An Argument Against a Carolina Hurricanes Goaltender Change

Should the Carolina Hurricanes seek new goalies?

With the Carolina Hurricanes rumored to be looking at making changes to their goaltending position yet again, here is why they are better off standing pat.

With a deep crop of goaltenders available this offseason both via unrestricted free agency and the trade route it comes as no surprise to see the Carolina Hurricanes’ name thrown around as a team who could potentially be looking to make a change in net.

When you think back to the past couple of seasons goaltending has been one of the biggest concerns so naturally, this comes as no surprise. However, once you look a bit deeper at the numbers and rumored cost around the league the better decision may actually be to stand pat.

Before we look at the names that could be on the move, let us first look at what both Petr Mrazek and James Reimer have done in a Hurricanes uniform.

Starting with Reimer, he came to Raleigh via trade from the Florida Panthers. In his first season with the Hurricanes, he appeared in 25 regular-season games going 14-6-2 with a .914 save percentage and a 2.66 goals-against average.

In the playoffs, he played in three games going 2-1-0 with a .934 save percentage and a 2.33 GAA. His only loss was a result of a total team collapse in the third period of game four versus the Boston Bruins.

Mrazek, on the other hand, has appeared in 80 regular-season games for the Carolina Hurricanes over the past two seasons. Going 44-30-5 in those games he has a .909 save percentage and 2.54 GAA in a Canes uniform.

In the postseason, he has appeared in 16 games going 7-8-0 with a .906 save percentage and a 2.56 GAA, not much different from his regular-season numbers. Looking at just this year’s playoffs, he was 2-3 with a .929 save percentage and a GAA of 2.2. In two of his three losses, the Hurricanes only managed to score a single goal and the other was in double OT so you can’t really pin any of them on Petr.

Both Petr and James have another year left on their current contracts, and when you consider Alex Nedeljkovic is also on a one-way deal starting next season, the Hurricanes would have to move out not one but two of their current goalies if they want to bring in someone new. With a deep pool of netminders to choose from, it’ll be rather difficult to get anything of real value for this year’s tandem if they do decide to go that route.

Excessive price tags on the trade market.

Of the names on the trade market, Carolina has been linked to Matt Murray of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Frederik Andersen of the Toronto Maple Leafs most often. Murray is a two-time cup winner entering RFA status with arbitration rights. While he did manage to beat out Marc-Andre Fleury for the Penguins starting role a few years back, he has already lost that title to Tristan Jarry.

Over the past two seasons (to compare with what Petr has done in his time with the Canes) Murray has appeared in 88 games. With an overall record of 49-25-1,  a .911 save percentage, and GAA of 2.77 his numbers aren’t that much of an improvement. In the playoffs, he has only a single win in seven games with a decline in his save percentage and an increase in goal against.

Although he is the youngest goalie on this list at 26, the reported asking price of a first-rounder is far too much to give up. When you consider what contract he’ll probably get from an independent arbitrator if it goes that far in extension talks, this doesn’t seem like smart asset management.

While the Canes have at least inquired about Murray, they appear to be more interested in Frederik Andersen of Toronto. A former Carolina Hurricanes’ draft pick, he has appeared in 112 games for the Leafs over the past two seasons. Going 65-29-14 he is among the wins leaders over that span.

While his GAA of 2.81 and .914 save percentage are a result of being on a poor defensive team. The Canes also give up a lot of high danger chances so it isn’t likely that his numbers would be much different should they go out and acquire him.

In the postseason he is only 5-7-0 with a GAA of 2.41 and a .928 save percentage. Although those numbers don’t exactly show the level of goaltender he is when he is on, the Leaf’s inability to get it done when it counts is a major reason they are considering moving on from him and looking elsewhere for an upgrade themselves.

The thought that they are still attempting to get Brett Pesce and/or the 13th overall pick back in this deal should make it a none starter for Carolina unless there are major adds on the Leafs’ side. Giving up a top-four guy signed to one of the best contracts in the league for a rental netminder who may or may not improve your team is a terrible decision no matter how you look at it.

Some other names that may be available via trades this offseason are Marc-Andre Fleury of the Vegas Golden Knights and Darcy Kuemper and Antti Raanta of the Arizona Coyotes. With Vegas reportedly having a deal in place with pending UFA Robin Lehner Fleury’s time in Vegas appears to be at an end.

Better suited as a 1B at this point in his career, having two more years left on his current deal at seven million per makes this bad choice. Although this could be a good time for the Canes to swap out a bad contract of their own, it seems like the Golden Knights may have to pay a team to take on the remainder of his current deal if they go their separate ways.

In Arizona, both Raanta and Kuemper could be on the block. While both have shown to be solid options in net, they certainly have a lot of risks.

Raanta can’t seem to stay healthy, only appearing in 45 games over the past two seasons. Should the Canes go out and trade for him I feel like it would be a lateral move at best with the potential to be much worst, and that is not even including the fact that they would give up an asset in the deal.

Kuemper on the other hand would be buying high. The only reason the Yotes were in the games against Avalanche was that he was standing on his head throughout the series. While he has had decent numbers throughout his career, the price may be far too hefty to acquire the 30-year-old netminder given the amount teams reportedly interested in him.