The new future in goaltending is tandems. Thomas Greiss and Semyon Varlamov are a main reason why.
The old concept of where the starter plays 75% of the games and the backup gets the other 25% is dying in the NHL. The future in the NHL is split starts between goaltenders.
It is challenging for a goalie to consistently play on his head each night for his prospective team. When there is a significant drop off between the starter and the backup and the team relies heavily on the goaltender, it is not probable to succeed without burning the starter out for the playoffs or during the regular season.
Look at the Toronto Maple Leafs for example. Frederick Anderson is their rock but when he does not play, they do not win. That should be a big concern for the team. That means they need Anderson in net to win.

What happens when the Leafs overplay Anderson, and he burns out halfway through the regular season? Or worse get injured? The future is now shifting toward two goaltenders that split games during the regular season.
The team now doesn’t have to over-dependent on one individual, now the goalie who is better can get more rest, and it is harder for a team to prepare for a goalie if there is the possibility of both goalies starting. And, the Islanders have been pioneers in this new trend.
Last season the Islanders were hugely successful with the goalie tandem. Both Robin Lehner and Thomas Greiss were phenomenal in net for the Islanders. Each goaltender took home the William M. Jennings Trophy for the fewest goals allowed.

Robin Lehner won 25 games for the Islanders, and Greiss won 23. Both goalies led the Islanders to 103 points, enough for second place in the Metropolitan division.
Despite Robin Lehner signing with the Chicago Blackhawks in free agency this past summer, the Islanders have so far still managed to find success with the goalie tandem.
Newly-signed Islander Semyon Varlamov has matched Greiss’ play on a nightly basis. The two are continuing right where Griess and Lehner left off last season. For the most part, both goalies have given the Islanders a chance to win each game and sometimes stood on their heads.
The Philadelphia Flyers have followed the islanders in this trend, and they are succeeding. The Flyers are right behind the Islanders in points and are starting to look like a real threat under Alain Vigneault. Goaltenders Brian Elliot and Carter Hart are splitting time and each goalie can go in the net and win a game for the Flyers.

Do not be surprised when more and more teams start using goalie tandems where the two goalies split the games each season. It is becoming more and more prominent in the league. All thanks to Thomas Greiss and Semyon Varlamov.

Ethan Halle

Ethan is an Economics Major at the University of Florida looking to pursue a double major in Sports Management with a minor in political science.