Trade Deadline Matchmaker: The Goaltending Market

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My eye is always on the net and I’m wondering, will the goaltending market soon be heating up?

In my estimation, probably not. Demand isn’t very high. But hardly a trade deadline goes by without several NHL teams adding depth in the crease.

So which clubs might be kicking tires on used goaltenders? Let’s take a look at three teams I think could use an upgrade in net and which goalies might fit:

Los Angles Kings

On Jan. 5, Daily Faceoff’s own Frank Seravalli released the Western Conference trade deadline objectives. And the Kings were the only team listed in need of a goaltender.

And while Pheonix Copley – with his 11-2-0 record – has been a revelation for the Kings, there’s still a need to address the one position that’s hobbled an otherwise stout lineup.

With Jonathan Quick struggling for the better part of the past three seasons, and Cal Petersen in the AHL, the Kings could use a quality netminder with recent playoff experience.

For me, the determining factor in who the Kings choose to target is whether the club still believes Petersen can be a No.1 goaltender. The 28-year old has two years remaining at a $5 million cap hit.

If L.A. thinks Petersen can regain form, then I’d expect the team to explore the rental market. Thomas Greiss and James Reimer could be available. But how much of an upgrade would they be over Copley? I’d argue not much, if any.

I think the Kings would be wise to look towards Canada’s capital, where Ottawa Senators goaltender Cam Talbot is in the final year of a contract carrying a $3.67 million cap hit. The Sens are a long shot for the postseason. And Talbot doesn’t have any trade protection.

With a career .921 save percentage in 33 Stanley Cup playoff games, Talbot comes with experience. And although his numbers this year aren’t staggering, I think he’d be a great fit for the Kings.

But here’s the catch: maybe L.A. wants to revamp their crease for the long haul. Would the Kings have the assets necessary to land Predators goalie Juuse Saros? What about Canucks backstop Thatcher Demko?

I don’t know if either goaltender is truly available. But both have attractive contracts. Saros and Demko would each come with a $5 million cap hit. The only difference is Demko’s deal runs through 2025-26, while Saros’ contract ends a year earlier at the completion of the 2024-25 season.

The Kings will have to make some tough decisions in the coming weeks.

New Jersey Devils

I like what Vitek Vanecek has done so far in New Jersey. He’s solidified the crease and provided the consistency that was lacking during the 2021-22 season. And I’d be surprised if the Devils were to make a move for a No. 1 goaltender.

But the No. 2 role in New Jersey has been extremely fluid this year. Mackenzie Blackwood and Akira Schmid have split the role, with mixed results.

Blackwood has been hit or miss and can’t stay healthy. And Schmid – despite a .919 save percentage in nine games – is still raw. The Swiss-born goaltender would be best served developing in the AHL.

I think the Devils could use to add some depth in goal. And who better than Craig Anderson of the Buffalo Sabres? He might be 41 years old, but his .923 save percentage this season shows that he can still play.

Anderson owns a .929 save percentage in 48 career Stanley Cup playoff games. And Buffalo has plenty of NHL-caliber goalies under contract. Between Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Eric Comrie, and Malcolm Subban, the Sabres have options. If Buffalo is going to miss the Stanley Cup playoffs, moving Anderson would be wise.

I think the NHL’s oldest player makes a ton of sense in New Jersey, even if someone like Anderson is just an inexpensive insurance piece.

Toronto Maple Leafs

At first glance, things are fine with the goaltending in Toronto. Newcomers Ilya Samsonov and Matt Murray both sport .916 save percentages and have combined for 22 wins on the season.

But a deeper dive reveals a worrisome trend in the Maple Leafs’ crease. In the past month of NHL action, Murray has posted an .886 save percentage. And Samsonov’s .890 isn’t much better.

I don’t think the Leafs have been very tight in front of their netminders. But old habits are creeping into Samsonov’s game and opposing teams have figured out Murray’s weak spots.

Toronto is absolutely stacked offensively. The Maple Leafs have cruised along to a 25-9-7 record with their current goaltending. But will Samsonov and Murray be good enough in the postseason?

Maybe. But there’s also the added worry of each goaltender staying healthy. Samsonov and Murray have missed significant time already this year.

Erik Kallgren isn’t the answer and Joseph Woll is still developing in the AHL after yet another injury sidelined him at the start of the season.

If I’m Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas, I’m adding a depth goaltender with NHL experience at the trade deadline. I think Reimer and Greiss could work. But Reimer does have some trade protection and previous ugly playoff history in Toronto. Who knows if the Leafs are a team he would rather not play for? And with Greiss, St. Louis may be in the Stanley Cup playoff hunt until the very end. So I’m not sure he’d be an option.

One name that intrigues me is Laurent Brossoit. He’s currently playing for the Henderson Silver Knights, Vegas’ AHL affiliate. With the Golden Knights a near lock to make the Stanley Cup playoffs, moving a depth goaltender would be somewhat surprising.

But Brossoit is on an expiring contract with a salary cap hit of $2.325 million. Would Vegas move that contract to gain cap space? I could see it, the only potential hiccup being Toronto taking on the cap hit. Especially considering goaltender Michael Hutchinson is also under contract.

I think Brossoit would be a good fit in Toronto as a third goalie. He’s got a .915 save percentage in the AHL this season and 106 games worth of NHL experience. Brossoit has battled through injury and belongs in the NHL.

One thing I am certain of: if the Maple Leafs lose out because of goaltending, jobs will be lost in Toronto. It’s been a storyline for too many years. Going with Murray and Samsonov was a major gamble going into the 2022-23 season. It’s mostly worked out to this point.

But there’s no shame in having a plan C. And I think the Maple Leafs would be wise to have one.