Goalies Stock Watch: Re-entries Tvrznik, Parsons, Henriquez proving worthy of second look
Since we last left off, the Olympics took place with big performances from Anaheim Ducks prospect Damian Clara and draft re-entry candidate Martin Neckar.
2026 NHL draft eligible Ryder Fetterolf (OHL), Detroit Red Wings prospect Rudy Guimond (QMJHL), and San Jose Sharks prospect Joshua Ravensbergen (WHL) seem to be the front-runners for their league’s respective goalie of the year awards. While Lawton Zacher, Joshua Kotai, and Michael Hrabal battle for the Mike Richter trophy in the NCAA.
This edition of Stock Watch will take more of a focus on draft re-entry candidates who have cemented themselves as legitimate options this season. Without further ado:
Stock Rising 📈
Tobias Tvrznik, G, Wenatchee Wild (2025 NHL Draft re-entry)
Among re-entries, none have stood out more this season than Tobias Tvrznik, who has been a calming presence for the Wenatchee Wild in his rookie year.
The 6-foot-4 Czech netminder’s game is based around his positioning and his smarts. He anticipates play very well, is one of the better trackers in this class, has good skating, and lightning-quick and precise transitions.
Here’s what Max Lee said in a recent report:
“Tobias Tvrznik shows a lot of similarities to his countryman Tobias Trejbal. The smoothness with which Tvrznik plays the positions stands out immediately. He’s a fluid mover through a hyper wide butterfly that he operates in and out very comfortably. His transitions are controlled and fast. That width also allows him to make quick pushes from the butterfly to maintain his square in tight. The upright skating is strong as well with good routes, sharp stops, and textbook form.”
Tvrznik certainly has some aspects to iron out, specifically his decision-making, and improving his speed. However, he's currently on pace to finish the year as our team's favourite re-entry candidate, with the potential of entering our Top 100 with continued strides in his development.
John Parsons, G, Providence College (2024 NHL Draft re-entry)
John Parsons is a guy who has always seemingly had the tools of what constitutes a drafted goaltender. Since his draft year, he’s boasted strong skating, good tracking, anticipation, post-play, an ideal stance, and a very projectible 6-foot-4 frame.
However, he often struggled to look the part. In his draft year, he was shelled while with the U.S. National Development Team Program. After a solid year in the USHL, Parsons made the interesting decision to leave early for his 19-year-old season to commit to Providence.
That move has paid off in dividends as Parsons has taken to the adjustment extremely well, with a .919 save percentage over 16 games in a tandem role. In his final year of eligibility, Parsons may have done just enough to get himself finally rewarded with a draft pick; if not, he’ll surely become one of the NCAA’s top free agent netminders in due time.
Roberto Leonardo Henriquez, G, Green Bay Gamblers (2025 NHL Draft re-entry)
A great sign for development is a player’s ability to rapidly adjust to leagues. Roberto Leonardo Henriquez has done just that; he dominated the Slovak U18 league in his D-1 before jumping to the NAHL, where he quickly found success. He’d make the mid-season jump to the USHL last season with the Green Bay Gamblers, where he’d finally run into a brick wall.
Henriquez was exploited at the USHL level last season, as he was too positionally erratic, and his hands were nullified due to a tighter stance with lots of double coverage. This season, he’s improved a lot at remaining positional, and there’s been some slight improvements with his hand placement, even if it still projects as a weakness. Still, the basis of his game is all about his high-end mobility, stemming from great edgework when on his feet.
‘RLH’ remains quite a boom or bust pick; however, his play this season will surely help NHL teams better entertain the idea of him panning out.
Martin Neckar, G, EHC Chur (2023 NHL Draft re-entry)
Coming into the Olympics, French netminder Martin Neckar had been going under the radar. The 20-year-old was finding success in his second season in the second-tiered Swiss League when he got the call to represent Team France at the tournament. At his age and in his position, anything more than a complete dumpster fire would benefit his stock, with even the mere addition of his name to a roster doing wonders for his profile.
Neckar didn’t see much on-ice action throughout the entire event; however, the one game he did play against Czechia featured a whole lot of action. How players handle this level of pressure and competition is often a great insight into their minds. Neckar handled the noise extremely well, remaining composed positionally while also moving with intention. While his skating was always his strong suit, his tracking and anticipation also stood up to this level.
He was not without faults, with his movement into his post being a clear and definitive weakness that needs to improve to continue his path to the top Swiss league, let alone the NHL. Not to mention, his tracking through traffic.
However, this game proved to be a needle-mover as it allowed scouts to see how the D+3 goaltender could handle some of the best players in the world. The fact that his skating stood out and that he showed flashes of anticipation are good signs that he should be able to adapt to facing elite teams sooner rather than later. While he remains more of a fringe option, his heightened profile from the Olympics, as well as the flashes, may be enough for an NHL team to take a swing at him as a re-entry pick.
Anders Miller, G, Everett Silvertips (2025 NHL Draft re-entry)
Anders Miller was a goaltender last year that I was personally quite fond of. He was one of the beneficiaries of the CHL/NCAA ruling that allowed him to make the early-season jump to the Calgary Hitmen from the AJHL, where he immediately found success. Stuck behind overager Daniel Hauser meant that Miller didn’t quite get the runway to court NHL interest.
This season, Miller made the move to the Everett Silvertips, where he’s found tremendous success. He began the season backing up fellow re-entry candidate Raiden LeGall, before slowly but surely taking over the starting role as he began to pick up steam.
Miller may lack in standout athleticism, but he’s far from rigid; he’s a good skater with great playreading and shows flashes of strong compete. His glove hand has been one of his strongest assets, making consistent catches from it. However, this season, he’s tended to struggle with shots up high and with his angling.
I’d imagine that finally getting a full season under his belt while earning the starting gig should lend itself to Miller getting real consideration for the draft.
Honourable Mentions: Steele Bass (2026 NHL Draft), Lucas Beckman (Ottawa Senators), Damian Clara (Anaheim Ducks), Sebastian Cossa (Detroit Red Wings), Ryder Fetterolf (2026 NHL Draft), Rudy Guimond (Detroit Red Wings), Michael Hrabal (Utah Mammoth), Samuel Hrenak (2026 NHL Draft), Arvin Jaswal (2026 NHL Draft), Joshua Kotai (Free agent), Joshua Ravensbergen (San Jose Sharks), Lawton Zacher (Free agent)
Stock Steady ↔️
Veeti Louhivaara, G, Chicago Steel (New Jersey Devils)
When things aren’t going so well, sometimes a move can be just what you need to get back to form. This was the case for New Jersey Devils prospect Veeti Louhivaara, who was struggling back home in Finland in Mestis, before joining the Chicago Steel for the back-half of the season.
Louhivaara has shown the ability to make ‘big-game’ stops since making his arrival, flashing his signature high-end skating and some insane athleticism. He challenges shooters aggressively, taking away just about everything thanks to his 6-foot-4 frame and wide stance. However, his tendency to challenge has hurt him as well, as he was caught of position when the opposing team opted for a pass on two-on-ones as well as against toedrags.
While the move hasn’t been perfect for the big Finn, who has had a few stinkers here and there, he also was able to pull together some massive performances, including a 35-save game against the defending champion Muskegon Lumberjacks and a 38-save performance over Cedar Rapids. Louhivaara was also able to secure a commitment to the University of Connecticut, adding more runway to his development and helping him further adjust to the North American style of play before going pro.
Stock Falling 📉
Ivan Tkach-Tkachenko, G, Tolpar Ufa (Utah Mammoth)
One of the issues with drafting players out of Russia is that NHL teams' hands are tied regarding contracts and keeping up with players' development. The Utah Mammoth are finding this out the hard way with their recent fifth-round pick Ivan Tkach-Tkachenko.
Tkach-Tkachenko brought a fair bit to the table in his draft year, faring well with a starter’s workload and all with a pro-ready 6-foot-3 frame. He boasts quick feet, great compete, good tracking, and strong rebound control from his legs.
That said, the 18-year-old netminder has taken a step back in terms of play. He concedes depth easily when facing traffic, struggles with his seal along the post, and takes poor routes when facing one-timers. His poor play as of late has led to him getting demoted to a backup role.
In the draft guide last year, we noted that Tkach-Tkachenko could really benefit from a move to North America. That still remains true, as more hands-on development could potentially smooth out the edges to his game. Nevertheless, he is due for a change in scenery in some regard.