Stanley Cup winner Adin Hill among pending UFA goalies this summer
It should be a busy summer on the goaltending carousel
Free agency in the National Hockey League can be a risky proposition at the best of times but when that is coupled with the goaltending position, that is a situation that is fraught with uncertainty.
This summer, there is likely going to be some movement in the goalie market. In addition to free agents, there are several notable goaltenders rumored to be available in trade including Connor Hellebuyck, John Gibson, Carter Hart, Daniel Vladar, Karel Vejmelka, and likely one of the goalies in Buffalo.
In addition to the trade options, there might be a handful of potential starting goaltenders available on the free agent market this summer, though each of them comes with some degree of risk.
But how could it be any other way? Risk is the name of the game at this position and look no further than the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs for evidence. The goaltenders with the top Saves Above Expected in the playoffs were Sergei Bobrovsky (+15.91), Adin Hill (+14.78), Igor Shesterkin (+9.40), Frederik Andersen (+7.61), and Akira Schmid (+4.40).
Shesterkin and Andersen have relatively strong recent track records. Bobrovsky has been below average in three of the past four seasons and did not start the playoffs as the Panthers’ No. 1 goaltender. Hill has performed well enough in small samples but played a career high 27 NHL games for Vegas this season. Schmid played much of the season in the American Hockey League, though he excelled once called up to New Jersey. All of this is to say that it is difficult to predict which goaltender is going to show up and make the difference in the quest for the Stanley Cup.
Here is a look at the 2023 class of unrestricted free agent goaltenders (minimum 10 GP in 2022-2023; data in table from past three seasons):
Free Agent NHL Goaltenders
Semyon Varlamov, N.Y. Islanders (11-9-2, .913 SV%, +5.85 GSAx, 23 GP)
Consistently above average though the 35-year-old has seen a reduced workload in the past two seasons as Ilya Sorokin has taken hold of the No. 1 job for the Islanders. Varlamov may be content with being an overqualified backup at this stage of his career but is probably capable of handling a role in a goaltending tandem that has a more even split of responsibility.
Frederik Andersen, Carolina (21-11-1, .903 SV%, -0.92 GSAx, 34 GP)
The veteran goaltender has had a harder time staying healthy in recent seasons, but he also finished fourth in Vezina Trophy voting in 2021-2022. The 33-year-old’s strong playoff performance could go a long way to establishing his value in the marketplace.
Anthony Stolarz, Anaheim (5-6, .897 SV%, +0.85 GSAx, 19 GP)
The huge netminder has played more than 20 games in a season just once in his career, but the 29-year-old has trended towards better than average performance when healthy. He is a worthy consideration in a backup role but not easy to trust because of durability issues.
Alex Lyon, Florida (9-4-2, .912 SV%, +8.62 GSAx, 15 GP)
A career minor leaguer, the 30-year-old Lyon saved the Panthers’ season with strong play down the stretch to get the team into the postseason. Will that small sample be enough to secure a backup job in the NHL for next season?
Antti Raanta, Carolina (19-3-3, .910 SV%, +2.88 GSAx, 27 GP)
Although durability has never been Raanta’s strong suit – he has played more than 30 games in a season just once in his career – he has typically performed at an above average level when he has been in the lineup. The 34-year-old is not a realistic option as a starter but is a quality backup.
Laurent Brossoit, Vegas (7-0-3, .927 SV%, +5.25 GSAx, 11 GP)
After spending most of the season in the AHL following off-season hip surgery, Brossoit had been thrust into the starter’s role for the Golden Knights in the playoffs before getting injured. He has never played more than 24 games in an NHL season, but his strong play during the regular season and into the playoffs should give the 30- year-old more appeal than he ever had before.
Adin Hill, Vegas (16-7-1, .915 SV%, +4.02 GSAx, 27 GP)
Even though he played in a career-high 27 games in 2022-2023, Hill has yet to establish that he can handle a more significant workload in the NHL. He performed at an above-average level during the regular season and was excellent in the playoffs leading Vegas to the Stanley Cup, so it is possible that the 27-year-old still has a chance to be a starter, and maybe it will even happen in Vegas.
Magnus Hellberg, Detroit (5-8-1, .888 SV%, -5.28 GSAx, 18 GP)
After playing a total of five NHL games in his career prior to last season, the 32-year-old netminder appeared in a career-high 18 games in 2022-2023. Hellberg did not show enough to presume that he will have an NHL job next season.
Jaroslav Halak, N.Y. Rangers (10-9-5, .903 SV%, +2.44 GSAx, 25 GP)
While the 38-year-old has seen his performance dip in the past three seasons, relative to his consistently strong results before that, Halak is still a competent backup in a limited role.
Alex Stalock, Chicago (9-15-2, .908 SV%, -3.85 GSAx, 27 GP)
Health issues had limited Stalock to just one game in the previous two seasons before the 35-year-old delivered a solid enough performance in a backup role for the Blackhawks. He probably will need to move on from Chicago but may have earned another contract with his 2022-2023 results.
Collin Delia, Vancouver (10-6-2, .882 SV%, -4.89 GSAx, 20 GP)
Pressed into action when Thatcher Demko was injured and then Spencer Martin struggled, Delia ended up playing in a career-high 20 games. The 29-year-old might be best suited as a No. 3 for an organization.
Tristan Jarry, Pittsburgh (24-13-7, .909 SV%, -5.11 GSAx, 47 GP)
Injuries hindered the 28-year-old netminder in 2022-2023 and his performance was inconsistent even when he was healthy. Though his advanced stats have not been great, Jarry is a viable starting goaltender and that will have appeal in the marketplace, but he would have been more likely to cash in following the 2021-2022 campaign, which was the best of his career.
Erik Kallgren, Toronto (7-10-0, .896 SV%, -8.25 GSAx, 21 GP)
While Kallgren has appeared in 24 games for the Maple Leafs over the past two seasons, the 26-year-old has managed a .892 save percentage, so he’s not exactly forcing his way into a regular NHL role.
Michael Hutchinson, Columbus (2-6-3, .875 SV%, -8.88 GSAx, 16 GP)
Nomad goaltender appeared in 16 games for the Blue Jackets after he was acquired from Vegas in exchange for Jonathan Quick. The last time he appeared in more NHL games was in 2016-2017, but that does not set him up for an NHL gig next season.
Alex Nedeljkovic, Detroit (5-7-2, .895 SV%, -7.59 GSAx, 15 GP)
A Calder Trophy finalist in 2020-2021, Nedeljkovic has struggled since landing in Detroit and was demoted to the AHL last season. He is still just 27, so there might be a team willing to take a chance on resurrecting his career, but his recent performance means that Nedeljkovic comes with a lot more risk.
Jonathan Quick, Vegas (16-15-6, .882 SV%, -21.89 GSAx, 41 GP)
A two-time Stanley Cup winner, Quick is 37 years old and while he was a little better in 10 appearances for the Golden Knights down the stretch, 2022-2023 was still one of the worst seasons of his career.
James Reimer, San Jose (12-21-8, .890 SV%, -15.01 GSAx, 43 GP)
The 35-year-old veteran was probably asked to handle more than he should have at this stage of his career and the results were less than ideal. He has typically been around league average, though, so he could be a bona fide backup with expectations of a reduced workload compared to his past two seasons.
David Rittich, Winnipeg (9-8-1, .901 SV%, -4.21 GSAx, 21 GP)
The veteran has moved into a backup role, appearing in 57 games over the past three seasons. His performance has been a little below average, so the 30-year-old is not a big draw, but still an option for a team that needs an inexpensive backup.
Cam Talbot, Ottawa (17-14-2, .898 SV%, -2.21 GSAx, 36 GP)
The Senators traded for Talbot, with the idea that he would give the team a steady No. 1 option between the pipes and that did not materialize. He will turn 36 this summer and may be an option for a goaltending tandem but it would be hard for a team to pin starter’s expectations upon him.
Joonas Korpisalo, Los Angeles (18-14-4, .914 SV%, +10.26 GSAx, 39 GP)
After years spent as a mostly below average backup goaltender, Korpisalo was at his best in 2022-2023. The challenge for any team considering signing the 29-year-old is figuring out if his new level of play is sustainable and just how much they are willing to bet that is the case.
Brian Elliott, Tampa Bay (12-8-2, .891 SV%, -7.60 GSAx, 22 GP)
Not a great year for the 38-year-old who has extended his career with a couple of seasons backing up Andrei Vasilevskiy in Tampa Bay. At a discount price, Elliott might still be a viable backup consideration for a team with a premier starter, but it is more likely to be the end of the line.
Thomas Greiss, St. Louis (7-10-0, .896 SV%, -8.25 GSAx, 21 GP)
The past couple of seasons have been rough for Greiss and, at this stage of his career, it could be a challenge for the 37-year-old to secure an NHL contract for next season.
Martin Jones, Seattle (27-13-3, .886 SV%, -15.74 GSAx, 48 GP)
The 33-year-old goalie earned more starts than expected, posting a 20-5-3 record in his first 30 appearances for the Kraken. The problem was that his pedestrian .898 save percentage was still better than he managed the rest of the way, finishing with a .862 save percentage in his last 18 appearances of the season. Jones could still find work in a backup role, but there should be no illusions about him matching his 2022-2023 playing time.
GSAx via Natural Stat Trick
Free Agent Status via CapFriendly