1. Tuukka Rask - Boston Bruins
Rask has proven over the past few years that he is the best and most consistent goaltender in the NHL. He is the main reason why his Boston Bruins are considered to be a favorite to win the Stanley Cup in 2014-15.
Believe it or not, 2013-14 was Rask's first full year as a starting goaltender in the NHL, but he did so well in regular and postseason play that he has earned the right to be crowned the NHL's best keeper. In fact, he split time with Tim Thomas as the team's starter back in 2009-10 and led hockey in goals against average and save percentage.
Rask had a stunning 2.04 goals against average and .930 save percentage last season, adding to his career numbers of an overall 2.11 goals against average and .911 save percentage.
2. Henrik Lundqvist - New York Rangers
The King has not lost any luster, but he struggled a little bit during the regular season last year. Well, for his standards at least. The 32-year-old only had a 2.36 goals against average and .920 save percentage.
Oh wait, those are still superstar-caliber numbers, aren't they?
Lundqvist has been so good over the course of his career that any season in which he is not a Vezina Trophy candidate seems like a failure to most fans.
Low and behold, King Henrik returned to his old self in the playoffs and led his Rangers all the way to the Stanley Cup Final.
3. Cory Schneider - New Jersey Devils
At this point next year, we could be saying Schneider is the best goalie in the world. The only reason he is at No. 3 here is because of how good the two guys in front of him are.
Last year was Schneider's first year as an anointed starter, but he did only play in 45 of 82 games. Nonetheless, he was unbelievable in his first year as a New Jersey Devil. It was the second time in three seasons that he gave up an average of less than two goals per game. He also saved over 92% of shots directed at him for the fourth straight year.
This year, expect Schneider to become a household name and a candidate for the Vezina Trophy.
4. Sergei Bobrovsky - Columbus Blue Jackets
The 2013 Vezina Trophy winner quietly followed up his historic year with another great one in 2013-14. Some wondered if he would drop off since 2013 was a lockout-shortened season in which he played only 38 games, but he did not miss a beat.
Despite battling injuries for a small chunk of the season, the man known as Bob led his Columbus Blue Jackets to a surprising playoff appearance and gave the Pittsburgh Penguins quite a scare in the first round.
5. Jimmy Howard - Detroit Red Wings
Howard had an off-year in 2013-14 and battled injuries on and off, but he can be one of the NHL's most underrated goaltenders if he returns healthy.
In both the 2011-12 and 2013 seasons, Howard finished with a 2.13 goals against average. At 30 years of age, he is more than capable of duplicating these numbers again.
6. Carey Price - Montreal Canadiens
Carey Price had easily the best season of his NHL career in 2013-14 and was a huge part of Montreal's run to the playoffs, but do not overrate him as he should be expected to come back down to earth this season.
Price is still a well-above-average NHL goaltender, but his 2.32 goals against average and .927 save percentage were not reflective of what we have seen from him over time.
It is possible that he broke out of his shell (albeit a little later on than others) and could become one of the NHL's elite goaltenders, but take Price's 2013-14 performance with a grain of salt.
7. Ben Bishop - Tampa Bay Lightning
6-foot-7 Ben Bishop used his size to be one of the best goalies in hockey last year, posting a 2.23 goals against average and .924 save percentage.
After Tampa Bay superstar Steven Stamkos went down with an injury, Bishop put the team on his back and carried them to the postseason.
The issue with Bishop is that before last season, he played in only 43 total NHL games - spread out over a span of four years.
Could Bishop's performance in 2013-14 have been beginner's luck? A fluke? We will soon find out.
8. Jaroslav Halak - New York Islanders
2013 was a horrible season for Halak, but he bounced back last season and played like he was known to in Montreal and St. Louis throughout his career. He has a career goals against average of 2.38 and save percentage of .918, but his numbers were even better than average last year in his age-28 season.
His numbers could take a dip this season as he is now a member of the New York Islanders - a team much more defensively-challenged than the Blues - however, he looked pretty solid in twelve games with the Washington Capitals at the end of last season.
9. Roberto Luongo - Florida Panthers
The man known as Strombone on Twitter is back in the Sunshine State, as the long-time Vancouver Canuck was traded to the Florida Panthers last season.
At 35 years of age, Luongo is no longer the elite goaltender that he used to be, but he can still be productive between the pipes for a young and poised Florida team.
10. Marc-Andre Fleury - Pittsburgh Penguins
Fleury is still a solid goalie, but his career stats look better than they should since he hs been the benificiary of a perennial Stanley Cup contender that normally does not face too much pressure in its defensive end.
He is guaranteed to get a huge amount of wins again this season if he remains healthy, but his overall performance will not be much to marvel at and impatient fans in Pittsburgh could call for backup Thomas Greiss to get the start if Fleury falters.
11. Braden Holtby - Washington Capitals
The Caps have been looking for a legitimate starting goaltender for years, but it looks as if they will have to settle with Holtby between the pipes again.
Holtby has shown signs of a productive NHL goaltender, but he has been fairly inconsistent over the course of his young career thus far.
However, with a new defensive-minded head coach in Barry Trotz and a revamped blue line in D.C., Holtby could see a major improvement in his numbers this season.
12. Steve Mason - Philadelphia Flyers
Like Holtby, Mason has shown signs of being a solid NHL goalie, but his inconsistencies have hindered him from being considered a reliable netminder.
On a positive note, in his year and a half in Philadelphia, a spot where good goalies normally go to die, he has been stellar, posting a 2.44 goals against average and .920 save percentage in 68 games.
Can he keep up this pace? If so, a return to the playoffs may be on the horizon for the Flyers.
13. Jonathan Bernier - Toronto Maple Leafs
Bernier was great as a backup in Los Angeles, but his first year as a starter for the Maple Leafs proved more challenging. Some of it was to blame on the downgrade on defense from the Kings to the Leafs (Bernier posted an identical save percentage in 2013-14 as he did in 2013, but his goals against average last season was nearly a full point higher), but he was just plain inconsistent.
It seems pretty clear that Bernier deserves the starting nod over James Reimer, but he will be kept on a short leash.
14. Craig Anderson - Ottawa Senators
Anderson was phenomenal in 2013, but that was a lockout-shortened season...and he missed half of it with an injury. Last year, he came back down to earth.
He gave up an average of exactly three goals per game last season and, while his numbers seem like they have to be a little bit better this season, his best days are behind him at age 33.
15. Jhonas Enroth - Buffalo Sabres
Not much is known about what Enroth is capable of, but he has not been overly remarkable in his time as the backup in Buffalo.
This year as the team's solidified starter in goal, Enroth could start performing well with more job security.
16. Cam Ward - Carolina Hurricanes
Ward's glory days are behind him as he has struggled with injuries and inconsistency in the past few seasons. Rumors floated around that Carolina was looking to trade him, but he will still be wearing the Hurricane logo on his chest at the start of the season.
Backup Anton Khudobin could be poised to take over the starter's job if he out-performs Ward.