior Championship and was the top goalie at the tournament. He was passed over in two straight drafts, and there are still some doubts that he can succeed at the NHL level at his size. On the plus side, his athletic abilities are remarkable. He moves side to side as well as any goalie in this draft. He is a competitive, energetic goalie who is creative in how he gets in front of pucks and uses as much of his small frame as he can to make stops. His proclivity to play at the top of the crease helps him in terms of taking away angles, and he has the agility to get back on cross-crease passes, but that unconventional positioning can also leave him susceptible to easy goals.
9. Michael McNiven
Owen Sound (OHL)
DOB: 7/9/97 | Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 185
2014-15 GP: 24 | GAA: 2.79 | SV%: .914
McNiven came roaring out of the gates this season, stopping seemingly every shot in his first dozen or so games and catching everyone's attention. He's an aggressive positional goalie who plays at the top of his crease and utilizes his quick feet and bursts to his advantage. His quick twitches can take him a little out of position at times, but for the most part, McNiven stays with the play well, reads the puck movement and gets square with the puck. He's pretty strong on his posts and holding the lower part of the net. Everything is pointing in the right direction, and the only major concern I have for him is sample size, which is always an issue when you don't get lengthy stretches to evaluate a goalie.
10. Samuel Montembeault
Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)
DOB: 10/30/96 | Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 165
2014-15 GP: 52 | GAA: 2.59 | SV%: .891
The Quebec native hasn't had the best save percentage numbers in the Q the past two seasons, so this is more about what I've seen of the player than statistical output. He's a big goalie who has a lot of room to fill out, as he visibly doesn't cover as much net as he could. His movements are subtle in the net, and he gets square with the puck consistently. He's not an athletic stalwart, but his lower-body movements are at an above-average level. He also has no issue getting loud in his communication with his defensemen. He'll need to improve his angles, in terms of playing farther out of his crease, and try to fill out his frame to reduce target areas for opposing shooters.
Honorable mentions (alphabetical order):
Nick McBride, Prince Albert (WHL)
Liam Herbst, Ottawa (OHL)
Adam Huska, Green Bay (USHL)
Ryan Larkin, Cedar Rapids (USHL)
Luke Opilka, USNTDP (USHL)