NHL Goaltenders Making a Run for No. 1 Jobs

The waters are choppy for NHL goaltenders these days.

Yes, most elite teams are still riding one main man and his big contract as they pursue their Stanley Cup dreams. But every year, we're seeing more and more upstarts challenge for those top positions—and the politically charged job-sharing situation is also becoming more common, as organizations try to hedge their bets in preparation for key moments.

Injuries can cause shock waves, but they're not the only reason why goaltending situations can become complex. Salary-cap issues, declining veterans and emerging talents are all creating murky scenarios around the NHL this season.

Injured Carey Price will be ushered back into his crease with a city-wide celebration in Montreal when he returns from his knee injury. But elsewhere, situations are much more uncertain.

Here's a look at teams in eight cities where an unexpected goaltender could have control of the reins by the end of the season.

Connor Hellebuyck: Winnipeg Jets

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The Incumbents

Ondrej Pavelec is 28 years old and is in the fourth year of a five-year contract with a cap hit of $3.9 million per season. He has been on IR since late November with a knee injury. Ken Wiebe of the Winnipeg Sun reported on December 31 that Pavelec is traveling with the team, but no timetable has been set for his return to action.

15 GP, 5-6-1, .906 save percentage, 2.82 goals-against average.

Michael Hutchinson is 25 years old and is in the second year of a two-year contract with a cap hit of $575,000 per season. After an impressive rookie campaign in 2014-15, Hutchinson has faltered, relatively speaking, this season.

17 GP, 5-9-1, .904 save percentage, 2.97 goals-against average.

The Challenger

Connor Hellebuyck is 22 years old and is in the second year of his three-year entry-level contract, with a cap hit of $667,500 per season. He has outplayed Hutchinson since being recalled to fill in for the injured Pavelec.

12 GP, 8-4-0, .929 save percentage, 2.01 goals-against average, 1 shutout.

The Situation

The Winnipeg Jets earned a trip to the playoffs last season but have struggled this year and currently sit last in the highly competitive Central Division. The only thing keeping their faint playoff hopes alive is Hellebuyck's strong play since Pavelec was sidelined.

The team will face a tough decision when Pavelec is ready to return. Hellebuyck can go back to the AHL Manitoba Moose without clearing waivers, but he also has given the Jets the best chance to win games.

Will Winnipeg try to ride the hot hand to a playoff position down the stretch? If so, how will Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff handle Pavelec and Hutchinson?

Hellebuyck's good, but the roster situation is complex and playoff chances are already slim in Winnipeg this year.

Chance He'll Become No. 1 This Year: 30 percent

Antti Niemi: Dallas Stars

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The Incumbent

Kari Lehtonen is 32 years old. He's in the third year of a five-year contract that carries a cap hit of $5.9 million per season.

19 GP, 12-3-0, .907 save percentage, 2.85 goals-against average, 1 shutout.

The Challenger

Antti Niemi is 32 years old. He is in the first year of a three-year deal he signed as an unrestricted free agent, which carries a cap hit of $4.5 million per season.

27 GP, 16-6-4, .918 save percentage, 2.28 goals-against average, 3 shutouts.

The Situation

As part of their push to become one of the NHL's elite teams and a true Stanley Cup contender, the Dallas Stars acquired Cup-winner Antti Niemi from San Jose to share goaltending duties with their highly paid incumbent, Lehtonen.

The Stars have been such a dynamic offensive force this season that the netminding has skated along without too much scrutiny. It's interesting to note that even though Niemi has played more games and boasts the better numbers, Lehtonen has recorded just three losses all year.

The Stars will likely continue to split the work for a while yet. By March, head coach Lindy Ruff will start to tip his hand with respect to who he'll use in the playoffs. If both goalies are healthy and playing reasonably well, I suspect Niemi will only be called upon if Lehtonen falters.

Chance He'll Become No. 1 This Year: 35 percent

Michal Neuvirth: Philadelphia Flyers

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The Incumbent

Steve Mason is 27 years old and is in the second year of a three-year contract with a cap hit of $4.1 million per season.

23 GP, 7-10-5, .910 save percentage, 2.85 goals-against average, 2 shutouts.

The Challenger

Michal Neuvirth is 27 years old and is in the first year of a two-year contract with a cap hit of $1.625 million per season.

17 GP, 8-5-2, .937 save percentage, 2.06 goals-against average, 3 shutouts.

The Situation

Though he barely earns one-third as much money as starter Steve Mason, new arrival Neuvirth has shown that he can hold his own in the Philadelphia Flyers' net since he was signed as an unrestricted free agent last summer.

Since both goaltenders are signed through next season, Neuvirth's emergence makes it likely that we'll see a 1A/1B situation, where the two goalies split duties fairly evenly for the rest of the year.

Chance He'll Become No. 1 This Year: 40 percent

Jacob Markstrom: Vancouver Canucks

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The Incumbent

Ryan Miller is 35 years old and is in the second year of a three-year contract with a cap hit of $6 million per season.

28 GP, 10-11-6, .909 save percentage, 2.74 goals-against average, 1 shutout.

The Challenger

Jacob Markstrom is 25 years old and is in the first year of a two-year contract with a cap hit of $1.55 million per season.

13 GP, 4-4-3, .921 save percentage, 2.44 goals-against average.

The Situation

After Markstrom delivered an all-star 2014-15 season with the Utica Comets in the AHL, Vancouver Canucks general manager Jim Benning traded away fan favourite Eddie Lack to make room for Markstrom as the team's new backup. If all went well, the thinking was that he'd eventually be ready to step into the No. 1 spot.

Markstrom missed the first month of the new season due to a hamstring injury but has improved as he has gotten more ice time. He's 3-1 since Miller suffered a groin injury on December 22 and has allowed just one goal in each of the three wins.

Fighting for a playoff spot in the tight Pacific Division, the Canucks will need every point they can muster during the second half of the season. If Markstrom outperforms Miller when the veteran gets back in the lineup, the torch may be passed.

Chance He'll Become No. 1 This Year: 50 percent

Anders Nilsson: Edmonton Oilers

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The (Presumed) Incumbent

Cam Talbot is 28 years old and is in the second year of a two-year contract with a cap hit of $1.45 million per season.

21 GP, 6-11-2, .906 save percentage, 2.91 goals-against average.

The Challenger

Anders Nilsson is 25 years old. He is on a one-year contract with a cap hit of $1 million.

22 GP, 10-10-1, .908 save percentage, 2.91 goals-against average.

The Situation

After the Edmonton Oilers gave up three draft picks to the New York Rangers for Talbot to be their new No. 1 goaltender for the 2015-16 season, general manager Peter Chiarelli hedged his bets when he also picked up Nilsson from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for unheralded prospect Liam Coughlin.

Nilsson outperformed Ben Scrivens in training camp to claim an NHL job and has pushed Talbot all season long. The two netminders have virtually identical performance numbers, but Nilsson holds the edge in the win column. He was at his best when he reeled off five straight wins during the first half of December, but he has since gone cold.

Talbot is an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season, while Nilsson will be restricted. Unless Talbot gets red-hot in the second half, expect to see the Oilers allow Nilsson to take the No. 1 role, setting the stage for a return next season.

Chance He'll Become No. 1 This Year: 60 percent

Eddie Lack: Carolina Hurricanes

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The Incumbent

Cam Ward is 31 years old. He's in the last year of a six-year contract with a cap hit of $6.3 million per season.

27 GP, 11-11-3, .900 save percentage, 2.52 goals-against average, 1 shutout.

The Challenger

Eddie Lack is 27 years old. He is in the second year of a two-year contract with a cap hit of $1.15 million per season. Lack has already signed a two-year contract extension to take effect in the 2016-17 season, which carries a cap hit of $2.75 million per season.

15 GP, 5-6-3, .892 save percentage, 2.96 goals-against average.

The Situation

At first glance, the statistics of the Carolina Hurricanes' two goaltenders would seem to indicate that Ward remains the clear No. 1 as he approaches unrestricted free agency next summer.

But the tide is turning. After a terrible start to his tenure in Raleigh, Lack has turned things around. The affable Swede has started three of the Hurricanes' last four games, allowing a total of just five goals.

In six starts dating back to December 11, Lack is 4-0-2, while Ward is 2-3 in five games played during that same span.

The summer of 2016 will mark 10 years since the then-22-year-old Ward won the Conn Smythe Trophy and the Hurricanes captured the Stanley Cup. The shift is moving toward a new era, where Lack will likely become Carolina's next No. 1 netminder and Ward will move on.

Chance He'll Become No. 1 This Year: 70 percent

John Gibson: Anaheim Ducks

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The Incumbent

Frederik Andersen is 26 years old and is in the second year of a two-year contract with a cap hit of $1.15 million per season.

20 GP, 5-8-5, .913 save percentage, 2.49 goals-against average.

The Challenger

John Gibson is 22 years old and is in the third year of his entry-level contract, with a cap hit of $721,666 per season. He has already signed a three-year contract extension with a cap hit of $2.3 million per season, which will take effect in 2016-17.

15 GP, 8-4-2, .932 save percentage, 1.63 goals-against average, 4 shutouts.

The Situation

Andersen went 20-5-0 as a rookie with the Anaheim Ducks in 2013-14, but his performance dipped slightly in two subsequent seasons. He's being treated as a placeholder until star prospect John Gibson is ready to assume the starter's role.

Gibson began his 2015-16 season in the AHL but quickly established himself as Anaheim's go-to netminder after being recalled in late November. He has started 15 of his team's last 18 games, helped the Ducks climb back into the Pacific Division playoff picture and closed out 2015 with back-to-back 1-0 shutout wins over the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers.

Chance He'll Become No. 1 This Year: 80 percent

Petr Mrazek: Detroit Red Wings

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The Incumbent

Jimmy Howard earns the title of "incumbent" based on his age, his salary and his no-trade clause. Howard is 31, is in the third year of a six-year contract with a cap hit of $5.291 million per season and can submit a list of 10 teams to whom he would refuse to be traded, according to General Fanager.

17 GP, 7-5-4, .910 save percentage, 2.66 goals-against average, 1 shutout.

The Challenger

Petr Mrazek was Detroit's preferred option during the 2015 playoffs and continues to outperform Howard despite their wildly differing status levels. Mrazek is 23 and is playing on a one-year contract with a cap hit of $737,500. He'll be a restricted free agent this summer.

25 GP, 12-8-3, .924, 2.34 goals-against average, 1 shutout.

The Situation

Howard and Mrazek are supposed to be splitting goaltending duties in Detroit, but Mrazek is holding the edge in performance, despite being lower on the contractual totem pole. Even after the departure of highly respected coach Mike Babcock, the Red Wings continue to confound the doubters by icing a competitive team that looks poised to make its 25th consecutive playoff appearance in April.

Howard's status won't officially change, but as games become more important, look for Mrazek to once again earn the more crucial assignments. Assuming he stays healthy, that'll make him No. 1 in my book by the time the playoffs start.

Chance He'll Become No. 1 This Year: 90 percent

All stats from NHL.com, current through January 3 games. Contract information from General Fanager.