Mans Goos (G, L, 6’5″, 190, Farjestad BK J20, 03/05/2007)
Mans Goos is a tall, highly athletic butterfly goaltender who possesses elite raw tools. His movement is quick and sharp for his size, and he shows a reactionary approach to net coverage, with an ability to make second and third effort saves. Goos is a high-upside, toolsy goaltender still refining his overall structure, depth management, and crease control, but offers a development path with true pro potential if the technical aspects of his game can catch up to the physical gifts.
Why Mans Goos Should Be an NHL Draft Pick:
- Size and Athletic Foundation
At 6’5″, Goos brings pro-size to the position without the stiffness often associated with taller goaltenders. His athleticism is well above average for his frame—he moves cleanly on his edges and stays balanced in and out of transitions. This makes him capable of battling through broken plays and tracking pucks in traffic without becoming too reliant on size alone. - Elite Blocker-Side Control
Goos’ blocker-side technique is among the best in this draft class. He actively punches and steers pucks to the corners with force and precision, rather than simply absorbing or deadening them. This becomes especially valuable against lateral puck movement and in penalty kill situations where low slot passes are more frequent. - Breakaway & Reactionary Ability
Goos boasts a 0.920 breakaway save percentage – a strong indicator of his athletic ability and in-tight reaction speed. He also averages 2.2 “unexpected” saves per game – high end game processing and above-average anticipation on broken or high-danger plays. - Resilient Under Pressure
While his overall save percentage (.890) is modest, the volume and quality of chances faced offer important context. Of the 102 goals against, 71 came from inside the scoring area, with 44 of those from within 8 feet—he is routinely facing high-danger shots and still finding ways to make difficult saves. His 0.810 scoring area save percentage is not elite, but it reflects a goalie who is facing heavy Grade “A” traffic regularly.
Why Mans Goos Should Not Be an NHL Draft Pick:
- Inconsistent Positional Discipline
Goos’ 0.890 save percentage and 0.810 save percentage in scoring areas are both below NHL draftable thresholds without contextual understanding. At times, his athleticism allows him to recover from poor depth management, but it also masks a habit of overcommitting laterally or retreating too deep on sharp-angle plays. He needs to simplify his footwork and maintain better squareness before committing to a slide or drop. - Goals Against from Close Range
Goos has given up 44 goals from within 8 feet of the crease. That’s a large number—even with volume taken into account—and tells us he has issues with post-integration, shoulder seal, and lateral tracking while staying tall. He’s capable of making dynamic saves, but still gives up too many in tight that should be handled with improved technique and timing. - Rebound Control and Situational Quietness
While his blocker is excellent, Goos can still struggle with rebound control on his glove side and pads, especially when collapsing too deeply into his butterfly. He sometimes overtracks or reacts with too much urgency, which puts him off-balance on second attempts. There is development needed to bring a calmer, more composed structure to his in-zone reads. - Developmental Projection Still Raw
Goos plays a very “junior” style right now—relying on athleticism, reactive movement, and raw skill rather than structured goaltending. His upside is evident, but it will take time and goaltending-specific coaching to bring the necessary polish for the professional level.
Projection and Recommendation:
Draft Range: 5th–7th Round
NHL Projection: High-end NHL backup upside; long-term project with potential starter ceiling if technical game catches up
Final Take:
Mans Goos is a physically gifted, big-framed goaltender who displays elite elements in his toolkit—especially blocker control and breakaway composure. His size and athleticism give him a pro foundation that is extremely difficult to teach. However, his numbers suggest a goalie still learning to manage traffic, play with composure in high-danger areas, and stay controlled in dynamic situations.
Recommendation: Goos should be drafted in the later rounds by a team willing to invest in a long-term development path. If he can improve his crease efficiency, rebound control, and depth awareness, the payoff could be significant. The tools are there; now it’s about structure and patience.