NHL Free Agency: 5 teams who should sign Braden Holtby

Longtime Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby will be testing NHL free agency. Which teams would make the most sense for him?

Braden Holtby has spent his entire career to this point in a Washington Capitals sweater. He’s been their starting goalie since the start of the 2012-13 season and has started at least 40 games in each season since then, and has only missed starting 50 games in two seasons since the start of the 2013-14 season. With the emergence of Ilya Samsonov, the Capitals are going to let Holtby test NHL free agency.

Thanks to having two straight down years, Holtby won’t be getting the huge deal he was projected to get. There likely isn’t a Sergei Bobrovsky offer out there for him. That said, Holtby has been about as durable as a goalie can be and his postseason resume is undeniably impressive, so there will still be suitors out there for him.

Even in a loaded goaltending market, Holtby won’t have a problem finding a new team to sign with. Here are five teams who should pursue him in free agency.

5. Chicago Blackhawks

If Holtby wants to be a starting goalie while still playing for a contending team, his best option might be the Chicago Blackhawks. The Blackhawks are pondering what to do with two-time Stanley Cup champion Corey Crawford. He might hit free agency just like Holtby.

With no starting goalies ready in their system, the Blackhawks are going to have to look for a new goalie if they part ways with Crawford. Holtby would be a nice fit for the Blackhawks for several reasons.

First of all, as I said earlier, their prospect pool is barren when it comes to goaltenders. Malcolm Subban is their most promising goalie and he has struggled mightily as of late. At best, he’s an NHL backup.

Secondly, the Blackhawks still have dreams of winning the Stanley Cup. Holtby’s postseason resume is one of the most impressive of any goalie in the salary cap era.