2015-16 Ducks Positional Preview: Goalies

Frederik Andersen

2014-15 Stats: 35-12-5, 2.38 GAA, .914 save percentage, 3 shutouts

Trending: Even

Reasoning: Andersen's first full season as an NHL No. 1 goalie was, all things considered, a solid one. After claiming the starting position outright shortly after the season began, Freddie consistently put forth strong performances night after night with the exception of a losing streak in November. During a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Freddie got taken out by the goal he fought to defend, and was shelved for just about the entire month of February. Upon his return, he had a month and some change to get hot for the playoffs, and he continued his strong play throughout the first two rounds at the expense of the Winnipeg Jets and the Calgary Flames. Unfortunately, Freddie faltered a bit in the Western Final against the Chicago Blackhawks, and although he had very good outings in Games 1-3, he failed to keep his save percentage anywhere in the 90s for the final four games, including an unimpressive .808 in Game 7.

Despite the poor finish to last year's postseason, #31 is firmly locked in as the Ducks' top guy in the crease this season. With high expectations surrounding the team, and Gibson recently being awarded a contract extension, the 26-year-old Dane understands what is expected of him if he wants to be re-upped after his deal expires at the end of this season.

Anton Khudobin

2014-15 Stats: Carolina Hurricanes: 8-17-6, 2.72 GAA, .900 save percentage, 1 shutout

Trending: Down

Reasoning: Looking to avoid a repeat of last year when the Ducks had to rely on Jason LaBarbera and past-his-prime Ilya Bryzgalov, Bob Murray brought in Khudobin from the Hurricanes in exchange for James Wisniewski. Although Khudobin has solid career numbers (2.40 GAA, .919 save percentage), his last go-round with the Canes wasn't exactly inspiring, especially because, from a shots allowed standpoint, Carolina had one of the best defenses in the NHL last season. To Khudobin's credit, though, he has looked phenomenal in the preseason, turning aside 67 out of 69 shots over the course of three games against San Jose, Los Angeles, and Colorado. Regardless, he wasn't acquired as potential competition to Andersen, but for insurance purposes should Anaheim find themselves facing another goalie fiasco similar to last year's. Unless circumstances suddenly thrust him into the limelight and he runs away with such an opportunity, this could very well be Khudobin's only year in a Ducks jersey.

John Gibson

2014-15 Stats: Anaheim Ducks: 13-8-0, 2.60 GAA, .914 save percentage, 0 shutouts; Norfolk Admirals (AHL): 6-3-2, 2.07 GAA, .935 GAA, 1 shutout

Trending: Even

Reasoning: Gibby's a tricky one to give an accurate trending direction to; it's easy to say he took a step back when you look at the fact that he was the Ducks' starter a year ago for their season opener in Pittsburgh and he's not on their opening day roster today. The potential combination of Khudobin's arrival in Anaheim plus Gibson's sometimes concerning rebound control is likely what ultimately sent him down to San Diego to start the year. However, with a recent three-year extension now in the books, the franchise still has the utmost confidence in him moving forward. This 'demotion', if you want to call it that, should be viewed as another development opportunity for Gibson, but with the strong numbers he's posted in the AHL over the last couple years, he'll likely get a few more games in a Ducks jersey under his belt this year.

Matt Hackett

2014-15 Stats: Buffalo Sabres: 0-4-1, 4.32 GAA, .884 save percentage, 0 shutouts; Rochester Americans (AHL): 8-5-3, 2.76 GAA, .904 save percentage, 0 shutouts

Trending: Down

Reasoning: Simply put, Hackett doesn't have a good track record at the NHL level. In four seasons with the Minnesota Wild and Buffalo Sabres the 25-year-old netminder holds a 4-17-2 record. His numbers in the AHL aren't anything to get excited about either, as his save percentage with Rochester has been floating around 90%. Although he hasn't won often with the big teams, he still brings a few years of experience with him to San Diego, where he will hope to revitalize his career. Otherwise, he may find himself packing his bags and heading elsewhere when the season, and his contract, run their course.

Ryan Faragher

2014-15 Stats: Norfolk Admirals (AHL): 4-9-1, 2.57 GAA, .901 save percentage, 1 shutout; Utah Grizzlies (ECHL): 10-8-3, 2.72 GAA, .908 save percentage, 1 shutout

Trending: Up

Reasoning: Faragher still has a ways to go before he makes his way into the show. For now, he still needs to find his way in the ECHL with Utah. After solid junior and senior seasons with the St. Cloud State Huskies in Minnesota after a statistically unimpressive sophomore year (in which he still got his team to within a game of the Frozen Four), it's not out of the question to expect some improvement from Faragher again at the next level after a year of getting acquainted with a different level of play. Similar to Gibson's situation, Faragher will likely spend the majority of the year in West Valley City with the occasional call-up to San Diego if need be.

Garrett Metcalf

2014-15 Stats: Madison Capitols (USHL): 10-12-4, 3.26 GAA, .911 save percentage, 1 shutout

Trending: Up

Reasoning: Metcalf and his team, the Madison Capitols, are both coming off their inaugural seasons in the country's most elite junior league. Despite splitting time in the crease with Darren Smith (who actually played in seven more games), Metcalf was the one who found his name getting called at the 2015 draft. Now that Smith has left Wisconsin to begin his college career at Ferris State University in Michigan, Metcalf looks to be the go-to guy in the crease for the MadCaps. Unfortunately, he's off to a very ugly start this season with an 8.02 GAA and .809 save percentage after two games. For now, he'll have to avoid surrendering his spot to backup Ryan Edquist, but with this being Metcalf's last year in juniors before heading off to the University of Massachusetts-Lowell, he should be able to right the ship as he prepares for the NCAA level.