NHL goaltending sees significant aging trend, raises future concerns
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 23, 2026, 2:26 AM
Last updated Jun 23, 2026
The average age of starting goalies in the NHL has reached 31.3 years, raising questions about the future of the position. While the league showcases numerous young talents, goaltending development appears stagnant, with only two starting goalies under 25. As teams retain reliable veterans longer, a potential shortage of quality replacements looms, particularly with five starting goalies turning 35 this season and a projected 11 by 2028. The trend may impact team strategies as younger prospects take time to mature.
- •31 No. 1 goalies average 31.3 years old.
- •Only Matt Murray and Andrei Vasilevskiy are younger than 25.
- •Five starting goalies will turn 35 by season's end.
- •Concerns grow over future goaltending talent pipeline.
- •Only four goalies ranked among top 100 NHL prospects.
- 2:26 AMYahoo Sports — THN Archive: The Blue Paint Is Going Grey
"The vast majority of starting goalies are into their 30s, and there isn’t a deep wave of replacements in the pipeline. What’s the NHL crease going to look like in five years?
Sources
External linksOriginal reporting and copyright belong to the linked sources. SportsNewsReport.com aggregates and links — it does not republish full articles.
Related Stories
Last 14 days
NHL•Sep 2, 2026, 4:28 AMVegas Golden Knights Stars Look Cost Effective in New NHL Environment
NHL•Sep 2, 2026, 4:15 AMDevils acquire Luke Evangelista from the Predators for 2 high draft picks
NHL•Sep 2, 2026, 3:24 AMCanadiens May Already Be Dealing With Key Injury Ahead Of Training Camp
NHL•Sep 2, 2026, 2:17 AMDevils Trade Grades: Mehta Steals Evangelista; Preds Sell Low
NHL•Sep 2, 2026, 1:53 AMSJHN Daily: Surprises on Sharks’ Rookie Faceoff Roster? Christine Marleau Gets Involved With Kane-Gabriel Drama
NHL•Sep 1, 2026, 10:45 PMDucks to retire former captain Getzlaf's No. 15