NHL goalies are some of the most powerful athletes in sports.
They can be the reason a goal is or is not scored, the deciding force between victory and defeat. They can rescue a teammate from a defensive miscue, or paper over holes in the lineup. They can be the reason a coach keeps his job or the reason he no longer has one.
Strong goaltending can infuse a team with confidence. Having weak goaltending is like building a contender on a foundation made of oatmeal.
Here is the NHL Goaltender Confidence Index, just under two months into the 2021-22 season.