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NHL Trade Rumors: Top 5 goaltenders available at trade deadline

By Dave Stevenson

PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 22: Sergei Bobrovsky #72 of the Columbus Blue Jackets looks on during warm-ups against the Philadelphia Flyers on December 22, 2018 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 22: Sergei Bobrovsky #72 of the Columbus Blue Jackets looks on during warm-ups against the Philadelphia Flyers on December 22, 2018 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images /

4. Brian Elliott

The Philadelphia Flyers have had a revolving door of goaltenders during the 2018-19 season. They’ve already tied the NHL record by using seven (!!!!) goaltenders and, knowing their luck, they’ll probably end up breaking it.

It’s hard to imagine, but the Flyers actually got semi-competent goaltending at the start of the season. This was largely due to Brian Elliott. In November, he suffered a groin injury and will be out until at least late January. If Elliott can come back healthy (no guarantees there), he could get the Flyers a solid mid-round pick.

Elliott’s struggles have been well documented, but he’s unquestionably one of the most proven goaltenders on the market.

Though he has only started 13 games this season, over half of them (eight) have been quality starts. A quality start, defined by Hockey Reference, is a start with a save percentage above the league average if you face more than 20 shots or an 88.5 percent save percentage if you face under 20. Only two of his starts have been really bad starts.

There simply aren’t that many proven goalies available. Elliott’s struggles have been well documented, but he’s unquestionably one of the most proven goaltenders on the market. He’ll be a free agent after this season, which will work out well for a lot of contenders. Elliott’s $2.75 million cap hit is perfectly reasonable as well.

He’ll have to prove that he’s healthy because nobody wants a goaltender with a bad groin. But Elliott’s resume should allow the Flyers to at least get something for him. Of course, they also might decide to keep Carter Hart in the minors to develop. Either way, Elliott’s going to provide value for the Flyers.

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