Since the Caps have a rather large void between the pipes right now, I thought a quick glance at each of the 30 teams and their goalie situations was in order (I had a couple of hours to kill before Game 2 of the Penguins-Rangers series and I chipped away at it during the game). I'll add a list of the top UFAs at the position tomorrow, but needless to say the list is neither deep nor impressive. Cristobal Huet will be making plenty of money if he decides to wait until July 1st or 2nd to sign.
WASHINGTON
Starter: ???
Backup: Brent Johnson, signed through 2008-09
Top prospects: Simeon Varlamov, Michal Neuvirth
Skinny: Can they afford Huet and is he willing to stay in D.C.? Will Kolzig consider coming back? Do the Caps go after Jose Theodore or Dan Ellis if either makes it to the open market, or do they explore a trade? Do they bring in a short-term option to split-time with Johnson until the kids are ready? It could be a summer of questions in net in the District.
ANAHEIM
Starter: J.S. Giguere signed through 2010-11
Backup: Jonas Hiller, RFA
Top prospect: Jean-Philippe Levasseur
Skinny: Ducks are set with Giggy for the near future and Hiller will likely be back. Expect Anaheim to be in the market for a goalie in the draft to develop.
ATLANTA
Starter: Kari Lehtonen, RFA
Backup: ???
Top prospect: Ondrej Pavelec
Skinny: Lehtonen should be back, but can he ever stay healthy? Pavelec looked great in a start against the Caps, and could be his backup if Johan Hedberg isn't brought back and the Thrashers don't go outside for a veteran.
BOSTON
Starter: Tim Thomas, signed through 2008-09
Backup: Manny Fernandez, signed through 2008-09
Top prospect: Tuukka Rask
Skinny: If Fernandez is healthy next year, Claude Julien will likely deal with questions about his rotation. Thomas can be great but also erratic, and Fernandez makes about four times as much money.
BUFFALO
Starter: Ryan Miller, signed through 2008-09
Backup: ???
Top prospect: Jhonas Enorth
Skinny: Jocelyn Thibault is a free agent, so a backup is needed. The Sabres need to A) lock up Miller and B) get Enroth across the pond to Rochester.
CAROLINA
Starter: Cam Ward, signed through 2009-10
Backup: ???
Top prospect: Justin Peters
Skinny: John Grahame is a free agent, so a backup is needed. The Hurricanes could take a goalie pretty early in the draft this year as well. Ward was better this year than last but still not at his 2006 Stanley Cup run level.
CALGARY
Starter: Mikka Kiprusoff, signed through 2013-14
Backup: ???
Top prospect: Leland Irving
Skinny: Kiprusoff isn't going anywhere anytime soon. Curtis Joseph is a free agent, so a backup is needed. Irving will probably need at least a year in the AHL.
CHICAGO
Starter: Nikolai Khabibulin, signed through 2008-09
Backup: ???
Top prospect: Corey Crawford
Skinny: The Bulin Wall is aging but probably has one more contract in him. Patrick Lalime is a free agent, but the Blackhawks could let Crawford take his place although Khabibulin's health is always an issue, so a veteran may be added.
COLUMBUS
Starter: Pascal Leclaire, RFA
Backup: Fredrik Norrena, signed through 2008-09
Top prospect: Steve Mason
Skinny: Either Leclaire or Mason will be the goaltender for a long time, but the Blue Jackets need to figure out which one it is.
COLORADO
Starter: ???
Backup: Peter Budaj, signed through 2008-09
Top prospects: Trevor Cann and Billy Sauer
Skinny: Jose Theodore is a free agent, and has played his way into another nice contract. Do the Avs re-sign him, or is this a possible landing spot for Olie Kolzig as a 1/1A situation with Budaj? Colorado has loads of cap space, so that shouldn't be an issue.
DALLAS
Starter: Marty Turco, signed through 2009-10
Backup: ???
Top prospect: Tobias Stephan
Skinny: Trading Mike Smith for pending free agent Johan Holmqvist opens up a spot behind Turco. The Stars could be in the market for a goalie of the future in June.
DETROIT
Starter: Chris Osgood, signed through 2010-11
Backup: ???
Top prospect: Jimmy Howard
Skinny: The Red Wings are a team to watch. Dominik Hasek is a free agent and could retire (again), Osgood is signed but at a very cheap rate and Howard is almost too old to be a prospect anymore. They could go with those two or be a dark horse in the Huet/Theodore/Ellis sweepstakes.
EDMONTON
Starter: Mathieu Garon, signed through 2008-09
Backup: Dwayne Roloson, signed through 2008-09
Top prospect: Jeff Deslauriers
Skinny: Roloson took this team to the Cup finals in 2006, but Garon outplayed him this season. They have one more year together to battle it out, but the Oilers could be looking for some young blood.
FLORIDA
Starter: Tomas Vokoun, signed through 2010-11
Backup: Craig Anderson, signed through 2008-09
Top prospect: Tyler Plante
Skinny: The Panthers are set for the next few seasons with Vokoun. Developing someone to challenge him after that is on the to-do list.
LOS ANGELES
Starter: Jason LaBarbera, signed through 2008-09
Backup: ???
Top prospect: Jonathan Bernier
Skinny: The Kings used seven guys last season, which pretty much sums it up. Bernier is going to be the guy, but how soon? L.A. left Dan Cloutier and his $3.1 million salary in the minors for most of the year, and he's got one more left. Don't count this out as a spot for Olie Kolzig.
MINNESOTA
Starter: Niklas Backstrom, signed through 2008-09
Backup: Josh Harding, signed through 2008-09
Top prospect: Anton Khudobin
Skinny: There will be decisions to be made after next year, but the Wild are good for another season. Finding someone to replace Harding as the potential Next Guy is on tap.
MONTREAL
Starter: Carey Price, signed through 2009-10
Backup: Jaroslav Halak, signed through 2008-09
Top prospect: Price
Skinny: The Habs are set for the next decade with Price. Halak could draw some interest on the trade market, and Montreal will probably look for a veteran No. 3 (think Brian Boucher-type) to stash at Hamilton.
NASHVILLE
Starter: ???
Backup: Chris Mason, signed through 2009-10
Top prospect: Pekka Rinne
Skinny: Dan Ellis grabbed the No. 1 gig for the Predators, but he is a free agent and needs to be re-signed. Mason is locked in for two more years at $3 million, and going with him and Rinne could be Plan B, but Nashville is expected to spend this offseason with new ownership.
NEW JERSEY
Starter: Martin Brodeur, signed through 2011-2012
Backup: Kevin Weekes, signed through 2008-09
Top prospect: Jeff Frazee
Skinny: Marty's still the man in New Jersey, but there will be questions again this season about getting him more rest during the regular season. Weekes was supposed to be the answer, but Brodeur still played 77 games.
N.Y. ISLANDERS
Starter: Rick DiPietro, signed through 2020-21
Backup: ???
Top prospect: Jase Weslosky
Skinny: The Isles are set for three more presidential elections with DiPietro, but backup Wade Dubielewicz is a free agent. New York won't be spending a high pick on a goalie anytime soon, but a late-round project as long-term insurance would be a good idea.
N.Y. RANGERS
Starter: Henrik Lundqvist, signed through 2013-14
Backup: ???
Top prospect: David LeNeveu
Skinny: King Henrik is locked up, but backup Stephen Valiquette is a free agent and one-time mega-prospect Al Montoya was shipped to Phoenix. The Blueshirts will be looking for a more reliable caddy than LeNeveu.
OTTAWA
Starter: Martin Gerber, signed through 2008-09
Backup: ???
Top prospect: Brian Elliot
Skinny: As you may have heard, Ottawa GM Bryan Murray has a goalie on the trading block. He'll take a bag of used pucks for Ray Emery if he can get it. Maybe Gerber can be the guy, but it didn't look like it the second half of this season. The Senators could be in on the Huet/Theodore/Ellis sweepstakes if they can afford it. It would be close to Montreal for Huet's family. Consider this another potential destination for Kolzig as well.
PHILADELPHIA
Starter: Martin Biron, signed through 2008-09
Backup: Antero Nittymaki, signed through 2008-09
Top prospect: Jakub Kovar
Skinny: The Flyers are good to go next season with deciding Biron's long-term value high on the priority list.
PHOENIX
Starter: Ilya Bryzgalov, signed through 2010-11
Backup: Mikael Tellqvist, signed through 2008-09
Top prospect: Al Montoya
Skinny: In case anyone forgot, the Caps had first dibs on Bryzgalov and passed, presumably to not upset Kolzig. The Coyotes were quite happy with his performance and inked him to a 3-year extension. Phoenix went from zero goalies of the future to two by adding Bryzgalov and Montoya, which is a pretty good year's work.
PITTSBURGH
Starter: Marc-Andre Fleury, RFA
Backup: ???
Top prospect: David Brown
Skinny: Fitting Fleury in with the other high-priced kids on this team could take some creativity, but he has eased concerns about his ability to be a franchise guy in the past couple months. Ty Conklin was a great story, but it is a free agent. Dany Sabourin is under contract, but a more capable backup could be sought.
SAN JOSE
Starter: Evgeni Nabokov, signed through 2010-11
Backup: ???
Top prospect: Thomas Greiss
Skinny: Nabokov was great this season even without a real backup for most of the season. Brian Boucher is a free agent, and the Sharks didn't seem to have much confidence in the kids so a veteran option could be nabbed.
ST. LOUIS
Starter: Manny Legace, signed through 2008-09
Backup: Hannu Toivonen, RFA
Top prospect: Marek Schwarz
Skinny: Another team close to playoff contention but some question about the long-term answer in net. Legace had a nice year but will be 35 and a pending free agent after next season. Toivonen hasn't reached his potential and Schwarz may not be ready to yet.
TAMPA BAY
Starter: Mike Smith, signed through 2008-09
Backup: Karri Ramo, signed through 2008-09
Top prospects: Ramo, Riku Helenius
Skinny: The Lightning think they have their solution with Smith. The two Finns are now the fallback options, although Ramo looked pretty good at times this past season. Marc Denis could be bought out sooner rather than later.
TORONTO
Starter: Vesa Toskala, signed through 2009-10
Backup: Andrew Raycroft, signed through 2008-09
Top prospect: Justin Pogge
Skinny: Toskala was really good after some early troubles, while Raycroft was really bad. He could be bought out if they Leafs want a better option there. If they are really going to rebuild, Toskala could become trade bait (if Huet is too expensive and Kolzig won't come back, the GM to be named in Toronto could be getting a phone call from George McPhee).
VANCOVER
Starter: Roberto Luongo, signed through 2009-10
Backup: ???
Top prospect: Cory Schneider
Skinny: Curtis Sanford is a free agent, so a caddy for Luongo is needed. Schneider could be that guy. This would be close to home for Kolzig, but only if he were willing to take a big pay cut and be a true backup.
Comments (6)
Thanks, Corey--
Caps' fans going through withdrawal appreciate your updates.
Posted by Jim H | April 28, 2008 12:48 AM
In addition to Ellis and Theodore, the Caps could consider Alex Auld if they're unable to re-sign Huet.
Posted by dmg | April 28, 2008 11:35 AM
Corey. Good list. Your list suggests that based on the current status quo there are only two clear-cut teams that almost surely would be interested in Huet - Ottawa and LA. While Ottawa probably appeals to Huet and his wife, you would think that Ottawa would encounter salary cap issues giving Huet a rich, long-term contract with Gerber at $3.5 million still on the roster and trying to retain all of their other expensive players. As for LA, they may have the money but in light of Bernier why would LA want to give Huet a rich, four year contract - which may be the same sticking point that Huet and the Caps have - when they may be projecting Bernier to be ready to be their starter in three years. Also, why would LA want to pay a lot per year now for Huet for several years before their young prospects blossom. In other words, it seems like the Caps, who are fancying themselves as a Cup contender as early as next season, have more of an incentive to throw a lot of money at Huet for the next two years than LA does.
Posted by Monty | April 28, 2008 2:49 PM
I think you have to throw Colorado in there as a potential destination for Huet. Theodore is okay, but given his track record I wouldn't be surprised if the Avs just decide they aren't willing to take a chance on him.
Posted by dmg | April 28, 2008 5:16 PM
The Caps have to resign Mike Green and that is going to cost dollars. But it is highly unlikely the Caps are going to let Huet go to another team because of money. Kolzig's money will be freed up, Jagr's $3.6M will come off the books, etc. If Varlamov or Neuvirth was ready for 2008-2009 I could see the club standing pat with Johnson as the backup, but as it is the team needs Huet to contend in 2009 and 2010.
Posted by Roy Hobbs | May 4, 2008 12:10 PM
Avs are an older club. Sakic, Forsberg, Foote, etc. If the money is close Huet is not going to leave playing with the stars of the future for the stars of the past.
Posted by Roy Hobbs | May 4, 2008 12:14 PM