Goaltending is always a position that can cause anxiety, even in the best of circumstances. The performance of goalies is known to be unpredictable, and despite the evolution of hockey, allowing easy goals remains a quick way to undermine a team`s aspirations.
Therefore, teams that are concerned about their goaltending situation and are hoping for a solution in the upcoming off-season may have legitimate reasons to worry.
The unrestricted free agent (UFA) goalie market for 2025 has significantly diminished recently, as Mackenzie Blackwood, Logan Thompson, Charlie Lindgren, and Karel Vejmelka have all signed substantial contract extensions with their current teams. Adin Hill, the 2023 Stanley Cup winner, was considered the last significant hope for teams needing goaltending help, but he also re-signed with Vegas on March 14th for six years.
Consequently, the current market for goalies is quite limited, to put it mildly.
The positive aspect within the goalie landscape is the inherent unpredictability of the position, which can be a double-edged sword. Occasionally, teams can discover unexpected goaltending solutions in unlikely places.
Consider some of the goalies who recently signed new contracts. The Colorado Avalanche, realizing that subpar goaltending would jeopardize their Stanley Cup aspirations, made in-season acquisitions of both Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood. Since Blackwood joined the team in mid-December, the Avalanche have achieved the 11th-best five-on-five save percentage in the league at .919.
Logan Thompson was acquired by the Washington Capitals from Vegas for a minimal cost early last summer, as the Golden Knights needed to move on from the final year of his contract. Currently, only five goalies with at least 25 starts have a better save percentage than Thompson`s .917. Another such goalie is Anthony Stolarz, who, after primarily serving as a backup throughout his career, signed a modest two-year contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs and now boasts a .918 save percentage.
Darcy Kuemper, Thompson`s predecessor in Washington, was involved in a trade last summer that was essentially a swap of contract issues. The Capitals traded Kuemper`s expensive contract to Los Angeles in exchange for Pierre-Luc Dubois, who also has a significant contract. Since January 1st, only Andrei Vasilevskiy of Tampa Bay, with a .925 save percentage, has a better save percentage than Kuemper`s .924.
It`s a reminder that you never know where effective goaltending might emerge.
Nevertheless, the scarcity of obvious goaltending solutions for teams seeking help is undeniable. Marty Brodeur is not walking through that door to save the day.
However, is it possible to find a goalie who can provide a .914 save percentage over 35 games? Perhaps.
With this in mind, let`s examine some potential UFA goalie options and, for added interest, include a few potential trade candidates.
Potential UFAs
Frederik Andersen, Carolina Hurricanes
His history of injuries is undeniable, but so is his overall performance. Among active goalies with at least 400 career games, Andersen`s .916 save percentage across 511 games ranks fourth-best in the league. Only Connor Hellebuyck, Andrei Vasilevskiy, and Semyon Varlamov have slightly better save percentages at .917.
Consider his consistency: in 125 games with Anaheim, Andersen had a .918 save percentage, followed by .914 in 268 games with Toronto, and .918 in 118 games with Carolina. Andersen is currently on a hot streak, with a 5-1-0 record and a .939 save percentage in his last six appearances.
While he might not be a candidate for 55 starts, especially as he will be 36 in October, this experienced Danish goalie knows how to stop the puck.
Jake Allen, New Jersey Devils
Allen was traded to the Devils before the 2024 trade deadline and initially needed time to adjust. However, since January 1st, his .924 save percentage is second-best in the NHL among goalies with at least 15 games played, only surpassed by Vasilevskiy`s .925. His goals saved above expected per 60 minutes this season is the best in the NHL at 0.805 among goalies with at least 20 games played.
This veteran goalie will turn 35 in August, but he clearly still has significant ability remaining.
Tristan Blackwood