The Top 25 Under 25 continues with the highest ranked goalie on our list this summer: Laurent Brossoit. The 6’3” Brossoit is the only goalie on the list with NHL experience, as limited as it is. Drafted in 2011 in the sixth round, 164

Background and History

As one might expect, Brossoit is one of the older players in the Top 25 Under 25. Born March 23, 1993, he is currently 24 years old and spent the majority of last season as the Oilers’ second goalie, behind starter Cam Talbot. With Brossoit age is less of a concern as goalies are capable of playing into their thirties unlike many positions.

Brossoit played his junior hockey with the WHL’s Edmonton Oil Kings. During his WHL career, Brossoit captured one Ed Chynoweth Cup, made one appearance in the Memorial Cup, and one more appearance in the WHL finals the following year. During the Oil Kings run to the Memorial Cup, Brossoit managed a 2.04 goal against average and 0.933 save percentage going 16-4 during the playoffs. Brossoit’s best year in junior (2012-2013) was one where he finished with a 0.917 save percentage and a 2.25 goal against average.

Brossoit moved on the pros in 2013-2014 splitting time between the ECHL and the AHL. He was traded to the Edmonton Oilers from the Calgary Flames on November 8, 2013 in a deal that included Ladislav Smid. Brossoit has featured heavily in on the Oilers AHL affiliates during the last 3 years. In 2015-2016, he played 31 games in the AHL with 18 wins, 9 losses, and 4 contests decided in overtime. He had a 2.66 goal against average and 0.920 save percentage. Brossoit started the 2016-2017 season with the Bakersfield Condors, but after 8 games joined the Oilers for the rest of the season.

Brossoit has played 14 games in the NHL over the course of the NHL seasons. In 2014-2015, he played one game, in 2015-2016 he played five more, and last season he added another eight. Of those 14 appearances, 10 have been starts. Brossoit has an NHL record of four wins and six loses (one coming in overtime) and a 2.69 goal against average and 0.910 save percentage.

Why He Made the List

Brossoit is the Oilers top goalie prospect, if he can still be called that. Taking into consideration that Brossoit has both played in the NHL and is the only goalie prospect in the Oilers system who seems ready to serve as Talbot’s back up, it seems ludicrous that he not be on the Top 25 Under 25 list. Brossoit is another player that thee Copper and Blue writers seemed quite consistent in their placement.

However, it is also evident that I ranked Brossoit the highest of all the Copper and Blue writers. So, let me defend my actions.

He’s also a capable goalie outside of the more clinical metrics which seem to say there’s currently no one else. In his NHL debut, Brossoit stopped 49 of 51 shots in a 3-1 loss to the San Jose Sharks. He also manages to pull of the occasional highlight level save.

Brossoit is “a strong, athletic, and agile goaltender who has a long reach and can extend his large frame to fill the upper section of the net. The butterfly goalie can be at times brilliant.”

Why He’s on the List at 14

There are a couple reasons that Brossoit doesn’t rank higher on the list than 14th. . First off, he’s only played 14 NHL games which makes it hard to judge what kind of impact he’ll have in the long term and lead to some more conservative rankings. The second reason Brossoit is 14th and not higher is that he’s an inconsistent goalie. He has trouble refocusing after letting in a soft goalie and this lack of “mental toughness” is one of the major arguments against Brossoit being able to make an impact at the NHL level. Overall, Brossoit’s inability to shake off weak goal is one of the major strikes against him ever becoming a starting goalie and becoming a force in the NHL.