# Logan Thompson not considered a top five goaltender according to NHL Network’s preseason rankings

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-08-18 01:07 UTC · Category: Sports

## Executive Summary
NHL Network's preseason rankings have sparked debate after excluding goaltender Logan Thompson from the top five positions in the league.

## Intelligence Brief
The NHL Network has released its preseason rankings for the league's top goaltenders, a move that has drawn significant attention due to the placement of several high-profile players. According to coverage from RMNB, Logan Thompson was not considered one of the top five goaltenders in these specific preseason rankings. The list includes a variety of elite netminders, with NHL.com reporting that both Andrei Vasilevskiy and Igor Shesterkin have been positioned among the top ten goalies in the league. This assessment comes as teams prepare for the upcoming season, establishing a baseline for expectations regarding goaltending performance across the various divisions. Multiple outlets are focusing on different aspects of the rankings to highlight regional or team-specific impacts. Habs Eyes on the Prize emphasizes that Jakub Dobeš has been named among the league's top goalies, while Yahoo Sports is specifically examining the ranking of Jeremy Swayman within the NHL Network's top ten list.


Meanwhile, PensBurgh notes that the Metropolitan Division currently contains more than its fair share of these top-tier goaltenders. The distribution of these rankings suggests a high concentration of elite talent in certain areas of the league, which creates a competitive environment for teams fighting for playoff positioning. To understand why these rankings matter, it is necessary to look at the influence of the NHL Network's preseason evaluations. These lists often serve as a benchmark for player prestige and team stability entering the year. The exclusion of Logan Thompson from the top five, as highlighted by RMNB, serves as a point of contention for those following the performance of his specific team. The inclusion of established stars like Vasilevskiy and Shesterkin reinforces the existing hierarchy of the league, while the rise of players like Jakub Dobeš indicates a shift in how new talent is being perceived relative to the veteran elite.


Looking forward, the focus remains on how these preseason predictions align with actual on-ice performance once the season begins. Observers will be monitoring whether Logan Thompson can outperform his ranking or if the players named to the top ten, such as Swayman, Vasilevskiy, and Shesterkin, can maintain their positions. Coverage will likely continue to track the performance of the Metropolitan Division's goaltenders, given the high density of top-ranked players in that division. The results of the opening games will determine if the NHL Network's preseason assessments were accurate or if the rankings require significant adjustment.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| Yahoo Sports | Jack’s Daily: Ducks Offer Declined; CHSN News; Blackhawks Goalie Snub? | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMihwFBVV95cUxONDdPb1p4cDhoeVpJWWo4X1ZNQ3dsdzBCWi1USTd3ZU5PUlRjNEk2SDJaWHlEdmNCOWNSSzQ0ZTBCYVhZd2FEeUlXMktKMjQ1X0FfSFBVVFRReVJiZThReC1HdFByN0c0Y3ZtZlIzcHZ4RDg0bEcyR3lDU2dNVzdQNFRhdHhsWlU?oc=5) |
| The Hockey News | Islanders Goaltender Ilya Sorokin Ranked Fourth Best Goaltender Entering 2026-27 NHL Season | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi5wFBVV95cUxNeGdyZHZheWZ1NmlqUGRiMm9EN0xQRHdHSzFLU045cGFDcFJVRTNFQlV6em9TWDl5ajRvNHRLU1B2WUttNnB2RDJlbW80MGF4Z3Z6M0RlcXYzbmhDR2VuOFoyTWlBMmRfbFVxUFdKeEl3Nk5HaWtQUUl5T2dpNTdRREJKYXI3NEdQUTh5SmlzSExGbE1XU2JMaDhpNFUyVDdwaWFja2hRV3pBay0tZEdCeGJUQ3hSTjB5OHMzYUF2QklCT05FdndfX296ZklMSkpCWU80dWJxcnJCWkt6Mkt2c25hd1g4bkU?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | Montreal Canadiens’ $16 Million Standout Lands Top-10 NHL Ranking | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMikAFBVV95cUxNZVVDN2YybHQwU0RCQkJQcGlZeDdqS2kwOWo3bElfVXlZS1NsUGNOc1FrT3N6VUNsdHRPUTBoVHBwWEVBZ0VxXzVwd3RnSzljSUZlS3VEMXJwdnU5cU5PYXlCWjdCN2JKblpXOTlUOVlIUUc1elpENWtDYVk3VE03VFlFZlo5RTMyaTNrVHZFdzg?oc=5) |
| PensBurgh | The Metropolitan Division contains more than fair share of top goalies | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMirwFBVV95cUxNNDl0VVRCZXN1bWstbUVHVm1VNlF0eTA1Y0x2U2xFbTRwdVZPTFFWWHU1TUpaMzhFZ3dqX2ZTelNXZDZZdnFBTThRZXI4TEUxY1J5X2V0YXBSWHFBU3c3TFpUNFNiUkNTblpSZkRMU2I4a0RSMUIzSzg4eWJnNUdOTWh5RVNvVG1ZMmQtVXNGU2loUkJRb1lENkw1eFRURzgzUDN2Tkl4T0lUQlUxTkpj?oc=5) |
| Habs Eyes on the Prize | Monday Habs Headlines: Jakub Dobeš named among league’s top goalies | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMihwJBVV95cUxOd0stMHN5OGxfVDRtcEFiaWlaaUJSNkFMRElQeXFuVTMxaTBUUmtxMFpUeGV0YTBhZ2p2dF9KMEhhZFZTX2tkSDhDMExreUxoZTR4amNyOHNSTHA2LUNvalJhZXQzS0owOEQyMnp6YWZQbWFPMDN6Tkp1QUtRbzhqZDFGSk9CdG12UUNDbjdRNlQxOXVZN0VpajVsbTVTcnd1bTNpTjZWMkRPZ0NuM25MUmRRdGxmeGNRMlQxbFdJbjBVTk9hR1U0Y3pVekVmckJxcWFxNHVHNzFTd3p5eVFvaDZIWUliTXNsZndZXzI0V20ySjduSHNwSGVqRF9jRkN3T3BlX2NiSQ?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | Where Did Jeremy Swayman Rank Amongst NHL Network's Top 10 Goalies | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMihAFBVV95cUxOUVVyR1ZKNFJSbl9YZFRWdjZZX0lOUFZHbDd3NUpQZ3FLZHdRRkZtc2VUZ20tSl9lcVMwaGxWcTVCUVlsejBwQm91ejhSQVhZTTZqaW5Lc3BpOUtQVVZTZ1FRLVg2UTBPZldubFZ0OHBvdmZGN2x5YnNKWU93YVpRUlVjNzE?oc=5) |
| NHL.com | Vasilevskiy, Shesterkin among NHL Network's top 10 goalies | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMioAFBVV95cUxNdDkwMFRSSlYtSmc5bng4OUpvOUtObXVaRlJmdEwzY3lCOXU0VWZoTEpaelBLVHUzTXNKM1A4WDYzNFF4dGllVE45RS1JRWFFdVlieUdfVVB5ZGM5NG1UMTB4VHFNbEhZRDBmWm9uUEo2eGQtRnZtQ2Y3QWp2MW9ydVNxUjZFeWxSRGdpNDhhUEhSbG9rTFVZSGpRNE1qUnBy?oc=5) |
| RMNB | Logan Thompson not considered a top five goaltender according to NHL Network’s preseason rankings | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMinAFBVV95cUxNM1pqcUJaZFhGaUxlLS1kdTJzeWk4cG41RnVKQ1RhcElkLUxhYmhBMTEwSi1YT2tzei0zZDJrY183b3NzUXgzUGp4WmVHeUV5Xy10N2gxbnhteU5wOGRuQlJKbld3cXFBX3E5TndINE56YWJxajcyNjNVNnFOcjhPT2gyQk83bm0xS1YyMzlRbHY3WTFvRE9hQml6Ri0?oc=5) |

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