Taking a look at the unsettled NHL goaltender market

With coaching camps on the horizon, there are still some goaltending circumstances around the NHL that are unsettled. Accordingly, these groups may perhaps be scheduling on choosing up a second goaltender on waivers through the preseason as Montreal did with Samuel Montembeault final year. With that in intellect, let’s study who could be searching for a goalie and which groups have a netminder that could be of fascination.

Possibly Searching

Arizona: The Coyotes have one particular of their two goalies locked up for three several years in Karel Vejmelka but after that, there is absolutely nothing but dilemma marks. Farmhands Jon Gillies and Ivan Prosvetov have some NHL working experience but Gillies struggled final time with New Jersey and Prosvetov hasn’t posted a .900 SV% in the last two seasons in the minors. Cap room is not an concern for them so they can look at any of the possibilities out there on waivers or just take on a negative deal for further payment.

Chicago: Right now, Alex Stalock is their backup goalie. He has missed most of the past two seasons battling his way back from myocarditis and struggled significantly in the minors very last 12 months. Granted, the Blackhawks unquestionably aren’t in get-now manner but in a excellent earth, they’d like Arvid Soderblom to have an uninterrupted yr with AHL Rockford. Presently, he’s third on the depth chart but if there is a chance to provide in a low-price next-stringer and push Stalock into the spot of getting the a single to be recalled if an injury occurs, they could want to acquire it. The waiver wire could be the prospect to increase that.

Philadelphia: With Ivan Fedotov remaining blocked from going to North The united states this year due to a military motivation, the Flyers are heading to have to convert to Program B. Felix Sandstrom is presently their next choice but he has just 5 profession NHL appearances under his belt. They’re on the lookout to be extra aggressive this time so this could be a place for an improve. Granted, Sandstrom would then need to have to be waived to be despatched back again to Lehigh Valley but that would have been the scenario if Fedotov had been in a position to engage in so it’s a hazard they could be cozy with.

Of program, an damage or two all through the preseason could incorporate to the record of suitors in the coming months as nicely.

Groups That Could Reduce A Goalie

For the intent of this training, the focus is likely to be on both youthful goalies that could be appealing or veterans with some the latest NHL knowledge that could fill a hole.

Buffalo:
Malcolm Subban was brought back to be the veteran to associate with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen in AHL Rochester but he has 86 games of NHL expertise beneath his belt and a offer which is only $100K above the league least. He has been a complete-time backup likely back again to his time with Vegas which would also bolster his chances of probably currently being claimed.

Dallas: Suitable now, Anton Khudobin appears to be the odd a person out once more with Jake Oettinger and Scott Wedgewood set to be the goalie duo for the Stars. Khudobin is now in the remaining 12 months of his offer which carries a $3.33MM AAV. It wouldn’t be surprising if he cleared waivers but if Dallas would like to free of charge up a bit of extra income for Jason Robertson’s agreement, they’ll be contacting Arizona to see what it would value for them to get that agreement on.

Los Angeles:
Pheonix Copley has cleared waivers without any issues the last pair of years but also was on a pricey deal for a 3rd-string possibility. Now, he’s on a significantly extra palatable offer ($825K) and is coming off an spectacular time in AHL Hershey. The 30-year-aged was the backup for the Capitals again in 2018-19.

Nashville: This is the most exciting 1 to keep an eye on. Whilst Connor Ingram held his have in the playoffs for the Preds, they still went and brought in Kevin Lankinen on a a person-12 months, $1.5MM deal. Which is a great deal to pay a 3rd-string option so it could place Ingram in jeopardy. Nevertheless, if they consider to sneak Ingram by means of, there is a incredibly good probability he’ll be claimed, particularly with an AAV that’s down below the least. Carrying a few goalies is a risk but normally not excellent so one thing could possibly have to give here.

New York (R): The Rangers went and introduced in Louis Domingue on a two-calendar year contract to be their insurance policies coverage but he could attractiveness to some other teams as very well. He did alright in the playoffs for Pittsburgh and has 142 game titles of NHL knowledge in excess of pieces of two seasons. Both several years are 1-way which was possible to test to deter other teams from saying him but with an AAV of just $775K, he may draw in some interest.

Seattle: With Martin Jones joining the Kraken as their backup, that is likely to force both of those Joey Daccord and Magnus Hellberg to the waiver wire. Daccord was viewed as a achievable NHL choice not very long ago and at 26, there could however be some upside right after a powerful period with AHL Charlotte. Hellberg, in the meantime, has been dominant in the KHL the previous few several years which prompted Detroit to give him a temporary appear down the stretch last season. Other teams may well want to take a glance as well depending on how factors go around the up coming number of weeks.

Winnipeg:
Mikhail Berdin is the 1 goalie on this record that doesn’t have any NHL working experience but at 24, he’s also the youngest in this team. If a rebuilding team desires to take a seem at a younger backup to see if there is a little something there, this is the sort of goalie they’d most likely want to go for.

Of course, there will be other goalies that will hit the waiver wire in the coming weeks that could be of fascination to teams as well dependent on what transpires over the preseason. There won’t be a ton of waiver action among the pipes — there not often is — but 1 or two of these players could be shifting groups in the coming months.