Lots of demand for NHL backups this summer
If much-parodied announcer Chris Berman was working hockey this week, he’d be making lots of “back, back, back” backup goalie calls.
For some NHL teams, it’s essential to hit a home run to sign a second stopper, laying the groundwork in these next days leading to free agency on Saturday. A number of familiar names are out there, due in part to the Vegas Golden Knights expansion draft, but not all are held in high esteem because of advanced age, recent performance or weighty contracts.
The New York Rangers are among those with a delicate situation, keeping Henrik Lundqvist engaged but not overextended as he enters his late 30s. Antti Raanta saw a lot of work behind Lundqvist’s lowered 55 starts last year, but was traded to the Arizona Coyotes.
Mike Condon was a possibility, but chose Wednesday to stay with the Ottawa Senators for three years with a US$2.4million average value. Might the Rangers try another Antti, as in Niemi? He was bought out by Dallas this week. Meanwhile, Ondrej Pavelec, once seen as the Winnipeg Jets’ goalie of the future, had to fight his way out of the minors last year but is available.
Speaking of which, word through the Winnipeg Sun is that the Philadelphia Flyers’ Steve Mason and the Jets have touched base, which makes things interesting for incumbents Connor Hellebuyck and Michael Hutchinson. The Flyers have favoured Michal Neuvirth at present in their ever-revolving crease carousel.
The Toronto Maple Leafs brought in Curtis McElhinney in the middle of last season and while he was a good fit behind Frederik Andersen and a hit in the dressing room, he was also the Leafs’ oldest player and they’ve begun looking elsewhere.
Reliable Chad Johnson, whose rights went to the Arizona Coyotes when Mike Smith was acquired by the Calgary Flames, could end up back in Alberta or go to one of many suitors based on strong work with the Flames last season.