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The Carolina Hurricanes’ Upcoming Goalie Situation

By Matthew Nidiffer

TORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 19: Petr Mrazek #34 of the Carolina Hurricanes speaks with James Reimer #47 during a timeout against the Boston Bruins during the third period in Game Five of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 19, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 19: Petr Mrazek #34 of the Carolina Hurricanes speaks with James Reimer #47 during a timeout against the Boston Bruins during the third period in Game Five of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 19, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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Aug 11, 2020; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Joonas Korpisalo (70) makes a save against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the second period in game one of the first round of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 11, 2020; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Joonas Korpisalo (70) makes a save against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the second period in game one of the first round of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /

Potential Trade Targets

Seeing as how the Carolina Hurricanes have a plethora of talented goalie prospects, yet none are quite at the NHL level yet, the next obvious place too look for a solution would be via trade.

Now, I’m not saying any of these players are involved in any trade rumors, and I’m not saying I have insider info on any discussions, whether ongoing or in the future. This is just pure speculation, and is based on who I feel would mesh with the Canes’ culture and on-ice product going forward.

That being said there are three goalies in the league right now that I think would greatly benefit the Carolina Hurricanes: Antti Raanta, Joonas Korpisalo, and Marc-Andre Fleury.

Hear me out a bit. Antti Raanta, although making his way back from the IR list, is an incredible goaltender. In 2019-20, Raanta turned in a .921 save percentage, a 3.01 goals-against average, 2 shutouts, and a win/loss record of 15-14-3 in 32 games started.

These numbers might seem a bit off-putting, but when you consider he was on a largely flat Arizona Coyotes team (22nd in the league that year), playing behind a woeful defense, it’s not hard to see how his skills would translate playing behind the Canes’ superior defense.

Joonas Korpisalo should be another attractive option in net for the Canes; in 2019-20, Korpisalo turned in a .911 save percentage, 2.60 goals-against average, 2 shutouts, and a win/loss record of 19-12-5 in 35 games started. These numbers are very similar to Raanta’s, but Korpisalo also played on a team (Columbus) that was up and down the standings almost all year; Columbus, with help from both Joonas Korpisalo and Elvis Merzlikins, finished 14th that year.

Last, but not least, is Marc-Andre Fleury. I, personally, have been a huge Fleury fan for essentially his entire career. With Vegas signing Robin Lehner long-term, Fleury is either on the outs in Vegas, or is likely considered “1B” in a 1A/1B-type situation. In Carolina, though, Fleury would be a standout starter; in 2019-20 Fleury posted a .905 save percentage, 2.77 goals-against average, 5 shutouts, and a win/loss record of 27-16-5 in 48 games started.

Any one of these three guys would be a great fit, and one of them might even be a solid free agency pickup option.

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