NHL Rumor Mill – March 18, 2024
Goaltenders could be in high demand during this offseason. Check it out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
THE ATHLETIC: Jesse Granger recently examined what could be a busy trade market for goaltenders during the offseason.
The Boston Bruins’ Linus Ullmark, Calgary Flames’ Jacob Markstrom and Nashville Predators’ Juuse Saros were mentioned as potential trade candidates leading up to the March 8 trade deadline. Those three could be pursued by clubs looking to improve their goaltending this summer.
New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald mentioned he’d like to “land one of these big fish” to share the goalie duties next summer with Jake Allen, who was acquired before the deadline from the Montreal Canadiens.
Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros (NHL Images).
The Devils attempted to acquire Markstrom in February and could revisit those discussions with the Flames.
In Nashville, the Predators must decide if they’ll sign Saros to a contract extension, trade him or ship out promising netminder Yaroslav Askirov.
The Bruins, meanwhile, could maintain their goalie tandem of Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman. However, the return they could receive for a Vezina Trophy winner like Ullmark could be too tempting to pass up.
Granger also mentioned John Gibson has come up in trade rumors over the past two years with the Anaheim Ducks in rebuild mode. He has three more years left on his contract but perhaps retaining part of his $6.4 million cap hit might grease the skids for a trade this summer.
Other suitors for those goalies could include the Los Angeles Kings, Colorado Avalanche, Carolina Hurricanes and Toronto Maple Leafs.
NASHVILLE HOCKEY NOW: Michael Gallagher noted a recent report by Granger’s colleague Pierre LeBrun suggesting the Devils might revisit their interest in Saros.
Predators GM Barry Trotz is keeping his offseason options open regarding his goaltending situation. Nevertheless, Gallagher pointed out that it would take “one doozy of a package” to pry Saros away from the Predators.
Trotz indicated he wouldn’t move Saros for “inadequate stuff from other teams, unproven stuff from other teams.” Gallagher believes the Devils offer would have to include a high-end player such as Dawson Mercer, a prospect such as Seamus Casey and a first-round pick to tempt the Predators GM.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Markstrom, Ullmark and Saros will be in high demand. Potential suitors should expect it will be expensive to acquire them.
Markstrom is the oldest (34) and carries a more expensive contract (two more years at $6 million annually) with a full no-movement clause. Ullmark (30) and Saros (28) each have a year remaining on their contracts with the same average annual value ($5 million) but the Bruins goalie has a 16-team no-trade clause that drops to a 15-team no-trade list on July 1.
Saros could be the easiest of the three to acquire because he lacks no-trade protection.
For now, putting aside money, age and team in front of them:
Ullmark: GAA=2.52 Sv%=.918
Markstrom: GAA=2.72 Sv%=.909
Saros: GAA= 2.61 Sv%=.918
Markstrom is a step behind and the oldest, if you acquire him for a haul and the age curve kicks in you are an unemployed GM.
So the premium picks seem to be Saros and Ullmark. I believe, with my limited knowledge, that the Preds and Bruins would not be unhappy to move both. Preds have a rising star in Askarov, and Saros needs to get paid after next year. Bruins appear to favor Swayman for their future, and need to pay him this upcoming season, so can use some salary flexibility. There is no doubt you have to pay to play. That said when all factors considered, the ask mentioned above of Mercer, a prospect such as Casey (tied leading NHL pts NCAA Dman) and a first-round pick (looks like a top ten, currently #8) seems like an overpay. I hope Fitz does not go down that road. Another factor, and I have no knowledge there is, what other quality goalie might be available?
However GSAA shows
Markström 16,1
Ullmark 11,3
Saros – 1,3
Both Saros and Ullmark will want a payraise on a long term contract, are you willing to sign them at 7-8m times 6-8?
I would go for Markström with Ullmark as option 2
Appreciate the analytical slant. I went to hockey reference because something did not look right. I think you are looking at career stats (and something looks way wrong with Saros’s number, it appears he has never had a -GSAA in his NHL career). Further is you look at just the past five years both Ullmark and Saros have been better GSAA, Ullmark somewhat skewed by his award winning last season. This further steers me away from the oldest of the three.
Interesting. I would go exact opposite. Saros 1, Ulmark 2, and Markstrom 3.
Markstrom is too up and down for me and I wouldn’t trust him on a long term deal to repeat his success year after year.
Ullmark has been outstanding the last 2 years, but I think some of it has been the incredible defensive team in front of him, and the shared workload. He doesn’t have a sustained history at that high end level when carrying a full time, big workload.
To me, Saros has a workhorse track record, playoff experience, and is still the youngest of the 3.
My reasons for being lower on Saros, who hasnt been good this year, is that he is a smaller goalie and my “theory” is that those guys will have a harder time being really good as they get older since they rely more on their athleticism than a bigger guy who more just fills the net. Markströms numbers are skewed a little since he really didnt have a good year last year
“Putting money aside” doesn’t work in today’s NHL. In fact, in most cases, money is the first consideration.
Yes, I don’t think anyone on this site thinks that salary and cap is not important. If Markstrom’s stats were significantly better he might be worth it. The salary part just add to the the stats analysis that Markstrom is third among the three, in my book. And no problem paying more for younger years on an extension for the other two. I would not want two years of declining stats from Markstrom – it is the wrong bet for Fitz to make.
Laurent Brossoit will factor in to someone’s starter or tandem plans, could be a good fit with Allen.
UFA, 30yo, 18 starts, 12 wins, 1.99GA, 9.27SV%
He earned the starter job in Vegas (2.17GAA,9.27SV%) , won 5 of 7 playoff games last spring then got injured and Hill took over. He has been a luxury to have backing up Hellebuyck and will perform well in a platoon or starting 50 games.
Detroit needs to improve their goalie situation as well as their defense and defensive scheme.
Are you sure you aren’t talking about Ottawa? 🙂
I like Linus more than Swayman.
That is all.
The only way i see Ullmark on the bruins roster next season is if they can’t get Swayman resigned.
Either way the tandem will be broken up. If Swayman resigns at say $7.5m with Ullmark $5m it isn’t prudent to have two goalies taken up $12m
With Brandon Bussie requiring waivers next season, Ullmark will be traded.
The question with Ullmark, will he except a trade to the west; as reported 14 teams of the 16 on his ntc are all in the west. The off season makes it easier to move the family. This could be made easier if it’s a trade and sign, as he’ll know where home is going to be for awhile; otherwise one year he made not want to uproot the family.
At the end of the day i don’t see Boston going into next season with Swayman and Ullmark and lsoing Bussie to waiver.
I agree, the only way Ullmark stays is if Swayman prices himself out by asking for BoB money.
I think Ullmark will be ok to go west in the summer
Caper
I would agree something or someone gotta go
Might depend on how Swayman handles the playoffs
Ya, one of them will need to be moved. I’m in the keep Ullmark camp along with SOP. I just think that when he is on his game, which is more often than not, he is the better tender. His best game is as good as anyone in the NHL. But, both are quality starters, so a good problem.
The Swayman contract is a huge factor in the decision, as is can you keep Ullmark long term. Sweeney will have a good idea on both of those questions this off season when he needs to make a decision. If the rumors were true at the TDL, then he has already made that decision.
Honestly, Staios needs to think goaltending first in this off season. Not just acquire a far better netminder, but consider that maybe their goalie coach should be upgraded. Justin Peters seems to be doing no better than his predecessor.
give Korpisalo away at any means necessary. Forsberg too. Make Mads the backup so he sees more consistent NHL time and get a true number one. This silliness has to end.
Then worry about the rest. Ottawa was able to hide a lot of sins behind the goaltending of Craig Anderson, so they can at least start there.
With the Sen’s
100% they need to shake up the Goaltending and get a Real #1 Starter in net…😳
Re; Korpisalo @$4.M for 4 more year’s
Your going to have to trade a 2nd pick and a good prospect to a Rebuilding team to take Korpisalo off you hands as he has been Brutal, then go get a real starter…❓
Forsberg,
at $2.75 nobody is taking him, let him back up one more year..
Mads Søgaard,
give him a 50 to 60% of season more in Bellville and then bring up young tender to get the last 30 games of the season in but Not with ether of these two goaltenders …🤔
yes. at this point, the Sens really need a workhouse like Anderson was. Then Forsberg can maybe go at next year’s TDL and Mads can finally be brought up for some regular action.
Boston is in a good situation with money to spend on next years team!Possibilities include to you sign Swayman for 8 years at around 7 or keep Ullmarkat 5 next year and extend him for 2-3 years at around 6! You will know about Bussi certainly by then! Decision needs to be made on Debrusk and his 4 million dollar salary!Tbe Bruins cannot miss on this because through trading one of the goalies they need to sign and they will have the money to do it atop 4 defensemen and a top 6 forward!
Some intresting takes on the Goaltenders..
Will they get paid well…. Yes 100% they will if you dont have good to above average goaltending your going No Where❗️
Here is my 1 to 3 to be traded at the draft Or?
# 1 & 2 are long term deals,
# 3 is a quick fix
1/Saros
at 28 youngest of the 3, has good numbers, and is playing on a Mediocre Preds team Team.
The deal A 7 or 8 year deal for the team that gets him Salary @ $7.5M to $8.5M
2/Ulmark,
at 30 i can see him getting a 6 yr deal a proven winner with good numbers over the past 3-4 Seasons. The deal A 6 or 7 year deal for the team that gets him Salary @ $6.5M to $7M
Re; Swayman & Boston
looks like they will go long term with25 year old Swayman who is 1 year away from UFA, he may opt for a 1 year deal to force Boston to pay him before he hit the UFA market lots of team would be intrested in the young tender….🤔
Boston also need more cash to sign a #1 Centre and Noah Hanifin on July 1st if they move LU, they could have over $31M in Cap Space
3/Markstrom
has 2 years left on his contract and will be 35 years old this year. He is a 2 year Quick fix for a team that needs help now waiting on there back up goaltender to develop
If Swayman only wants a one year deal, I think he might get traded. To big a risk to have him either walk or wanting 10 on his next contract
The Avs aren’t going to be adding a goalie pricier than Georgiev; they just don’t have the room, don’t have a lot of capital to spend on acquiring them, and they have other players to sign so they can be taken off the list of possible suitors.
Georgiev is very good for the Avs at a Great Signing by the GM, at $3.4M for one more year and the young back up Annunen has played well but only a few games this year with good numbers
they may need to sign a bck up for a year so they have a solid 1 & 2
Boston..As far as the two goalies I hope they don’t loose some trade value thru ROS and upcoming playoffs due to the lack of Team D the Bruins have played since the ASB …. Goalies stop the puck … Team D keeps the opposing team getting into the sweet spot on the ice and this is where the Bruins are lacking