Two NHL teams, the Carolina Hurricanes and Edmonton Oilers, are searching for goaltending help. One goaltender from the Hurricanes is out with a health emergency and the Oilers recently sent down a goaltender who was not performing to expectations. Will they find help with five teams having goaltending depth?
Carolina goaltender Frederik Andersen has been ruled out indefinitely as his medical records have shown that he has a blood clotting issue, which requires immediate help.
Oilers goaltender Jack Campbell was sent to the Oilers AHL affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors, as he was not claimed on waivers. To fill the backup role, Edmonton recalled Calvin Pickard.
The Edmonton Oilers and Carolina Hurricanes will trade for goaltending depth
Two different teams in two different conferences need help between the pipes. The fact is that not many teams have the luxury of handing them a goaltender. They know Edmonton and Carolina need goaltenders so they will hold the goaltenders they have to drive up the price.
However, five teams in the NHL have three goaltenders on their main roster who could be part of a trade. The Buffalo Sabres, Los Angeles Kings, Detroit Red Wings, Philadelphia Flyers, and Montreal Canadians have three goalies a piece and could be had for the right price to Edmonton and Carolina.
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres have Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Eric Comrie, and Devon Levi on the roster. Luukkonen will be a restricted free agent after this season and is still young enough to overcome his early struggles.
Levi may be the one off of the Buffalo roster that will not be moved as the Sabres see him as the goaltender of the future. Comrie will be an unrestricted free agent after this season and has shown that he can be a starter or play the backup role.
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings have Ville Husso, James Reimer, and Alex Lyon. Husso has a modified no-trade and will be a UFA in 2025-26. Reimer has a 35+ modified no-trade clause and will be a UFA after this season. Lyon will be a UFA at the same time as Reimer but has yet to play a game in Detroit this season.
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings have Cam Talbot, Pheonix Copley, and David Rittich on the roster. All three will be unrestricted free agents after this season. One would have to think that Talbot, with the season is having, is off the table for the time being. Copley and Rittich could supply help with a backup role.
Montreal Canadians
The Montreal Canadians have Jake Allen, Sam Montembeault, and Cayden Primeau. Allen has a modified no-trade clause, Montembeault will be a UFA in 2024-25, and Primeau will be an RFA in 2025-26.
Allen and Montembeault are the likely two to get the most interest as Primeau has not lit the world on fire as of yet. Also, Montembeault has been given a chance as a starter and has done well so there could be value there.
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers have Carter Hart, Cal Petersen, and Samuel Ersson. Hart is interesting because he has struggled the past few seasons and could bring a nice return if moved.
Petersen and Ersson are not seen as starters at the moment so there could be another goaltender coming back or the Flyers may need to make a move to acquire another goaltender.
Several questions are involved in the goaltending puzzle. Do the Hurricanes stick with Antti Raanta and Pyotr Kochetkov?
They have not played well and both have save percentages under .900. Do the Oilers make a splash and grab Hart from Philadelphia? Does Edmonton stick with Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard as their tandem and force them to work it out? These are developing stories worth watching.