The 2019 NHL draft's goalie class is pretty strong in a lot of ways. It starts as the top with Spencer Knight, one of the more comfortably projectable goalies -- if there is such a thing -- in some time. He is head and shoulders above the rest, but there is quite a bit of depth here, as well.
This year's class features a number of draft re-entries and a fairly big mix of goalies who don't fall under the prototypical size categories. I'll be the first to admit that evaluating the goaltending position is especially difficult for someone untrained in the nuance of the position. That's why I consulted with NHL scouts and some goalie-specific experts to help compile this list. Here is a ranking of the top nine goaltenders.
Note: Heights and weights are via Central Scouting and/or NHL combine testing, stats are from Elite Prospects and ages are representative of how old each player will be on draft day.
1. Spencer Knight, USA U18 (NTDP)
Age: 18 | Height: 6-foot-4 | Weight: 193 pounds | Catch: Left
33 GP | 0.913 Sv% | 2.36 GAA
One of the goalie analysts I spoke with said that if Knight isn't the top goaltender in this draft class in hockey sense, skating, control, poise, technical skill and athleticism, he is no worse than second. Throw in his elite puckhandling skills and a years-long track record of success and you'll see why Knight is so highly regarded. There isn't much about his game that doesn't fall into the elite category, at least for this stage of his development.
So what makes him special?
"Skating, feet and movement ability," Jared Waimon, a longtime goalie coach and founder of Pro Crease Goaltending, said of a separating skill for Knight. "With the way the position is heading ... his ability to arrive on his feet and limit how much he's sliding [is important]. With the late plays, late guys coming in, if you're sliding, you're in a lot of trouble. He trusts his edges, and he's always had that great sense of balance. He's never on his butt, ever."
Waimon, who has been working with Knight since he was 10-years-old and helps with USA Hockey's national goaltending program, also cites Knight's puck tracking and hockey sense as major skills that allow him to stand out.
The exceptional puckhandling also is one thing that everyone mentions when talking about Knight. He is not just sturdy in that department, but also creative and precise. One scout remarked how his stretch passes hit the tape on his target's stick. Another noted that his ability to move the puck showcases his elite hockey sense.
He always has been a bigger kid, and as he has grown even taller, he has never lost coordination. Everything is in control, and he rarely is out of position. And when it does happen, he is able to shake off the mistakes and keep an even keel.
Knight has been a bit of a prodigy at the position. First, he played for Avon Old Farms prep school, of which Jonathan Quick is an alum, as a first-year student. As Waimon noted, even Quick needed an extra year of public school hockey before he could be the starter there. Then Knight became the all-time wins leader at the U.S. National Team Development Program, was called up to the U18 team as an underager and made the World Junior team, again as an underager. Knight posted respectable numbers over the course of this season, but NTDP goalies don't often produce gaudy save percentages. When he was between the pipes, his team lost just five times. He has excelled on every stage, handling pressure and attention with relative ease.
Goaltenders don't go in the first round unless teams feel really strongly about their long-term projection. And I think there are enough NHL teams out there that feel especially confident in Knight to take a chance on him in those opening 31 picks. This is a strong goalie class, but he appears to be well above the rest.
2. Pyotr Kochetkov, Ryazan (Russia 2)
Age: 19 | Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 180 | Catch: L
18 GP | 0.930 Sv% | 2.13 GAA
A third-year-eligible entry to this draft, Kochetkov is an immense talent who just wasn't on a lot of radars prior to this season, as he played for Dizel Penza in his first draft year and posted pedestrian numbers in the MHL last year. Sometimes guys get missed; it's rare these days, but it happens. This season, however, he registered sterling numbers in the VHL, Russia's second pro division, and even got some time with HK Sochi in the KHL. His star turn, however, came at the World Junior Championship, during which he was unbelievable as Russia's No. 1. He had a .953 save percentage in five starts, showing incredible competitiveness, range and technical skill.
Kochetkov's battle and ability to fight through traffic are plus tools. His hockey sense is high-end. He has the size NHL teams covet and the mobility to make good use of it. The only issue now is that he was just transferred to SKA St. Petersburg, meaning he probably is going to be in Russia for a while. But based on talent alone, he is clearly the No. 2 goalie in this draft.
3. Mads Sogaard, Medicine Hat (WHL)
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-8 | Wt: 199 | Catch: L
37 GP | 0.921 Sv% | 2.64 GAA
He is massive, but you can't just be big. What makes Sogaard so special is how he moves. Is he the quickest goalie? No, but he gets to where he needs to be and doesn't have as far to travel. He skates well too and has remarkable balance. I've heard from some goalie gurus that they'd like to see him be a little better under pressure and show a little more poise between the pipes.
Part of the reason I'm that high on Sogaard amid a field of really strong goalies is that there's so much to work with. He just played his second season in North America, and even after a jump up in competition, he put up stellar numbers. (His international figures aren't good, but the big fella didn't get a lot of help there.) With continued reps and some quality coaching from an NHL staff, I think there's a huge ceiling on the big Dane.
4. Hugo Alnefelt, HV71 Jr. (Sweden Jr.)
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 183 | Catch: L
24 GP | 0.905 Sv% | 2.59 GAA
Sweden does not win their first gold medal at the U18 World Championship without Alnefelt. He was lights out in that tournament, especially in the last two games when he needed to be sharp. He is one of the best when it comes to controlling rebounds and making the stops he's supposed to make. A lot of that comes with exceptional puck-tracking skills.
He didn't have an incredible club season, but Alnefelt showed incredible poise in the biggest pressure situations. He has the size teams want, and there's something to be said about players winning on big stages, especially goalies.
5. Ilya Konovalov, Yaroslavl (Russia)
Age: 20 | Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 194 | Catch: L
45 GP | 0.930 Sv% | 1.89 GAA
A rare fourth-year-eligible player getting a serious look, Konovalov is on radars due to strong play that garnered him KHL Rookie of the Year honors. He appeared in 45 games for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl and posted a .930 save percentage. That's a remarkable workload for a 20-year-old. That said, Konovalov lacks the size NHL teams covet, despite tremendous mobility. One scout likened him to the undersized Juuse Saros of the Nashville Predators. There's no question Konovalov competes and has the quickness to play at his size. Given his early success at a high level, that's worth taking a chance on.
6. Colten Ellis, Rimouski (QMJHL)
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 188 | Catch: L
46 GP | 0.910 Sv% | 2.47 GAA
In speaking with goaltending scouts, Ellis is a player who continually comes up. He is slightly below average in terms of the size that teams want, but he showed remarkable confidence and poise between the pipes for Rimouski this season. His numbers were pretty solid and even better during the Oceanic's playoff run. He has two strong years in the Q under his belt, seeing and stopping a lot of shots. Ellis is technically sound and has superior hockey sense that allows him to play in control and not scramble too much in the crease. He checks a lot of boxes that teams are considering, giving an NHL goalie coach more than enough to work with.
7. Lukas Parik, Liberec Jr. (Czech Jr.)
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-4 | Wt: 185 | Catch: L
32 GP | 0.917 Sv% | 2.85 GAA
He is big, he is athletic and he shined brightly when playing against his own age group. Parik did make eight appearances in the Czech second pro division this season and performed fine, but his work at the junior level was exceptional, and he really stood out for a fairly shallow Czech squad at the World U18 Championship. He gave it a chance just about every time out. There's a lot of raw talent here, but it's going to need some refining. The frame and athleticism, along with being dominant at times against his own age group, inspire quite a bit of confidence that Parik has a rather high ceiling.
8. Dustin Wolf, Everett (WHL)
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 156 | Catch: L
61 GP | 0.936 Sv% | 1.69 GAA
If he were taller, I think Wolf would be considered a top goalie prospect and a threat to go in the first three rounds. He had a fantastic year in the WHL, stepping out of the gigantic shadow of Carter Hart in Everett. But teams are skeptical of guys under 6-foot-2 these days, and some just won't draft average-to-small-sized goalies at all. But Wolf has a good chance to be selected because he is a remarkable skater for a goaltender in how he gets into position to make saves. He keeps his feet, and he has power from side to side with some quickness. Wolf doesn't just slide all over the place. The kid also made 71 appearances in the WHL between the regular season and playoffs. That's beyond impressive just in terms of workload. Size is a legitimate concern, but I like a lot of the other things about him.
9. Isaiah Saville, Tri-City (USHL)
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 198 | Catch: Right
34 GP | 0.925 Sv% | 1.90 GAA
An impressive athlete between the pipes, Saville has a good combination of quickness and solid positioning. He was a top goalie in the USHL this season, helping Tri-City earn the regular-season title. I think there's a lot more work to be done on his overall game, especially since he is not huge between the pipes. But there's a comfort level with the way he plays.
Other names to know:
Hunter Jones, Peterborough (OHL)
Nolan Maier, Saskatoon (WHL)
Cam Rowe, USA U18 (NTDP)
Taylor Gauthier, Prince George (WHL)
Ethan Haider, Minnesota Magicians (NAHL)
Roope Taponen, HIFK Jr. (Finland Jr.)