Goalie targets for next year
In my boredom, and desperation to move on from Jarry, I've compiled a list of every goalie situation going into next year. This isn't exhaustive, just a down-time exercise. I've marked the goalies I feel are potential targets with an asterisk and put my reasoning at the bottom of the list. Who would you target?
Edmonton Oilers
- Tristan Jarry (31) - our only goalie, signed for 2 more years at $5 375 000, plus a 12 team no-trade
Anaheim Ducks
Lukas Dostal (25) - Has become a solid NHL starter. Under contract long-term
Ville Husso (31) - Didn’t have a great year but is under contract for one more year, probably a good backup option for them
Petr Mrazek (34) - not great, FA, do not want
Boston Bruins
Jeremy Swayman (27) - Solid starter, had a down year but I can’t imagine Boston moving him. Signed long-term
Joonas Korpisalo (32) - seems to be the short-term backup, didn’t have a great year, signed for a while
Buffalo Sabres
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (27) - Finally starting to put it together, highly unlikely to move after the year he’s had, signed long-term
Alex Lyon (33) - Journeyman backup, had a great year, signed for one more
Colten Elliss (25) - Played really well covering for injuries, has maybe leapfrogged Levi? One more year to RFA
Devon Levi (24) - Highly regarded AHL goalie struggling to make the leap, one more year to RFA
Calgary Flames
Dustin Wolf (25) - long-term answer, signed long-term, not going anywhere
Devin Cooley (28) - annoying surprise, feels like the Flames have a great tandem, signed for two more
Carolina Hurricanes
Frederik Andersen (36) - playing lights out, but father time comes for us all. FA
Brandon Bussi (27) - Had a great year and was recently extended
*Pyotr Kochetkov (26) - after some solid years, was derailed by injury and sits 3rd string, one more year
Chicago Blackhawks
Spencer Knight (25) - Solid first year, Chicago will look to build on him. Signed long-term
Arvid Soderblom (26) - had a bad year backing up a bad team, one more year
Colorado Avalanche
Mackenzie Blackwood (29) - Part of Colorado’s stellar tandem, signed long-term
Scott Wedgewood (33) - Playing great, one more year
Trent Miner (25) - Playing lights out in the minors, could replace Wedgewood
Columbus Blue Jackets
Elvis Merzlikins (32) - had a bad year, unseated as starter by Jet. One more year at $5.4mil
Jet Greaves (25) - goalie of the future, RFA, not going anywhere
Dallas Stars
Jake Oettinger (27) - grade A starter, signed long-term
Casey DeSmith (34) - career backup, playing well, signed one more year
Detroit Red Wings
John Gibson (32) - playing well, one more year
Cam Talbot (38) - may retire, FA
Sebastian Cossa (23) - AHL starter, playing well, RFA
Michal Postava (24) - brought over from Czechia, lights out in the AHL, RFA after one more year
Trey Augustine (21) - solid prospect but very young, potential AHL goalie next year
Florida Panthers
Sergei Bobrovsky (37) - old but still good, FA
Daniil Tarasov (27) - has yet to live up to the hype, brought in to backup for Bob but had a down year, FA
Los Angeles Kings
Darcy Kuemper (36) - decent year but fell apart near the end and didn’t play in the playoffs, one more year
Anton Forsberg (33) - took over as starter for the playoffs but couldn’t keep up, not his fault. One more year
Carter George (19) - very young, solid prospect, potential AHL goalie next year
Minnesota Wild
*Filip Gustavsson (27) - recently signed a long-term extension, including a NMC for two more years, but has lost his job
Jesper Wallstedt (23) - taken over as playoff starter, goalie of the future
Montreal Canadiens
Samuel Montembeault (29) - had a down year and has given way to the youth. One more year
Jakub Dobes (24) - has taken over as starter, one more year RFA
Jacob Fowler (21) - played well in limited action, very young, two years to RFA
Nashville Predators
*Juuse Saros (31) - had a down year for a bad team, but is still solid. Signed long-term with a NMC
Justus Annunen (26) - played well as a backup, recently extended
New Jersey Devils
Jacob Markstrom (36) - very bad year by his standards, injured. Recently extended
Jake Allen (35) - playing well as a backup, signed long-term
*Nico Daws (25) - development may have plateaued, seems to have fallen out of favour, RFA
New York Islanders
Ilya Sorokin (30) - solid starter, signed long-term
Dave Rittich (33) - career backup, FA
New York Rangers
Igor Shesterkin (30) - solid starter, signed long-term
Dylan Garand (23) - apparent backup for next year with Quick retiring, RFA
Ottawa Senators
Linus Ullmark (32) - up and down year but signed long-term to a playoff team, not going anywhere
Leevi Merilainen (23) - hasn’t been great, RFA
James Reimer (38) - retiring?
Mads Sogaard (25) - hasn’t really been able to make his mark, RFA
Philadelphia Flyers
Dan Vladar (28) - solid year, Flyers hope he can repeat it, signed for one more year
Samuel Ersson (26) - likely the backup next year, supplanted by Vladar but still decent, RFA
Pittsburgh Penguins
Stuart Skinner (27) - much maligned, FA
Arturs Silovs (25) - similar year to Skinner, RFA
Sergei Murashov (22) & Joel Blomqvist (24) - Pens have two young goalies of the future, both have played well in the AHL, remains to be seen if either can make the jump next year
San Jose Sharks
Yaroslav Askarov (23) - didn’t play great but will hopefully develop along with the team, goalie of the future
Alex Nedeljkovic (30) - great back up, recently extended
Seattle Kraken
*Philipp Grubauer (34) - relegated to backup and has had better numbers since, one more year
Joey Daccord (29) - down year but signed long-term, starter going forward
St. Louis Blues
Jordan Binnington (32) - down year for a bad team, one year left to FA and a 10 team no trade
Joel Hofer (25) - played more and had a significantly better year than Binnington, one more year then RFA
Tampa Bay Lightning
Andrei Vasilevskiy (31) - solid starter, signed for two more years
Jonas Johansson (30) - honestly, surprisingly bad numbers given the team in front of him, one more year
Toronto Maple Leafs
Anthony Stolarz (32) - down year after being extended long-term, not going anywhere
Joseph Woll (27) - down year as well, signed for two more years
Dennis Hildeby (24) - playing well in the AHL, two more years
Utah Mammoth
Karel Vejmelka (29) - solid starter, signed long-term
Vitek Vanecek (30) - ok numbers as a backup, FA
Vancouver Canucks
Thatcher Demko (30) - recently extended, major injury concerns
*Kevin Lankinen (31) - signed long-term, has a NMC next year. Has played well in recent years but had a very down year on a very bad team
Nikita Tolopilo (26) - down year across the organization, one more year
Vegas Golden Knights
*Adin Hill (30) - down year by his standards, signed long-term, 10 team no trade
Carter Hart (27) - has taken over as starter, signed for one more year
Akira Schmid (26) - had an up and down year, RFA
Winnipeg Jets
Connor Hellebuyck (32) - solid starter, signed long-term
Eric Comrie (30) - ok backup, FA
Thomas Milic (23) - played well in the AHL, could backup next year
Washington Capitals
Logan Thompson (29) - solid starter, signed long-term
Charlie Lindgren (32) - his worst year of 4 in Washington, was hurt. Two more years
My favs and my delusional reasoning:
*Pyotr Kochetkov (26) - If Andersen decides to play another year, I think Kochetkov may want out. Bussi has passed him on the depth chart. I'd love some sort of package where we take Kotkaniemi's contract off their hands in exchange for Jarry.
*Filip Gustavsson (27) - I think Minny will want to keep both goalies, but they will be tight to the cap year after next when they need to re-sign Wallstedt and Hughes. If they think Wallstedt can be their full-time guy, maybe they want to get rid of this contract and take a shorter-term Jarry on instead. Jarry worked with Guerin in Wilkes-Barrie and Pittsburgh.
*Juuse Saros (31) - he has a no move, but maybe Ekholm can sell him on moving up north. If Nashville decides to tank, they may mutually agree to part ways. Maybe they take Jarry's smaller cap hit and shorter contract for their tank.
*Nico Daws (25) - I don't know why Jersey has shackled themselves to two aging goalies, but Nico is an RFA - maybe he wants out from behind those two. He's not as proven as the other options, but he's young.
*Philipp Grubauer (34) - a one year gamble, maybe he can return to form with new scenery. Played with Drai and Samanski at the Olympics, Jarry knows Botterill from Pittsburgh
*Adin Hill (30) - Vegas loves giving up on people and Carter Hart is their new shiny toy. I don't think they'd trade with us, but I think someone will buy low on Hill
*Kevin Lankinen (31) - hear me out: the Canucks are going to have a new GM who will want nothing to do with their mess in net. Lankinen went undrafted and was signed as a free agent by Bowman in Chicago. He's been sharp the last few years but, like every Canuck, was terrible last year. He has a NMC but maybe he and the Canucks decide to mutually part. Maybe they take on Jarry's shorter deal