(30) makes a save against the Florida Panthers during the first period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Most NHL trade rumors will focus on scoring help or defensive depth for a playoff run. When it’s all over the number of goaltenders traded could be staggering.
NHL trade rumors take on a life of their own this time of year. We are three weeks ahead of the March 2nd deadline and I feel like I only know two things: the Winnipeg Jets are likely to start next season without Evander Kane, and Tyler Myers has been involved in 4,109 different scenarios. With all due respect to the talented forwards and defenseman that will (and won’t) get traded in the coming days the market for goaltenders has the potential to be quite active.
Last season there were six goaltenders moved ahead of the trade deadline and it wouldn’t be stunning to see at least that many traded this year. There are options with pending unrestricted free agents, a few interesting players that will receive qualifying offers and the Henrik Lundqvist injury that make the potential trade combinations more numerous than many years before. Speaking of Lundqvist, is there a fan base more nervous about their playoff prospects than the New York Rangers? Without question it was the right thing to keep “King Henrik” from playing once it was determined playing would have left him at risk for a stroke from being struck in the throat with a puck. But he is on the shelf for at least another few weeks and qualifying for the playoffs rests on the pads of Cam Talbot, he of the .500 record and .918 save percentage.
Lundqvist was largely excellent in last years Stanley Cup playoffs and the possibility now exists that he could miss time after the trade deadline. Considering how serious this health scare is he should get all the time he needs to get himself right. Which makes for an interesting conversation in New York: do you go out and acquire a goaltender that will be an unrestricted free agent after the season? Or do you ride Cam Talbot and hope Lundqvist is healthy? Interesting to see how the Rangers spend their money in light of his injury. It’s not exactly the type of injury your training staff has a normal line of sight on. It’s easier to tell how contusions, sprains and breaks will heal because they are dealt with more often.
The New York Rangers would be wise to look to a potential UFA to bridge the gap, someone on the cheap that they can afford to let walk at season’s end. Look what losing Carey Price did to the Montreal Canadiens last year. If this is long-term the Rangers could be headed for the same fate instead of defending their Eastern Conference championship. But they aren’t alone in looking for help at the position. Take a look at these players and teams and see how active this market could be. Note that all contract information is found at spotrac.com.
(31) awaits start of the play against the Vancouver Canucks during the first period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
This is without question the most interesting name in the unrestricted free agent market when it comes to goaltenders for several reasons. Niemi is the most accomplished goalie looking for a contract next season, having won a Stanley Cup during his Chicago Blackhawks tenure. Coming off of a deal with an average cap hit of $3.8 million per year and still young at age 31, Niemi is likely to expect another sizable deal and considering the success of the Sharks (regular season, anyway) he wouldn’t be out of line to expect a raise. But San Jose seems very high on Alex Stalock and the time could be coming to make a switch. All of this against the backdrop of being two points ahead of 8th place in the Western Conference. San Jose wouldn’t make this move and ride Stalock into the playoffs, would they? There is plenty of reason to doubt they will trade Niemi. After their stunning collapse to the Los Angeles Kings last year there was talk of big changes, but they never materialized. The time was then, not now. However if they don’t consider it they are at serious risk to lose him for nothing and that would set the franchise back a step or two. Niemi likely carries too high of a price tag for the Rangers to meet considering he would only be a rental. Expect the Broadway blue shirts to look elsewhere.
(14) during the first period at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Ray Emery could have been as good as traded until Steve Masonhurt himself…skating? Bending over? I have no idea how Mason got hurt but you can’t help but feel for a guy that goes down with a non-contact injury because that’s usually a terrible sign. Now Emery’s name is removed from the NHL trade rumors and placed firmly into the Flyers goal crease. Combine that with the apparent lack of prospects in the pipes for Philly and losing Emery will create a headache to the point where GM Ron Hextall could legitimately be the best option next year. Emery has had solid playoffs runs and that experience would be valuable on a young team looking for extra stability and a locker room presence. He would also be a good fit on a serious playoff contender looking to bring in a capable second option. Calgary and St. Louis, respectively, I’m talking to both of you. St. Louis could be gun-shy after acquiring Ryan Miller last year and letting him walk but Emery wouldn’t cost nearly as much as Miller did. In Calgary Emery would provide extra playoff support behind Jonas Hiller. Which would leave Kari Ramo out in the cold but make the Flames more stable in net for a possible playoff run.
Feb 8, 2015; Buffalo, NY, USA; Buffalo Sabres goalie Michal Neuvirth (34) makes a glove save on a New York Islanders shot during a power play in the second period at First Niagara Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
This is not one of those breaking NHL trade rumors: the Buffalo Sabres will be full-blown sellers at the trade deadline. But that doesn’t mean GM Tim Murray won’t expect value for the assets he will part with. One thing certain when looking at Enroth and Neuvirth is that unless one of them is signed to some sort of deal, both will be traded in the coming weeks. Look at this quote from Murray courtesy of nhl.com:
“If we can make good deals that are beneficial to the future of this franchise we are going to do that,” Murray told NHL.com last month. “We’re not going to let pending [unrestricted free agents] leave for nothing.”
The Sabres are rich with prospects at every position and have Matt Hackett and Andrey Makarov that have played games with the team last season. One or both could be called up to finish the year. If both are traded you’d have to assume Murray has a separate deal to acquire a goaltender because most of the prospects in the Sabres system, if not all, could use at least one more season to develop. Hackett and Makarov are the closest while Linus Ullmark still needs multiple seasons. These players need time.
They would get that time if there is any fire around the smoke Elliotte Friedman fanned when he suggested Tyler Myers could be traded to the Montreal Canadiens for a package including Zach Fucale. While there may be something to that I wonder if the Sabres, whom are expected to be more competitive next season, would take a look at a goaltender under contract for next season alone. Someone that has been a good goaltender in the league and has won a Stanley Cup. A player whose current team would love to get out from underneath his $6.3 million dollar contract: Cam Ward. The Sabres are going to have a load of cap space next year and will be less inclined to spend for the sake of making the cap floor. Would Ward be a stop-gap for the future Sabre goaltenders? Murray won’t take that contract out of the goodness of his heart. Expect that if Murray is interested there will be a reasonable prospect or more likely an exchange of draft picks changing hands.
Next: Eastern Conference Threats To Change Keepers?
(78) in the first period at Verizon Center. The Flyers won 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Much the same situation as Niemi in San Jose, Holtby has played pretty well in Washington and is having his best season as a professional. He is also unrestricted after the season and will expect to cash in on his success. Justin Peters, with his 68 games in five and a half seasons, is not going to be the long-term answer in Washington. So do you sign him to a deal? Risk losing him for nothing? How do you handle your playoff chances if you deal him? I don’t think there is any way Holtby is traded at the deadline but this is another situation to watch how the contract plays out. This is arguably the most complete team the Capitals have had in several seasons and owe head coach Barry Trotz a great deal of that credit. This is a much different situation than what is playing out in San Jose. The Capitals have not had the level of regular season success the Sharks have to go with playoff failures. As a result expect Washington to go for it this season and try to figure out their goaltender during the off-season.
(35) warms up prior to the second period against the Ottawa Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports
When Habs GM Marc Bergevin signed Mike Condon to a two-year extension it did not send shock waves through the NHL. The fact the second year is one-way at the NHL league minimum signals that the Canadiens could be ready to move Tokarski. Because they aren’t moving Carey Price.
Tokarski still has one year left on his current contract at a very manageable $562,500 before becoming a restricted free agent. When Carey Price went down hurt during the playoffs last year, Tokarski came in and did well for himself in his five games posting a .916 save percentage. 2.60 GAA and didn’t look the least bit overwhelmed by the pressure. His entire resume is not long but coming off his playoff performance could the time to sell on Tokarski be now to get the largest return? What is another season of 18 starts going to do for him now? Trading Tokarski is not going to bring the home run return on his own. He just doesn’t have experience enough to command it. But his availability would sweeten the pot for a team looking for NHL-ready goaltending. And we have already discussed Zach Fucale and his rumored inclusion in deals involving the Sabres. Bottom line is the Canadiens have an embarrassment of riches in the crease and some of those assets could and should be packaged to help this team win now. They are capable of winning the Eastern Conference and any roster players added for a Stanley Cup run will only bolster those chances.
Next: Will Teams On Playoff Bubble Make Goaltending Moves?
(31) defends the goal against the New Jersey Devils during the first period at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
If the Los Angeles Kings make the playoffs, Martin Jones will have played his last game this season. The defending Stanley Cup champions will ride Jonathan Quick until he pukes. And then probably start him again. That isn’t want makes Jones potentially available. This, from Elliotte Friedman and his “30 Thoughts” column from February 4th, is:
He’s probably not available now, but another goalie attracting interest is Kings backup Martin Jones. He’s at the same contract point Jonathan Bernier was when Los Angeles traded him, a restricted free agent finishing a bridge contract after his entry-level deal. (Bernier was making twice as much as Jones is now, though.) He is the fastest ever to seven shutouts. Chances are if your team is looking for a goalie, it asked about Jones.
Bernier was the hot backup to acquire and Jones has put up better numbers. He will be a restricted free agent after the season so the team acquiring him this year would also be able to move his rights should they not be able to secure a long-term contract extension. Jones could be ready to carry the mail as a top goaltender in the league. Will the Kings find a trade to their liking?
(31) makes a save against the Vancouver Canucks during the third period at Rogers Arena. The Vancouver Canucks won in overtime 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
Pavelec has been the clear starter in Winnipeg for the better part of the last six seasons and has spent his entire career with the Jets/Thrashers franchise. But Michael Hutchinson has nearly split starts with Pavelec and appears to be wrestling the starting duties away. Is this the season to turn over the crease to “Hutch” and move Pavelec to a new team? Of all the players discussed here Pavelec has the most term on his current contract at two years and $3.9 million dollars per season. That’s a lot of money to pay a back-up, but the numbers for Pavelec show that’s exactly what he might be with a career .906 save percentage. His .911 this year is the second highest of his career so this could be considered selling high if the Jets were ready to move him. Hutchinson is a cap hit of $575,000 next season in the last year before restricted free agency. So decision day for the Jets crease is coming quickly. If moved, Pavelec would be a cheaper option for a team like Buffalo to consider while bridging the gap to their future franchise goalie.
Think Murray is asking about Pavelec when he calls about Evander Kane?
Boy was Pickard fun to watch when he played for an injured Semyon Varlamov. Colorado has been challenged to win games this year so don’t let his .500 record fool you. In his 15 games Pickard posted an absurd .936 save percentage and a GAA of 2.18. But once Varlamov was healthy Pickard was sent back to the minors and the team continued with Reto Berra. In his ten games played Berra has been less awesome, winning only two games and putting up unsightly numbers (3.57 GAA, .882 save percentage) behind the same team. Berra still has two years left on his contract and the main purpose for moving him would be to create money to give Pickard a raise and one-way contract. At his $1.45 million cap hit Berra would give a reasonable backup for teams and, if traded to a contender, would finally get a chance to play on a team that hasn’t struggled. Calgary was bad when he played there and Colorado isn’t doing much after last season either. So unless the Avalanche want to keep Berra for his offense, moving him for a pick and going with a very formidable Varlamov/Pickard duo makes sense.
Live Feed class=inline-text id=inline-text-2Could Flames Goalie Dan Vladar Be A Trade Option for the Avalanche? /
There are plenty of other names that could also be available. Would the Blackhawks try to move Antti Raanta? What about the rumors swirling around Viktor Fasth? The Vancouver Canucks wouldn’t trade Eddie Lack. Would they? Could the Pittsburgh Penguins look to upgrade from Thomas Greiss? Marc-Andre Fleury has had a Vezina caliber season so far but the whispers about his recent playoff track record will grow louder as the second season approaches.
I believe the most interesting situations that could set off dominoes would be with Niemi and Holtby because they are helping guide their teams into the playoffs. Buffalo will be interesting for this because they have two goalies they can (and likely will) move. Who makes the first deal? These weeks leading up to the March 2nd trade deadline feel like GM’s are playing a game of chicken to see who blinks first, whom sets the market for a certain player or position. Someone has to go first. There are too many teams looking to improve and a precious few sellers.
Keep an eye on your favorite team. Chances are they are talking to someone about a goaltender.
