After ranking the league’s top 20 defensemen and wingers earlier this month, the media folks at NHL.com put together a list of the 10 best goaltenders ahead of the 2026-27 regular season on Sunday.
The Chicago Blackhawks did not have a single representative crack the top 20 rankings among defensemen or wingers, and Spencer Knight was also left outside the top 10 in the recent netminders index.
More in the links for the league’s best goaltenders, with a follow-up coming for Chicago Hockey Now later this week regarding Knight’s exclusion.
Around the league, a potential forward addition for the Florida Panthers, the best fights from the 2025-26 regular season, and a missed opportunity for the Detroit Red Wings.
All that & more in the Daily!
Blackhawks Offseason, News & Trade Rumors
Chicago Hockey Now: Once Connor Bedard returns from offseason shoulder surgery, how will head coach Jeff Blashill properly balance the Blackhawks forward lines? Hit the link for a projection of Bedard’s linemates and where other notables like Anton Frondell, Frank Nazar, and Roman Kantserov fit in.
Shared by the Blackhawks social media accounts on Sunday, some quick clips of Patrick Kane and Artyom Levshunov scoring marvelous goals at the United Center. Who’s ready for hockey season?! Only one month away from preseason action.
NHL.com: Here are the current rankings of the NHL’s best goaltenders entering the 2026-27 season, where Andrei Vasilevskiy, Connor Hellebuyck and Igor Shesterkin lead the way. Spencer Knight had a strong first year as a No. 1 netminder in 2025-26 but couldn’t slip inside the rankings. It will be fascinating to see if he can break into the top 10 during the 2027 edition of this list.
NHL Trade Talk, News, & National Hockey Now
Florida Hockey Now: With Brad Marchand recently having surgery, the Florida Panthers may have a forward spot open to start next season. It just so happens Finnish winger Patrik Laine is still looking for a job. George Richards from PHN weighs whether the Panthers should make a run for Laine’s services in free agency before training camp begins.
Sportsnet: Epic video footage of the NHL’s best fights from the 2025-26 campaign was put together, which included the goalie scrap between Sergei Bobrovsky and Alex Nedeljkovic. Heavyweight tilts don’t quite happen as often anymore, but there were a few quality fights worth rewatching from last year.
NHLtraderumors.me: As if the Detroit Red Wings fanbase needed any more reasons to be frustrated with the franchise this summer. A report surfaced suggesting owner Chris Ilitch flubbed a massive opportunity to acquire prolific goal-scoring winger Steven Stamkos a few summers ago. Ilitch apparently felt Stamkos wasn’t worth the money.
Forever Blueshirts: A fun read from over the weekend. Ryan McInerney details former New York Rangers‘ forward Kevin Hayes’ wild stories, including tales of Henrik Lundqvist, hilarious locker-room pranks, and more.
Colorado Hockey Now: Despite having arguably the NHL’s best goaltending tandem last season, neither Scott Wedgewood nor Mackenzie Blackwood cracked the league’s top-10 netminders list. Aarif Dean writes that one of the two Colorado Avalanche goaltenders is an obvious omission from the rankings.
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