Fantasy Hockey Goalie Gab: Darcy Kuemper, Andrei Vasilevskiy, Frederik Andersen and More

Hey folks. In today's edition of goalie gab, we're zeroing in on the crease, where the goalie carousel continues to spin across the league. 

A top tendy is making his way back into action while another lands on injured reserve, Toronto's net sees one goalie trending up as another moves the opposite direction (or, in no direction at all, sadly), and a former starter may be watching his NHL role slip away.

There's plenty of fantasy fallout to sort through, so let's break down what's happening between the pipes and how it impacts your roster. 

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Darcy Kuemper - Los Angeles Kings

Kuemper has been a true workhorse for the Kings, carrying the bulk of the starts for a team that has been finding ways to win. His absence is a meaningful blow, as Los Angeles leans heavily on him to stabilize the crease and control games defensively.

Kuemper suffered a upper body injury after the first period during their bout against the Dallas Stars following a collision with Mikko Rantanen. With Kuemper sidelined, goaltender Anton Forsberg should get most of the starts.

From a fantasy perspective, this is a situation to monitor closely. Kuemper managers will want to hold tight if possible, while Forsberg sees a short-term boost in workload and streaming appeal.

Kuemper has 10 wins in 23 games started as a goaltender. He also has a .917 save percentage, 2.19 goals against average, and two shutouts.

Andrei Vasilevskiy - Tampa Bay Lightning

Vasilevskiy is finally making his way back into the crease, and the Lightning are getting a massive boost in more ways than one. Widely regarded as one of the top goaltenders in the world, Vasilevskiy instantly restores Tampa Bay's defensive stability, giving the team a legitimate bulwark against high-octane opponents. With him back, expect a clear uptick in wins, +/- production, and overall team confidence on the defensive side of the ice.

During his absence, backup goaltenders carried the load, but the team's performance was never quite the same. Now, with Vasilevskiy back, managers can anticipate a return to elite-level goaltending, more consistent starts, and a significantly higher floor for fantasy production. He's a true cornerstone who not only racks up wins but also limits goals against, strengthens Tampa Bay's penalty kill, and supports fantasy-relevant stats like saves and shots against.

Vasilevskiy's status remains as one of the league's most reliable fantasy netminders. For fantasy managers, he's a must-start in any format and a key piece for teams chasing wins and solid defensive numbers.

Vasilevskiy has 11 wins in 19 games started as a goaltender. He also has a .917 save percentage, 2.31 goals against average, and one shutout.

Anthony Stolarz - Toronto Maple Leafs

Stolarz remains sidelined with an upper-body injury, which came with some updates today, which unfortunately are not good. While head coach Craig Berube has confirmed he does not have a concussion, the team is seeking further medical evaluation as his progress has not matched initial expectations. He has yet to resume skating and his anticipated return, originally targeted for the end of December, is now uncertain.

When Stolarz does return, he projects as a strong candidate for the 1A spot in Toronto's tandem, offering meaningful starts and value in a hot crease. From a fantasy perspective, he remains a hold for managers who have the roster space and can stash him on their injured reserve, as his return could quickly translate to wins, starts, and strong peripheral stats. While the timeline is in flux, patience may pay off for those willing to weather the short-term uncertainty.

That said, at present the Maple Leafs' goaltending situation remains a media frenzy as it is safe to say that from season start to 2026 they will not see a single day of their planned dynamic duo. Health and availability wise It's either one, the other, or worse - neither.

Stolarz has six wins in 13 games started as a goaltender. He also has a .928 save percentage, 2.44 goals against average, and zero shutouts.

Joseph Woll - Toronto Maple Leafs

Woll has been activated off the injured reserve list and is set to face the Chicago Blackhawks sans Connor Bedard. He will be backed up by Dennis Hildeby, and Woll is expected to resume the majority of the starts for Toronto.

Before his injury, Woll had a strong stretch of games, showing consistency and giving the Maple Leafs a reliable option in net. He looks poised to pick up right where he left off, and fantasy managers can expect him to contribute wins and stable starts for a team that has struggled to find consistent goaltending recently. Woll remains a key option in Toronto's crease and a valuable asset for fantasy rosters.

One notable concern is that Woll remains to be injury prone, and struggles in the starter role. He, like Stolarz, thrives in a tandem situation, which is something neither netminder has had the opportunity to take advantage of. Both have been forced into starter roles for all of their time healthy so far this season.

Woll has four wins in nine games started as a goaltender. He also has a .922 save percentage, 2.59 goals against average, and zero shutouts.

Frederik Andersen - Carolina Hurricanes

Once a workhorse and cornerstone for his teams, Andersen has now found himself relegated to a third-string role in one of the NHL's strongest defensive markets, behind Brandon Bussi and Pyotr Kochetkov. This tandem now fights for the starter role, and may relegate to a 1A and 1B situation, if Bussi's strong NHL debut comes back down to earth. This leaves little to no room for Andersen.

Carolina's defensive structure has historically supported strong goaltending, but Andersen's combination of injury-prone history and inconsistent play has left him on the shelf and struggling for relevance.

With only one year left on his contract, Andersen faces a precarious future. His recent performance and injury issues suggest Carolina may be moving on, leaving him without a clear path back into a starting role. For fantasy managers, the message is clear: Andersen has transitioned into streamer status at best. Holding him on rosters is risky, and dropping him may be the prudent move as he now carries little dependable upside.

Through his starts this season, Andersen has struggled to find consistency, and his fantasy value has plummeted compared to his past seasons. Managers should adjust expectations accordingly and pivot to more reliable options in the Carolina crease.

Andersen has five wins in 14 games started as a goaltender. He also has an .875 save percentage, 3.15 goals against average, and zero shutouts.