Carolina Hurricanes Free Agency Preview: Goaltenders
The 2020 NHL free agency class looks to be deep with quality UFA goaltenders. Will the Carolina Hurricanes be bidders for any of their services?
The upcoming 2020 NHL free agent class looks to be one of the deepest in recent memory when it comes to the goaltending position. With several current or former number one netminders set to hit the open market, will the Carolina Hurricanes test the UFA pool?
In years past, the goaltending position has been a glaring weakness on the Hurricanes roster. Whether it was struggling to find a decent backup to Cam Ward or looking for a true number one guy the past few seasons, the position has always been a topic of interest surrounding the franchise.
This past season the Canes took massive strides forward with a solid and consistent performance from the duo of Petr Mrazek and Curtis McElhinney. Leading Carolina to their first post season birth in almost a decade, things were finally looking up until both guys opted to test free agency in the summer.
While McElhinney would end up departing to Tampa, the Canes were able to lock up Petr to a two year deal. After acquiring James Reimer from the Florida Panthers earlier in the off season, Carolina had a new tandem in net.
When this season started, and goaltending was back to being a mixed bag, rumors once again started to circulate that Don Waddell would look to make a move to address the position before the trade deadline. Although both Mrazek and Reimer have since gone on to put together a string of solid performances and solidify the position, let us take a look at some of the pending free agents and what they could possibly bring to the table next season and beyond.
Robin Lehner
The first name on this list had been linked to the Carolina Hurricanes since the summer of 2018. As a UFA, Robin Lehner was coming off a three year stint with the Buffalo Sabres where he posted a record of 42-61-22 in 133 appearances.
Dealing with personal issues while playing on a rebuilding team, Lehner was looking for a change in scenery to both get his life and career back on track. Opting to sign a one year “prove it” deal with the New York Islanders, he did just that.
Going 25-13-5 with a save percentage of .930 in his lone season on Long Island, he finished the season third in Vezina voting, while winning both the Jennings (fewest goals against) and Masterton (perseverance and sportsmanship) trophies.
Testing waters once again this past offseason, the Hurricanes were right there among the suitors for his services. Signing another one year “prove it” deal with the Chicago Blackhawks this time around, the Canes continued to keep close tabs on Lehner throughout the season, often calling to see his availability at the deadline.
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With both James and Petr going down right before trade deadline day, many thought that Carolina would finally pull the trigger on a deal, finally making him a Hurricane. As we all know, this never happened, as he would end up getting dealt to Vegas instead.
Appearing in a handful of games for the Golden Knights before the postponement of the NHL season, Lehner looked to have taken the starting reigns from Marc-Andre Fleury with a GAA of 1.67 and a save percentage of .940.
On record stating that he’s done looking for one year deals and wants long term stability, it remains to be seen if he has a future in Vegas. Almost seven years younger than Fleury, it is possible that he re-signs and the duo forms one of the leagues’ best 1A/1B tandems until Marc-Andre calls it a career.
However, if he enters the market for the third year in a row, could the Hurricanes once again come calling for his services?
Braden Holtby
A name familiar to Hurricanes fans, Braden Holtby is an interesting name to keep tabs on entering free agency. Posting a career worse .897 save percentage and 3.11 GAA this season, it appears as if his tenure in Washington is coming to an end with the emergence of 23 year old Ilya Samsonov.
Over the years he has been one of the goaltenders that has had Carolina’s number. Often stealing games with his stellar performances in net, he tended to leave a sour taste in the mouths of Hurricanes’ fans. Ever since their first round upset last season, the script seems to have flipped in favor in Carolina however.
Appearing to be a bit on the decline, a change in scenery could be just what that doctor ordered for the ten year, five time All Star vet to get back on track. Appearing in almost 500 regular season games he’s proven that he has what it takes to be an elite number one.
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Posting multiple 40 win seasons, and career save percentage of .916, he would be a nice addition to any team under the right circumstances. Just a few years removed from a Stanley Cup, he has been through the grind and knows what it takes to win.
Historically in the playoffs Holtby is a guy who elevates his game, with a save percentage of .928 and a GAA of 2.09. in 89 career appearances. The Hurricanes appear to be in win now mode under the ownership of Tom Dundon and his addition would further support that.
Similar to Sergei Bobrovsky, Holtby enters free agency looking for his last real pay day, and on the wrong side of 30, any long term deal will be a big mistake for whichever team locks him up. Panthers fans are already up in arms about Bob’s contract, and with six more years at 10 million per, it’s only going to get worse. The Canes will likely do the smart thing here and avoid repeating their mistake.
Jacob Markstrom
A bit of a late bloomer, Jacob Markstrom has had a solid campaign for the Vancouver Canucks this season. The main reason they are even in the playoff picture out west, Markstrom would be a bit of a gamble for whomever signs him to a big contract.
Markstrom hasn’t had that long history of being a true number one that other names of this list have had. Really just coming into his own two seasons ago, he had spent a majority of his career backing up elite goaltenders like Roberto Luongo until the 2017-18 season.
Splitting his ten year career between Florida and Vancouver the 30 year old native of Sweden has appeared in 272 contest, starting 256 of them. In those games, he post a record of 110-118-32. With a save percentage of .911 and a GAA of 2.8, his numbers may not be as impressive as Lehner or Holtby but they don’t really tell the full story.
What sets Markstrom apart is his big 6′ 6” frame. As a big body, it’s hard for opposing players to properly screen him. With his size he is able to see over and through most guys, forcing them to beat him five hole or outright, rather than via tip ins.
Missing some time with a lower body injury, his absence was severely felt in Vancouver, as they began a slide out of a comfortable playoff position. Should the NHL resume with some regular season games, he should be good to return to their lineup.
Yet to appear in a playoff game, you have to think that will have some influence on his decision during free agency. Should he see the Canucks as a possible contending team in the near future, he’s most than likely to re-up with them but if not, he would be an interest short term option for other teams.
Who Else?
In addition to Lehner, Holtby and Markstrom there are several other quality goaltenders potentially available this offseason. Among these names are a few more experienced veteran guys that will more than likely be looking for shorter, one to two year deals.
Ever since joining the Boston Bruins, Jaroslav Halak has been stellar. With a record of 40-17-10, he has formed one of the best 1-2 tandems in the whole NHL with Tuukka Rask. The fourteen year vet would be a nice addition to any team’s locker room and a valued mentor to younger goaltenders.
Corey Crawford is another experienced guy that could be searching for a new home this summer. Playing his entire thirteen year with the Hawks, this feels like a potential Cam Ward situation, where the player signs with another franchise for a single season before hanging up his skates.
At 35 his career is winding down, and with multiple Stanley Cups to his name, he’s had a decent run so retirement is also a possibility here, especially when you consider he recent injury/concussion concerns.
With Semyon Varlamov signing a multiple year deal with the Islanders last offseason he looks to be their guy going forward, making Thomas Greiss expendable. Splitting the nets with Lehner in 2018-19, he too won the Jennings trophy (fewest goals against). He has put in a handful of solid seasons in New York and would be a nice 1B type guy to a contending team.
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A familiar name to Hurricanes fans, Anton Khudobin has re-established himself as a capable goaltender after his return to Boston in 2016-17. Playing two seasons in Carolina already, a reunion is highly unlikely, as he seems to fit perfectly in Dallas sharing the crease with Ben Bishop.
Last two names from the Battle of Alberta, Mike Smith and Cam Talbot are two former number ones who have done a bit of soul searching the past couple of seasons. Both of these guys aren’t an upgrade over what the Hurricanes currently have in net so I highly doubt the Canes will be among their suitors.
Even though this UFA class is deep with quality and experienced goaltenders the Carolina Hurricanes have three guys on one way deals next year, the current NHL tandem of Mrazek and Riemer as well as Alex Nedeljkovic.
With the current log jam already, multiple pieces would have to be on the move for there to even be a fit or roster spot for another netminder. Because of this, it’s highly unlikely we’ll see the Canes sign any of these guys.
Question for CC readers: Would you like to see any of these guys in a Carolina Hurricanes uniform?