ESPN Goalie Guide Has Vasilevskiy First, Thompson Next
Andrei Vasilevskiy leads ESPN's 2026-27 fantasy board, with workload, team strength and save percentage driving the position's draft value.
ESPN's 2026-27 fantasy goalie guide puts Andrei Vasilevskiy at the top of the position and Logan Thompson next among its preferred options.
Vasilevskiy is projected for 171.4 points in ESPN's standard scoring after producing 172.6 last season. The guide cites his workload, durability and Tampa Bay's team strength as the reasons to spend an early pick on him.
Goalie results can swing fantasy matchups quickly under that scoring system. A goalie who stops 28 of 30 shots in a 4-2 win earns 5.6 points, while allowing five goals on 31 shots in a 5-4 loss produces minus-4.8.
Thompson finished third among goalies in ESPN standard leagues last season with 151.4 points and is projected for 136.8. ESPN's case also accounts for Washington adding Alex Tuch, Jordan Kyrou and Boone Jenner during the offseason.
Jake Oettinger is another top-five option in the guide. Since taking over the Dallas net in 2021-22, he has a 173-70-26 record. Ilya Sorokin is presented as a value pick whose ceiling depends partly on whether the Islanders improve their goal support under coach Pete DeBoer.
Karel Vejmelka led NHL goalies with 63 starts last season and projects as another high-volume choice in Utah. Connor Hellebuyck carries more uncertainty because he remains with Winnipeg despite requesting a move, but ESPN still views his talent as worth targeting if other managers pass.
For later rounds, the guide recommends chasing upside instead of name recognition. Brandon Bussi, Dan Vladar and Jakub Dobes are cited as examples of goalies who entered last season outside many fantasy plans and ultimately rewarded managers.
