Ranking the top 5 available UFA goaltenders
Who are the best free agent goalies out there this offseason? Glad you asked, because I've ranked the top 5.
This NHL offseason is going to be a beautiful, chaotic storm. One of the biggest reasons why is there will be so many goalies available and so many teams looking to sign them.
It’s going to be like a massive game of Musical Chairs. Some goalies and teams will find their match quickly. Others won’t. Inevitably, a few teams or goalies (most likely the latter) will be stuck taking a less than ideal offer.
There will be a post later this week about goalies on the trade market later. I’ll have one out on the RFA goalies soon as well. Without further ado, here are the best (and worst) UFA goalies available.
Photo credit: Zimbio
1. Anton Khudobin
Anton Khudobin of the Dallas Stars has put up quietly impressive numbers during his time with the Stars. Over the past two seasons, his .926% save percentage ranks third among goalies with at least 60 appearances. The two goalies above him? Darcy Kuemper of the Arizona Coyotes and Khudobin’s teammate Ben Bishop.
Teams should be a bit wary of Khudobin’s age (he’s 34), but he has less mileage on his body than most goalies his age. Khudobin’s not a traditional number one goalie who will give you 50+ starts a season, but he’s one heck of a 1a or 1b.
Photo credit: DAN TOULGOET / VANCOUVER COURIER
2. Jacob Markstrom
Jacob Markstrom of the Vancouver Canucks is the best “traditional” number one goalie available in free agency. It took him a while to live up to his potential, but he’s been great since the start of the 2018-19 season. Among goalies with at least 80 games played during that span, Markstrom’s .915% save percentage ranks eighth.
Teams should be a bit careful with him because he just turned 30 years old. But a four or five year deal (preferably the former) would make sense.
Photo credit: Getty Images
3. Corey Crawford
Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, and Duncan Keith led the Chicago Blackhawks dynasty from 2009-10 to 2014-15. Each of them won a Conn Smythe. But don’t underestimate how great Corey Crawford has been for the Blackhawks.
He has had a positive GSAx (goals saved above expected) in each season since the 2012-13 season. It’s like clockwork. Each season, Crawford will give you very good goaltending. Consistency like that is rare for goalies, who are voodoo.
The only reason he’s not second is because of his uncertain future. Injuries have caught up to Crawford, unfortunately. I wouldn’t give him anything longer than a two year deal at this point, but if he’s healthy, Crawford’s a terrific goaltender. He’s probably best off in a tandem at this point.
Photo Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
4. Cam Talbot
Entering the 2017-18 season, Cam Talbot had quietly been a pretty reliable goaltender. The Edmonton Oilers messy defense and several circumstances beyond his control led to him having the worst year of his career in 2018-19. Talbot came back strong with the Calgary Flames, earning the starting job for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
At this stage, Talbot is a backup goalie. But he’s about as reliable as they come. According to Evolving Hockey, Talbot’s GSAx (goals saved above expected) has been positive in five of his seven seasons. It was at -0.29 last season, but I’d trust his track record of consistent success. I wouldn’t give him longer than two years, though.
Photo Credit: USA Today Sports
5a. Henrik Lundqvist
Being handsome af was considered in this ranking, which is why Henrik Lundqvist is on this list. Just kidding. Lundqvist is no longer the elite goaltender he was for most of the past decade, but he still has enough left in the tank to be a very capable backup.
Lundqvist is getting old, which explains his declining stats, but the New York Rangers defense deserves a lionshare of the blame as well. On a team with a better defense, Lundqvist would probably be a pretty darn good backup. As an added bonus, any team that signs him gets to see Helmetless Hank on a regular basis.
Photo Credit: NHL.com
5b. Thomas Greiss
If you’re looking for a goalie with consistent success in a tandem, Thomas Greiss is your guy. At 34 years old, he doesn’t deserve anything more than a two-year deal. But with the league finally realizing having a tandem is great, Greiss should have no issues finding another job.
Honorable Mentions
Braden Holtby has been objectively bad for the past three regular seasons, especially the 2019-20 season. But a change in scenery could help the 2018 Stanley Cup champion return to form. Also, Holtby’s a first-rate human being, which is what really matters in life.
Aaron Dell has a positive GSAx in three of his four NHL seasons. You could certainly do worse if you’re looking for a backup goalie, especially one who will likely be cheap.
Ryan Miller is technically a free agent, but I’d be shocked if he plays for a team other the Anaheim Ducks or another team near California. There’s also a non-zero chance the winningest American-born goaltender in NHL history could hang up the skates. If he decides to continue playing, he’s a very reliable backup and a pretty funny guy.