NHL heading in the right direction with rare goaltenders

"From Roger Crozier to Tony Esposito to Grant Fuhr, some of the best goaltenders in the game's history were right-handed. Offering a different angle to shooters, these goaltenders often had the upper hand because players rarely saw them. The game evolved to where they were seen more regularly and started to make a name for themselves."

"Charlie Lindgren and Logan Thompson of the Washington Capitals, Yaroslav Askarov of the San Jose Sharks, Karel Vejmelka of the Utah Mammoth, and Brandon Bussi of the Carolina Hurricanes are the five goaltenders in the NHL who catch with their right hand who are having extraordinary seasons but are not talked about enough."

"Vejmelka is 28-18-2 with a .902 save percentage and a 2.63 goals against average. He is second in wins (28), shots against (1,207), and saves (1,087). Bussi and Vejmelka could get Vezina votes after the season is over."

Right-handed goaltenders have historically provided unique advantages due to their rarity, with legends like Roger Crozier, Tony Esposito, and Grant Fuhr exemplifying this position's potential. Currently, five right-handed netminders are performing exceptionally well but remain underrecognized: Charlie Lindgren and Logan Thompson of Washington, Yaroslav Askarov of San Jose, Karel Vejmelka of Utah, and Brandon Bussi of Carolina. Thompson and Lindgren combined for a .897 save percentage, while Vejmelka leads with 28 wins and a .902 save percentage. Askarov demonstrates strong performance despite San Jose's struggles. Vejmelka and Bussi stand out as potential Vezina Trophy candidates, suggesting the NHL may be experiencing renewed appreciation for right-handed goaltenders.

Read at Puck Prose