The NHL is right in the thick of its head-hunting portion of the year, as the free agency market will be ripe for the picking as it officially opens on July 1. Many deals have already been agreed upon prior to July 1st, but not one blockbuster deal involves a goaltender.
Well, as a matter fact, this year’s pool of goalies is quite a downer, with no marquee names set to grab headlines or land massive contracts. But still, let’s take a look at the top five net-minders in free agency that could become crucial pieces to several clubhouses in the upcoming regular season nonetheless.
For more coverage on the NHL free agency, check out our lists on the top five forwards and defencemen right after this.
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Top NHL Free Agent Goaltenders of 2016
1. Petr Mrazek
2015-16 stats: 27 wins, 2.33 GAA, 0.921 SV%
Hands down, Petr Mrazek is the best free agent on this list. Unfortunately, he’s also the only unrestricted free agent here, which means that he’s likely staying pat with his current team, the Detroit Red Wings.
Mrazek did an outstanding job last season filling in for Detroit’s other top-flight goalie in Jimmy Howard. In fact, he started more games (49 regular season; three in the playoffs) than Howard did (33 and two, respectively) the previous campaign. As such, expect the Red Wings – currently priced at +2,000 to win the Stanley Cup – to re-sign the young Czech in a heartbeat.
2. James Reimer
2015-16 cap hit: $2.3 million
2015-16 stats: 17 wins, 2.31 GAA, 0.922 SV%
Manitoba-born James Reimer must have thanked his lucky stars that the San Jose Sharks acquired him midway through last season from six seasons of frustration with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Although eight starts as a Shark is a small sample size, Reimer did still register career highs in goals-against average and save percentage. Now that San Jose is sold on having playoff sensation Martin Jones as its goalie of the future, expect the rest of the league to be lining up for Reimer’s services along with the new tricks and tools he picked up from the Western Conference champs.
3. Chad Johnson
2015-16 cap hit: $1.3 million
2015-16 stats: 22 wins, 2.36 GAA, 0.92 SV%
Between the Buffalo Sabres’ four goaltenders in their lineup, Chad Johnson (treinta y uno, no Ochocinco) is obviously the cream of the crop. Actually, Johnson appears to be the best unrestricted free agent here, considering that he leads all UFA goalies this offseason with 48 quality starts in 80 games through his three previous seasons.
Furthermore, each of those three seasons were with three different teams, which means the 30-year-old veteran is accustomed and adapts well to immediate change, making him an attractive pickup for a lot of teams indeed.
4. Al Montoya
2015-16 cap hit: $1.05 million
2015-16 stats: 12 wins, 2.18 GAA, 0.919 SV%
Another goalie that found huge success as a backup for a playoff contender is Al Montoya, who pitched in nicely for the team when Roberto Luongo needed to take a breather. Montoya notched 12 wins and 22 starts for the Panthers, and saw his goals-against average from the 2014-15 season significantly dip to a healthy 2.18 from 3.01.
Not counting his rookie season with the Phoenix Coyotes, the 31-year-old has had stints with three other teams since for exactly two seasons apiece. Seeing that Montoya has stayed two years already in the Keys and that Luongo is still as efficient as ever, he could very well find yet another home before the renewed season takes center ice.
5. Karri Ramo
2015-16 cap hit: $3.8 million
2015-16 stats: 17 wins, 2.63 GAA, 0.909 SV%
The recent signing of Brian Elliott by the Calgary Flames almost guarantees that Karri Ramo is on his way out of Alberta.
Ramo’s goals-against average is still suspect, even more so now after tearing his ACL earlier this 2016. Then again, this offseason’s selection of goalies is thin, and Ramo is still a worthy addition in dire need of goal protection. The Finnish net-minder shouldn’t expect a substantial contract compared to his relatively hefty sum from last season, though.
Don’t just sit there and idly wait for the new season to commence; create a betting account now to place some stakes on NHL futures during this offseason to keep the intense hockey action going.
