November marks a pivotal moment for NHL goaltenders, though its significance often goes unnoticed by casual fans. The month traditionally serves as the deadline for teams to make critical roster decisions, including whether to retain or trade their starting netminders. With contracts set to expire at season’s end, general managers weigh performance, cost, and long-term strategy before finalizing their goaltending situations. The stakes are high, as these choices can shape a team’s playoff aspirations for the coming season.

The month of November is perhaps the most important for any present-day goaltender guarding the crease in the National Hockey League – but most might not even know why. It was…