Goalies Stock Watch: George, Lacelle making the most of opportunities with new teams
A lot has happened since the last goalie's stock watch: many leagues’ trade and transfer deadlines have come and passed, as have events such as the World Juniors. Meanwhile, the Olympics and the NHL trade deadline are just right around the corner.
Some goaltenders have benefitted from recent changes in their environment, including the likes of William Lacelle and Carter George, who is seemingly using the move and poor performance at the World Juniors as fuel as he chases his last chance at an OHL ring. Meanwhile, other goaltenders, like Arseni Radkov, have yet to settle into a groove.
Let’s take a look at some of the goalies who’ve really proven themselves since the last article:
Stock Rising 📈
William Lacelle, G, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (2026 NHL Draft)
No goaltender has benefitted from a change of scenery more than William Lacelle this season, as he left the rebuilding Rimouski Océanic, who were averaging nearly 40 shots against per game by the end of his tenure, to the contending Blainville-Boisbriand Armada.
This move has caused his stats to skyrocket, now maintaining a .949 save percentage and a 7-1-1 record since joining the Armada. Not all of his statistical gains have been from the improved environment, as Lacelle has made some key changes that have certainly contributed to his recent success.
Here’s what Liam Crouse had to say in his January 3rd report, just ahead of the trade:
“He has found a more consistent stance as the season has gone on that compensates for his smaller size by employing wider legs, while maintaining an impressive degree of mobility that does not hinder his agility and power. This allows him to cover the corners much better while keeping a decently upright chest.”
Should he continue his exceptional play, there’s no doubt that Lacelle could be poised to make a late push up our boards, especially as the Armada are set for what should be a long and potentially fruitful playoff run.
Carter George, G, Soo Greyhounds (Los Angeles Kings)
After a disappointing performance at the World Juniors and with his Owen Sound Attack seeming to be once again a fringe playoff team, Carter George was in dire need of a change in scenery. Luckily for him, George was dealt at the deadline to the Soo Greyhounds and really hasn’t looked back.
Since making the move, the Los Angeles Kings prospect has amassed a .940 save percentage with a 6-1-2 record and even notched his second career goal – the most by a goaltender in OHL history. He’s looked the part, too, with his positioning and composure looking like high-end traits once again.
From my game report from his February 1st start against the Brantford Bulldogs:
“He played a very composed and anticipatory game. Rarely had to make big movements thanks to his strong positional discipline and effective use of micro-adjustments when following the play. These aspects made him so effective at taking away the bottom of the ice. Despite his composure being so good, you can tell he's a battler too, moving with intention and getting into some rough stuff with an opponent in his crease.”
Carter George is back to playing like the same Carter George who thrived at the 2025 World Juniors, the one who looked completely dialed in his two-game stint with the Ontario Reign, and the one who is on pace to be the future of the Los Angeles Kings’ between the pipes.
Connor Ungar, G, Bakersfield Condors (Edmonton Oilers)
It turns out that Brock University might, in fact, be a goalie factory, as not long after housing future Olympian Logan Thompson, Edmonton Oilers prospect Connor Ungar might be the next man up from the USports program. In his second season pro, Ungar has been a force to be reckoned with. He boasted a .944 save percentage across three teams in the ECHL before making the jump to the AHL, where he’s been equally as hot with a .946 over nine games with Bakersfield.
Ungar is a cerebral goaltender whose tracking and play reading are the basis of his game. While he isn’t the most flexible goaltender in the world, his skating and extreme level of compete have allowed him to consistently make those back-door stops when other goalies of his profile just couldn’t.
While he just turned 24 last month, his development curve is exciting and seems to project him as more of a late bloomer. As it stands right now, I do see an NHL profile with Ungar, one that could potentially get him to that of a backup goaltender, and given the goaltending woes in Edmonton, he should likely get an opportunity to prove himself as soon as next season.
Juuso Ainasto, G, Jokerit U20 (2026 NHL Draft)
Only making his U20-SM-sarja debut in late November, Juuso Ainasto has quickly risen on our boards, cementing himself as the top goaltending prospect out of Finland for the NHL draft, and appearing at 48th overall on our most recent draft rankings.
Jokerit has proven to be a trial by fire for the young goaltender, facing plenty of high-danger chances, and Ainasto has only looked sharper with each passing game. Standing at 6-foot-4 and boasting good explosiveness and exceptional compete has allowed him to consistently make bailout stops at his backdoor on cross-crease plays. Additionally, Ainasto is a master at maximizing his frame when facing shots directly, framing himself exceptionally while gaining depth. Furthermore, his improvements in play reading and tracking since making the jump have only made his profile even more promising as he’s continued to get more reps and now has earned a tandem role on the team.
While most of the team has been high on Ainasto, David Phillips has had some reservations about his game so far, as seen in his December 20th report:
“His low stance mixed in with lower-than-average tracking results in a lot of shots beating him high above the shoulders. This tracking flaw also results in a lot of rebounds popping out of his pads, where other goalies would deflect them to the corner out of danger with the stick.”
Honourable Mentions: Josh Fleming (Free agent), Matthew Humphries (2026 NHL Draft), Elliot Lennon (2026 NHL Draft), Anders Miller (2025 NHL Draft re-entry), Tyler Muszelik (Florida Panthers), Martin Neckar (2023 NHL Draft re-entry), Ilja Nikitins (2027 NHL Draft), Kale Osipenko (2027 NHL Draft), John Parsons (2024 NHL Draft re-entry), Alexandre Raymond (2026 NHL Draft), Kim Saarinen (Seattle Kraken), Hugo Severgårdh (2025 NHL Draft re-entry)
Stock Steady ↔️
Michal Postava, G, Grand Rapids Griffins (Detroit Red Wings)
I’m sure even Detroit’s own pro scouts are surprised at just how good undrafted free agent signing Michal Postava has been for the Grand Rapids Griffins–having gone 8-2-0 over his first 12 AHL games and collecting a .940 save percentage, all in his rookie season.
The 23-year-old netminder is only 6-foot-2, but is very effective at making himself larger by cutting down on shooting angles and keeping his hands engaged. His hands in particular are a standout trait of his, directing rebounds, if not catching pucks, consistently. His x-factor has been his ability to seal the net in tight and along the post.
I think there still remain some questions with Postava’s game. Namely, his lack of standout skating or athleticism has prevented him from making the bailout stops that higher-end NHL goaltenders will be expected to make. Additionally, there remain questions about where exactly he’ll fit in an organization where Sebastian Cossa, who has also been exceptional this season, should make the full-time jump to the NHL next season, and one with fellow blue-chip Trey Augustine in the pipeline. For now, though, they are riding the Postava wave.
Stock Falling 📉
Damian Clara, G, Brynäs IF (Anaheim Ducks)
It feels as though, since his 2023-24 season with Brynäs IF in HockeyAllsvenskan, Damian Clara has yet to truly settle in. A move last year to the SHL’s Färjestad BK proved to be too much, posting a league-lowest .879 over 21 games and getting a stint back at the Under-20 level before getting loaned to Finland and even playing a couple games with the AHL’s San Diego Gulls. This season was supposed to be one for the now 21-year-old to build off of as he’d return to Brynäs, which now sits in the SHL, and was in prime position to battle for the role of starting goaltender for Team Italy at the Olympics.
Now just days away from the Olympics, and it’s clear this season has been a bit of a throwaway for the young goaltender. In the SHL, the Brunico, Italy native has averaged just 19 saves per game according to InStat Hockey with an .888 save percentage over 30 games this season. With his flat play and the rise of fellow Italian goaltender Davide Fadani, who is tied for sixth in the Swiss National League in save percentage with a .922 over 24 games in just his rookie season, it’s likely Clara has also lost his chance to start in Milano/Cortina.
Clara remains still an interesting prospect; playing a starter’s workload in one of the top European professional leagues at just 21 while standing at 6-foot-6. Especially one with decent skating and athleticism. However, he still over-relies on sliding into saves, leading to rebounds, and remains late to reacting to passes and shots as his tracking and anticipation remain underdeveloped.
Alexei Medvedev, G, London Knights (Vancouver Canucks)
Last season, one of the big criticisms for Alexei Medvedev was whether Medvedev was truly ‘that good’ or whether he was a product of a sheltered environment in London, one that propelled his goalie partner, Austin Elliott, to an unheard of 32-1-0 record. As the Knights’ key pieces have mostly graduated to the NCAA or pro, the Knights have entered a rare retooling phase as they look to build towards the future.
As a result, Medvedev has been privy to a much harsher and harder workload this season, and has mostly struggled because of it. Teams have found success shooting through screens on him as he struggles with tracking through traffic, and his positioning lapses have been exploited as he has a tendency to overshoot on pushes and neglect to make micro-adjustments or re-adjust his angle. Medvedev also tends to drop his hands, giving up more room up high in his butterfly.
Despite his stock falling a bit, I don’t think this season has affected my perception of him as a piece for the Vancouver Canucks to build around in net and as a potential starting goaltender of the future. Furthermore, I don’t think even his stats have been that bad, given just the sheer amount of higher danger chances he’s faced. 2025-26 has proven to be a rather lateral year for development, one he can afford as one of the youngest players from the 2025 NHL draft class; however, one can hope he finally takes that next step next season.