
A dispersal of goaltending depth wouldn't be the worst thing in the world for the PWHL. The league could actually see an increase in scoring through expansion, even with less top six forward talent due to dispersed defensive depth, and less games facing the best goaltenders on the planet. That said, teams are likely to continue riding their starting goalie for the overwhelming majority of games.
By save percentage, the top eight goaltenders in the PWHL at the moment, with at least 10 games played this season are Aerin Frankel, Ann-Renee Desbiens, Raygan Kirk, Emerance Maschmeyer, Nicole Hensley, Gywneth Philips, Maddie Rooney, and Kristen Campbell.
It's likely that the tandems of Rooney and Hensley, and Maschmeyer and Campbell will be split up sending one of those veteran goaltenders from Minnesota and Vancouver to a new market. Seattle's tandem of Corinne Schroeder and Hannah Murphy is another plausible pairing to see split up. New York Sirens' netminder Kayle Osborne has the worst save percentage of any starting goaltnder. Osborne currently sits 11th in league save percentage among goaltenders with at least 240 minutes (four games) under their belt this season, ahead of only Toronto's Elaine Chuli.
The addition of Andrea Brandli and Tia Chan, and the ability for current back up goaltenders to potentially find markets where they can receive more starts, will give new opportunities, keep goaltending strong, but also disperse talent in a way that could open the door a crack for scoring.
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