Welcome to The Athletic’s annual goalie mask power rankings, in which we admire the most artistic equipment on the ice and determine which are the best of the best.

A goalie’s mask is one of the few remaining pieces of real estate used for personal expression in pro sports. Skaters take the ice every night with corporate logos pasted on their helmets, but for now, the netminders’ masks remain works of pure expression, and that’s worth celebrating.

Our writers scoured the NHL and selected the best goalie mask on each team, then ranked them from 1 to 32.

The goalie needed to play at least one game in the NHL this season. For the overall rankings, we averaged our three-person panel’s personal rankings. In the event that there were multiple masks with the same average, the tiebreaker went to the mask with the highest individual ranking.

This may be the strongest overall group of masks we’ve seen since we began this exercise in 2023. Without further ado, goalie mask power rankings, working up to the best:

32. Jonathan Quick, Rangers (painted by David Gunnarsson)

Granger: 31; Goldman: 31; Gentille: 31
Average: 31.00

Graphic via DaveArt on Instagram

Jesse Granger: In an exceptionally strong year, Quick’s centennial design comes in last, but it’s still a good-looking mask. The colors match New York’s 100th-year anniversary jerseys well and create a throwback look along with Quick’s vintage Vaughn pads. The retired numbers along the sides are also a nice touch.

Shayna Goldman: Classic doesn’t have to mean boring!

31. Jordan Binnington, Blues (painted by David Gunnarsson)

Granger: 32; Goldman: 28; Gentille: 32
Average: 30.67

Graphic via DaveArt on Instagram

Goldman: It just feels really generic and lacks any sort of personalization other than the number 50. It’s way more fun to see a goalie bold with their design and completely miss than to see a total lack of creativity. Even just going with a blue or gold cage here would have elevated this look. I’m bored!

Sean Gentille: I wonder if the Oilers mask he wears next season will have a silver medal on the side.

30. Spencer Knight, Blackhawks (painted by David Gunnarsson)

Granger: 29; Goldman: 29; Gentille: 30
Average: 29.33

Graphic via DaveArt on Instagram

Granger: Knight’s mask is a bit on the generic side, and I’m not a huge fan of how the feathers just cut off halfway down. That said, the stripes at the top of the mask look great from a distance, so this design shines most on the live broadcast camera angle.

29. Anton Forsberg, Kings (painted by Dave Fried)

Granger: 24; Goldman: 26; Gentille: 28
Average: 26.00

Graphic via Dave Fried on Instagram

Granger: This is one of my favorite Kings masks in a while. The combination of the crown and wings on the top are cool, as are the tributes to Kings Hall of Famers Wayne Gretzky and Rogie Vachon. There’s a lot going on in the bottom half, but the crown of the mask looks great in action.

28. Dan Vladar, Flyers (painted by Franny Drummond)

Granger: 19; Goldman: 30; Gentille: 26
Average: 25.00

Photos via PaintZoo on Instagram

Granger: Vladar is showing off his inner metalhead with this beauty. The only downside is, you have to be close in order to appreciate this mask, but the details are great. The murals of the Metallica members blend perfectly into the Flyers logo on top, and the iconic Iron Maiden art looks like an album cover. I think my favorite part is “Philadelphia” in the Metallica font on top.

27. Justus Annunen, Predators (painted by David Gunnarsson)

Granger: 28; Goldman: 23; Gentille: 22
Average: 24.33

Graphic via DaveArt on Instagram

Granger: I was the lowest of the panel on this mask, mostly because I just feel like we’ve seen different versions of this same mask in Nashville for years. I love the concept of using a skeleton of a saber-toothed tiger, but I just wish it were a little scarier and less cartoonish.

Goldman: I almost feel like I would have liked this more as a Saros mask, because it fits the general vibe he’s gone with over the years. Justus, create your own lane a little here!

26. Joel Blomqvist, Penguins (painted by David Gunnarsson)

Granger: 26; Goldman: 24; Gentille: 21
Average: 23.67

Graphic via DaveArt on Instagram

Gentille: Marvel movies stopped interesting me sometime in 2021, but I still appreciate this one. Hometown bias? Who can say. The points mainly come from the idea; the design itself is overly busy and short on contrast, which makes the Iron ‘Guin is a little tough to make out. Also, the strap placement is rough.

25. Elvis Merzlikins, Blue Jackets (painted by Sylvie Marsolaise)

Granger: 23; Goldman: 27; Gentille: 20
Average: 23.33

Photos by Sebastien Gervais

Granger: It’s Spider-Man, who happens to have the perfect color combination to match the Columbus Blue Jackets. The best part about this mask is how the colors pop from afar, especially on the live broadcast angles. It’s not apparently clear what the design is, but it stands out on TV.

24. Lukas Dostal, Ducks (painted by Noah Ennis)

Granger: 21; Goldman: 25; Gentille: 22
Average: 22.67

Photos courtesy of AnaheimDucks on X

Granger: This mask was designed by Dostal and Offspring guitarist Kevin “Noodles” Wasserman for Anaheim’s themed “Come Out & Play Night” on Feb. 3, and they did some really nice work. Dostal always wanted a mask with a skull, and the Offspring logo, combined with a flaming Wild Wing on the side, is pretty fly.

23. Connor Ingram, Oilers (painted by Noah Ennis)

Granger: 30; Goldman: 22; Gentille: 14
Average: 22.00

Graphic via ShellShockCo on Instagram

Gentille: For whatever reason, TikTok has started serving me videos of people doing colored-pencil drawings. Typically, it’s the same item, done four times with increasing complexity — a “beginner to expert” sort of thing. 1) I love them. 2) This would be the third drawing in the series.

Goldman: I love the concept of this mask and how it looks straight on, but I just don’t love it on the ice with the home sweaters. As an away mask? No notes.

22. David Rittich, Islanders (painted by David Gunnarsson)

Granger: 27; Goldman: 19; Gentille: 19
Average: 21.67

Graphic via DaveArt on Instagram

Goldman: The fisherman era may not generate the best memories on Long Island, but this is a really fun take on it to add some personality to Rittich’s helmet. It feels really fresh and the multi-tonal blue ocean (and lighthouse) detailing is sharp here, and obviously super fitting for the Islanders.

21. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Sabres (painted by David Gunnarsson)

Granger: 22; Goldman: 12; Gentille: 29
Average: 21.00

Graphic via DaveArt on Instagram

Goldman: I really like how this integrates the goat head energy, that I think all of us absolutely love about the Sabres, into their home kits. The red eyes really tie it all together, along with the horns that are actually pretty subtle. I also really like the full-helmet commitment to this design, instead of trying to cram too many ideas together; the consistency of the icicle border with the ice teeth adds to the flow of it all.

Gentille: I wanted to like this one, but I still don’t quite know what I’m looking at.

20. Logan Thompson, Capitals (painted by Dave Fried)

Granger: 17; Goldman: 20; Gentille: 25
Average: 20.67

Graphic via Dave Fried on Instagram

Granger: Thompson paid tribute to several Capitals greats with this mask to match Washington’s screaming eagle jersey. Tom Wilson made the cut, prominently placed on the backplate. Thompson used a photo of Wilson’s horrifically swollen face after he was hit in the face by a Jakob Chychrun shot on Dec. 7, 2024.

19. Filip Gustavsson, Wild (painted by Noah Ennis)

Granger: 25; Goldman: 18; Gentille: 16
Average: 19.67

Graphic via ShellShockCo on Instagram

Gentille: Would I call myself a “Bigfoot guy”? I would not. However, I dabble in cryptozoology enough to know that Northern Minnesota is a hotbed, so I appreciate Gustavsson paying homage to the big fella. If the rendering looked a little less like King Kong, I’d rank it even higher.

Granger: This design feels like it’s from a bygone era, and I like that.

18. Leevi Merilainen, Senators (painted by Sylvie Marsolaise)

Granger: 18; Goldman: 14; Gentille: 23
Average: 18.33

Photos by Sebastien Gervais

Goldman: I actually had this one rated worse on my first pass, but upon further review, the commitment to a theme earns a lot of points. Merilainen’s mask goes full Roman-general themed and leans into gold, which is a fairly unique color around the league. The big reason this mask does not break into the top 10 is that the silver cage is completely out of place. Black or gold would have made this a home run.

Granger: I really like how the shield matches the shape of the chin on the mask at the bottom. It looks fantastic.

17. Anthony Stolarz, Maple Leafs (painted by Jordon Bourgeault)

Granger: 13; Goldman: 16; Gentille: 24
Average: 17.67

Photos courtesy of Jordon Bourgeault

Granger: I adore this mask. A blue-eyed polar bear is a perfect match with Toronto’s color scheme and Stolarz’s monstrous frame, but rather than going the typical, gruesome, teeth-heavy route that most animal-themed masks take, Stolarz’s mask is more natural and serene. The blue leaves really pop. The tree bark on the chin is a cool touch, and the blue cage brings it all together.

Gentille: So that’s not a big white dog? Interesting.

Goldman: The dog, I mean, bear paws, on the sides of the chin are so cute. I love this mask.

16. Adin Hill, Golden Knights (painted by Dave Fried)

Granger: 2; Goldman: 21; Gentille: 18
Average: 13.67

(Ethan Miller / Getty Images)

Granger: My ranking is the only reason this mask is so high on the list. I’m a little shocked by that, but a wide range of opinions is what makes art special. I think this is the best mask in Golden Knights history, and there have been plenty of good ones. I’m a sucker for any mask with a creature’s jaws wrapped around the cage, and this gold-plated dragon crashing through a brick wall is wicked.

15. Jacob Markstrom, Devils (painted by Ari H.C. Airbrush)

Granger: 4; Goldman: 32; Gentille: 4
Average: 13.33

Photos courtesy of Ari H.C. Airbrush

Granger: If we were grading the masks solely based on how they look on the TV broadcast, this might’ve been No. 1 for me. The contrast between Satan’s face and the white background looks incredible from a distance. Up close it’s still impressive, with the faded demon faces peaking through the white finish. It looks like it belongs in an art exhibit.

Goldman: Up close, the white detailing is really cool. It just doesn’t translate in action, and it makes the mask look kind of plain. It’s way too much mask. Markstrom should have gone full Vasilevskiy style and just fully committed to the primary Satan design for the whole top of the helmet. Maybe add a red or black cage. Give me something more.

Gentille: Shayna just isn’t a huge fan of Satan. Something unwholesome about that guy.

14. Joonas Korpisalo, Bruins (painted by Sylvie Marsolaise)

Granger: 16; Goldman: 9; Gentille: 11
Average: 12.00

Photos by Sebastien Gervais

Gentille: The old Garden wasn’t an architectural marvel, but I’m still happy to see it represented here, and I like it when animals wear human clothes. Maybe Korpisalo can put a little hat on the bear next season or something.

Granger: The jagged edges around the cage look great, and the chrome gold cage makes this mask pop on the ice.

13. Andrei Vasilevskiy, Lightning (painted by Sylvie Marsolaise)

Granger: 6; Goldman: 15; Gentille: 15
Average: 12.00

Photos by Sebastien Gervais

Granger: I’ve been higher than most on Vasilevskiy’s mask in every installment of these rankings, and that will probably continue as long as he’s in the league. In an era when most goalies bounce from design to design, I love that the Big Cat keeps the lion prominently featured on every mask. This one was made for the Stadium Series outdoor game in February, so the lion is appropriately wearing sunglasses.

Goldman: Vasy’s had cooler iterations of this mask before, which is why I don’t have this ranked higher. But that note about the lion wearing his sunglasses kicks this up a notch in my book. It’s perfect for the Stadium Series setting.

12. Karel Vejmelka, Mammoth (painted by David Gunnarsson)

Granger: 20; Goldman: 3; Gentille: 13
Average: 12.00

Graphic via DaveArt on Instagram

Goldman: As much as I love the Mammoth’s logo and full kits this year, I kind of wish the team leaned in more with the “mountain blue” a little to differentiate this team’s color scheme more. Vejmelka’s mask uses it so well and it’s the perfect complement to Utah’s home and away sweaters. The design itself is pretty simple but also really sharp. It looks great head-on, and from either angle with the Mammoth detail and logo.

11. Connor Hellebuyck, Jets (painted by Steve Nash)

Granger: 15; Goldman: 6; Gentille: 12
Average: 11.00

 

Photos via EyeCandyAir on Instagram

Goldman: I generally am not the biggest fan of Hellebuyck’s helmets, but I am a total sucker for this throwback style. Sometimes, we only see this style come out for an outdoor game, which means very limited usage compared to just a regular-season mask. It’s also a cleaner take on a throwback design, compared to past iterations that include drawings of a player’s hair or ears (like Markstrom’s with the Canucks back in 2016). Instead, the navy adds an element of simplicity and consistency, and makes the old-school mask the focus.

Granger: Of all the paint jobs attempting to make a modern mask look like a vintage one, I think this might be the most successful. My ranking of 15 feels low, but there are so many good masks this season.

10. Laurent Brossoit, Sharks (painted by Shifty)

Granger: 14; Goldman: 13; Gentille: 5
Average: 10.67

Photos from _Shifty_ on Instagram

Gentille: I pushed this further up the list than anyone else, mainly because I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s a simple idea that’s executed well, and I’ve always got time for that, whether we’re talking about food, writing or goalie masks. It’s also one of the only normal ways to pay homage to the Sharks’ proximity to Silicon Valley. Maybe next season, Brossoit can include a silhouette of Marc Andreesen’s head.

Granger: I hesitated while choosing this mask for a moment, because Brossoit has played only one game for the Sharks, but the mask was too cool not to include.

9. Frederik Andersen, Hurricanes (painted by Jordon Bourgeault)

Granger: 3; Goldman: 11; Gentille: 17
Average: 10.33

Photos courtesy of Jordon Bourgeault

Granger: I will admit, the details on this mask don’t show up as well as I’d like on the ice, but up close it is a masterpiece. The Roman sculptures are so well painted, they almost look like they’re carved into the mask in 3D. The paint splash creating the Hurricanes logo is really cool, and the fact that the cage is painted to perfectly blend into the mask is spectacular.

Gentille: Yeah, this is a cautionary tale for detailed white designs. I appreciate the work that went into it, but it just doesn’t translate.

8. Nikita Tolopilo, Canucks (painted by Travis Michael)

Granger: 10; Goldman: 17; Gentille: 2
Average: 9.67

Graphic via TMKustoms on Instagram

Gentille: Truly ashamed by how easy a mark I’ve become. DUHHH, FLYING SKATE. DUHHH, DARTH VADER. I LIKE BOTH OF THOSE THINGS. I ranked this second (rather than first) solely out of embarrassment. I’m sorry, Nikita! I’m sorry!

Goldman: Had this one higher and kept sliding it back for one reason: the white cage. Nikita, please. Black. Gold. Anything. It looks unfinished!

7. Daniil Tarasov, Panthers (painted by Sylvie Marsolaise)

Granger: 8; Goldman: 10; Gentille: 10
Average: 9.33

Photos by Sebastien Gervais

Granger: The sheen on the metallic, mechanical panther really stands out on the ice. Up close, the rivets and screws bring the paint job to life. There are also some really cool details that can go unnoticed, such as the panther’s bottom fangs protruding through Tarsov’s No. 40 numerals on the chin.

6. Dustin Wolf, Flames (painted by Travis Michael)

Granger: 12; Goldman: 5; Gentille: 9
Average: 8.67

Photos courtesy of Travis Michael

Gentille: This is similar to what we saw from Wolf last season, and I’m not mad about it. With a surname like that, most of the work is done for you. Points for execution, added year-over-year detail and another homage to Johnny Gaudreau. Wolf has also worn a version that, yet again, features Post Malone. We didn’t vote on that one, though. A shame.

Goldman: Howling for this mask. Very good, all around.

Granger: If Wolf is as good a goalie as I think he is, his patented wolf mask design will one day be in the same category as Vasilevskiy’s lion mask in terms of identifiability.

5. Jake Oettinger, Stars (painted by David Gunnarsson)

Granger: 7; Goldman: 7; Gentille: 7
Average: 7.00

Graphic via DaveArt on Instagram

Gentille: This one, in addition to the always-welcome Oetter otters, also references Ed Belfour’s iconic eagle mask. That took me more than 30 seconds and less than 10 minutes to figure out. I initially thought it was a species of rodent that also has a mane of some sort. Turns out those don’t exist.

Goldman: I had this one a little lower initially, but after doing a round of these rankings and focusing on it a bit more in-game action, I had to move it up. The otter is detailed enough that the simple green space just clicks perfectly.

Granger: I’m a sucker for any homage to masks of the past, and Belfour’s was one of the most iconic in the NHL when I was growing up. The half otter, half eagle is strange, but goalies are strange.

4. Scott Wedgewood, Avalanche (painted by David Gunnarsson)

Granger: 5; Goldman: 8; Gentille: 8
Average: 6.33

Graphic via DaveArt on Instagram

Granger: Goalie masks are becoming increasingly detailed, but Wedgewood nailed this simple, elegant look to accompany Colorado’s Nordique-themed throwback jerseys. This mask really captures the energy from a different era of hockey. The fact that the brush strokes are intentionally noticeable gives it the old-school vibe, and Wedgewood’s leather pad setup completes the look.

3. John Gibson, Red Wings (painted by Noah Ennis)

Granger: 9; Goldman: 4; Gentille: 6
Average: 6.33

Graphic via ShellShockCo on Instagram

Goldman: Simple perfection. It just feels incredibly fitting for the Red Wings’ centennial season: the basic red-and-white colorway, the focus on the intricacies of Detroit’s logo from a zoomed-in perspective, the nod to an iconic tradition with the octopus detailing, and the matte finish. It’s pretty similar to Gibson’s actual centennial mask, which uses cream instead of white for that throwback feel.

2. Joey Daccord, Kraken (painted by Shifty)

Granger: 11; Goldman: 1; Gentille: 3
Average: 5.00

 

Photos from _Shifty_ on Instagram

Goldman: The Kraken hit an absolute home run with their alternates this season, and Daccord’s goalie gear takes a sick jersey to the next level. With the striping pattern to the Kraken eye, there’s both an element of creativity and cohesiveness with the jersey design. The level of the detail of the Kraken eye is so well done up close, and it’s still impactful from a distance. The contrast between the black and ice blue, with pops of red in between, is super eye-catching. And the black cage with ice blue drives the whole mask home – not only does it flow so well with the rest of the design, but it’s different from so many other goalie masks in the league. While it doesn’t stray much from the jersey design, it still feels really fresh. It may be one of the more well-rounded masks in the league.

Gentille: The red eye in the Kraken’s crest is one of the best detail easter eggs in the sport. Full marks for making that the focal point here.

1. Samuel Montembeault, Canadiens (painted by Jordon Bourgeault)

Granger: 1; Goldman: 2; Gentille: 1
Average: 1.33

Photos courtesy of Jordon Bourgeault

Granger: Montembeault’s snake mask was the runaway winner, and for good reason. This may be the best goalie mask I’ve ever seen. The intricate details of the scales and skeletons interweaving around the mask are mesmerizing. A ridiculous amount of thought and creativity went into every spec of this paint job, from the cage itself to the mesh straps that hold on the backplate. Every time you look at this mask, you notice something new. What’s even better is that as detailed as it is, the mask still looks exceptional from a distance. It’s perfection.

Goldman: It’s bright. It’s interesting. It’s incredibly detailed. And it fully commits to the theme. Everything about this mask rocks. The snake-patterned Canadiens’ logo and No.35 is fantastic, and the cage is absolutely sick.

Gentille: This is a wild level of intricacy that somehow doesn’t wind up looking busy or overcrowded. It’s a completely original idea, and a picture of a bulldog on the back plate. Nothing not to love about this.