Former NHL goaltender Corey Hirsch ranks the league’s goalies in terms of pressure this season.

Western Conference

15. Colorado – Semyon Varlamov

Plays behind one of the most challenged defensive corps in the NHL. Any chance of this team even being respectable lies on Varlamov’s shoulders.

14. Arizona – Antti Raanta

Never been a No. 1. Coyotes have one of the best defences in the NHL that other goalies would salivate to play behind.

13. Vegas – Marc-Andre Fleury

Fleury is the star on a team that otherwise has no stars. He will need to be super human some nights to keep this team from getting embarrassed.

12. LA Kings – Jonathan Quick

This team is only as good as Quick. It’s a big weight to carry on a guy that missed almost all of last season.



11. Vancouver – Jacob Markstrom

First opportunity to be a No. 1 goalie in the NHL. Fail and he’s labeled a career backup.

10. Winnipeg – Steve Mason

Can’t seem to stick in any market he’s been in. Has to prove Winnipeg didn’t throw a dart hoping he can be its saviour.

9. San Jose – Martin Jones

Big Joe isn’t getting any younger. Don’t be the reason a legend never wins a Cup.

8. Nashville – Pekka Rinne

Can he perform the same magic two seasons in a row?

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Got sent home at one point to clear his head, but was incredible in the playoffs. Which goalie shows up?

6. Minnesota – Devan Dubnyk

Vezina candidate for three quarters of the year last season. Down the stretch not so much. Needs a complete season start to finish.

5. Anaheim – John Gibson

Hasn’t been able to get through the Conference Finals. His pressure won’t come until the playoffs.



4. Chicago – Corey Crawford

A first round sweep with that lineup can’t happen again.

3. Dallas – Ben Bishop

Dallas has some serious firepower and goaltending let them down last year. Bishop is expected to be the savior.

2. Calgary – Mike Smith

Smith wanted to go somewhere with a chance to win. Needs to prove he’s not just a good goalie on bad teams.

1. Edmonton – Cam Talbot

Oilers have the best player in the world and a legitimate chance to win the Cup. Snubbed of a Vezina nod, Talbot needs prove last year wasn’t a fluke.

Eastern Conference

16. Carolina – Scott Darling

Was incredible at times in Chicago, but now doesn’t have an all-star defence in front of him.

15. Ottawa – Craig Anderson

Anderson has arguably the best defenceman in the NHL on his team. Needs to follow up on last season’s playoff performance.

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14. Florida – Roberto Luongo

At 38 years old, needs to prove that his best years aren’t over or he’ll be on the end of the bench.

13. Boston – Tuukka Rask

Boston has underachieved the last few seasons. Rask is 30 years old, time is running out.

12. Pittsburgh – Matt Murray

Already won two Cups and has Crosby on his team looking for a three peat.

11. Buffalo – Robin Lehner

Buffalo changed its whole front office staff. Lehner was a Tim Murray trade. His safety blanket is gone.

10. New Jersey – Cory Schneider

Nico Hischier gives them a chance to be playoff contenders. Can Schneider provide the rest?

9. Tampa Bay – Andrei Vasilevskiy

Tampa traded Ben Bishop so he could be the No 1.

8. New York Islanders – Jaroslav Halak/Thomas Greiss

Halak got sent to the minors with a $4 million salary. If that doesn’t say shape up, I don’t know what does.

7. Philadelphia – Brian Elliott

Needs to shake off the inconsistency that plagues him or the Flyers faithful will run him out of town.

6. Detroit – Petr Mrazek

Detroit didn’t make the playoffs for the first time in 25 years last season. A new building and a new attitude, Red Wings fans expect more this year.

5. New York Rangers – Henrik Lundqvist

He’s 35 years old now. How long until the Rangers decide he’s not the guy that can get them a Cup anymore?

4. Columbus – Sergei Bobrovsky

See Montreal and Carey Price…they should be called the Columbus Bobrovskys. He’s the team.

3. Washington – Braden Holtby

Being the best in regular season means nothing if you can’t get it done in the playoffs.

2. Montreal – Carey Price

The Montreal Canadiens are Carey Price and Carey Price is the Montreal Canadiens. How’s that for pressure in the world’s most legendary goalie market?

1. Toronto – Frederik Andersen

Last year he had zero pressure. This year the Toronto faithful are tentatively planning a parade route.