The NHL's goaltending market will be one to watch this off-season

The NHL’s off-season is nearly here, and one of the things this writer is paying particular attention to is the league’s goaltending market.

Goaltending is a facet of the game teams are desperate for – but even the teams that currently have great goaltending depth may choose to make trades that hurt their netminding depth to improve weaker aspects of their roster. So this summer’s goalie market may be the craziest we’ve seen in many years.

For one thing, we could be looking at a goalie buyout this summer. The Edmonton Oilers may currently be sending a message that they believe in veteran netminder Tristan Jarry by not buying him out, but if the Oilers can find a way to acquire a goalie to take Jarry’s place, a buyout of Jarry – an unmitigated disaster of an acquisition – will become more palatable.

However, the easier road to redistributing the NHL’s goalie market will come through trades – and there’s no shortage of high-end goalies who could be on the trade block. The Toronto Maple Leafs may trade one of their veterans, Joseph Woll and Anthony Stolarz. The Minnesota Wild may trade youngster Jesper Wallstedt or veteran Filip Gustavsson. The Buffalo Sabres may deal American Leaguer Devon Levi; the New Jersey Devils are reportedly shopping Jacob Markstrom, and the Vancouver Canucks made a trade for Thatcher Demko.

MORE: Trading Jacob Markstrom Would Allow Devils To Chase Connor Hellebuyck, Sergei Bobrovsky

Meanwhile, other brand-name veteran goalies could be on the move. The St. Louis Blues could trade Stanley Cup-winning goalie Jordan Binnington. There has even been speculation about the Winnipeg Jets pressing the nuclear option and dealing superstar Connor Hellebuyck. 

Here’s something to consider: what happens in Carolina decides to go forward with Brandon Bussi as the No. 1 and let Fredrik Andersen walk into free agency? What happens if the Florida Panthers don’t meet the asking price of star goalie Sergei Bobrovsky and he departs as a UFA this summer? Could one move have a domino effect on the rest of the market?

Do you see what we’re getting at here? Acquiring or disposing of a goalie is something a slew of teams are currently considering. Given that the Vegas Golden Knights made a calculated gamble by giving the No. 1 job to Carter Hart, you can see why teams gamble the way they do with their goaltending.

MORE: 3 NHL trade destinations for Devils' Jacob Markstrom

This is why there are so many netminding variables across the league – and this is why you see teams bend over backward for the right netminding option. There’s only so much capable goaltending in hockey’s top league, and with a steadily rising salary cap ceiling, teams can and will find the cap space that allows them to make goalie additions. Teams that do have great goaltending depth can peel off some of it and trade it to address holes in their lineup.

There isn’t a wealth of UFA options for teams needing a netminder right now, but there’s no question many teams aren’t currently happy with their goaltending status quo.

So if the goalie market gets exceedingly crazy in the next few months, don’t say you didn’t see it coming. The signs of goalie tumult are there if you’re looking for them, and the only question now is which teams will add a goalie – and which teams will delete one.

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