What are the Knights’ goalie options in free agency?
For most of the offseason, the Golden Knights didn’t seem to need a new goaltender. But now, they do. With free agency starting on Monday, the Knights are left with only one NHL goalie, Adin Hill, after trading Logan Thompson to the Washington Capitals following his trade request.
Later on Saturday, the Knights acquired 24-year-old Akira Schmid from the New Jersey Devils. However, General Manager Kelly McCrimmon mentioned that Schmid, a pending restricted free agent who was not given a qualifying offer on Sunday, is expected to start as the organization’s No. 3 goaltender. This makes Schmid an unrestricted free agent, although the Knights can still re-sign him.
Regardless, the team needs a backup for Hill. They have about $8.53 million in cap space going into Monday, with nine forwards, seven defensemen, and one goaltender under contract. However, there is still much to be done. Right-wing Jonathan Marchessault, the 2023 Conn Smythe Trophy winner for playoff MVP, remains unsigned as a pending unrestricted free agent.
There is a solid list of available goaltenders the Knights could target in free agency, including a few Stanley Cup champions.
Laurent Brossoit, Winnipeg Jets
An old friend is back on the market. Brossoit was crucial in helping the Knights secure their first Stanley Cup in 2023. He was the starter at the beginning of the playoffs before a lower-body injury in Game 3 of the second round against Edmonton ended his stellar run.
The 31-year-old went 7-0-3 in 10 starts for the Knights in the 2022-23 season. He signed a one-year, $1.75 million deal with Winnipeg last summer to reunite with two-time Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck. Brossoit played for the Jets from 2018-21 before signing with the Knights as a free agent in July 2021. Last season, he won a career-high 15 games, posting a .927 save percentage and a 2.00 goals-against average in 23 appearances.
A reunion could make sense. The key question is whether Brossoit’s strong recent form earns him better offers than the Knights can afford.
Cam Talbot, Los Angeles Kings
Talbot, who turns 37 on Friday, played some of the best hockey of his career last season. He started out 14-6-2 with a .925 save percentage and a 2.06 goals-against average in his first 22 appearances. However, things spiraled down the stretch, with Talbot going 13-14-4 the rest of the way, posting a .905 save percentage and a 2.83 goals-against average.
The playoffs were no better. Talbot allowed 16 goals in the first three games of the Kings’ first-round series against the Edmonton Oilers and was replaced by David Rittich for Games 4 and 5. Los Angeles moved on in the offseason, acquiring goaltender Darcy Kuemper in a trade with Washington.
That leaves Talbot free to look for his fourth team in four years.
Anthony Stolarz, Florida Panthers
Stolarz, like Brossoit, is a backup in high demand. The 30-year-old made the most of his opportunity with the Stanley Cup champions this season while playing behind Sergei Bobrovsky. Stolarz set new career bests in wins (16), starts (24), and goals-against average (2.03).
His market should be interesting considering how good he was in limited action. Stolarz, who signed a one-year, $1.1 million contract with Florida last summer, led all goalies with at least five starts with a .945 save percentage at five-on-five in the regular season. He also saved 15.19 goals above average at five-on-five, ranking fourth-best in the NHL behind Hellebuyck, Seattle’s Joey Daccord, and 2023 Vezina Trophy winner Linus Ullmark in Boston.
Kevin Lankinen, Nashville Predators
Lankinen is a solid, reliable goaltender who has been dependable for Nashville over the last two years. The Predators might be moving on with top prospect Yaroslav Askarov, the 11th overall pick in 2020, waiting in the wings.
Lankinen at least deserves a new contract somewhere after posting a .908 save percentage and a 2.82 goals-against average in 24 appearances last season. The 29-year-old should be in demand as a backup if he hits the market.
Scott Wedgewood, Dallas Stars
Wedgewood, 31, is coming off an interesting year. He set new career highs in wins (16) and appearances (32) while serving as Jake Oettinger’s deputy in Dallas. However, his save percentage dipped from .915 in 2022-23 to .899, and his goals-against average increased from 2.72 in 2022-23 to 2.85 last season.
Counting on Wedgewood to continue to win games at a high rate may be a risk. However, he still managed to get the job done last season despite the numbers.
For most of the offseason, the Golden Knights didn’t seem to need a new goaltender. But now, they do. With free agency starting on Monday, the Knights are left with only one NHL goalie, Adin Hill, after trading Logan Thompson to the Washington Capitals following his trade request.
Later on Saturday, the Knights acquired 24-year-old Akira Schmid from the New Jersey Devils. However, General Manager Kelly McCrimmon mentioned that Schmid, a pending restricted free agent who was not given a qualifying offer on Sunday, is expected to start as the organization’s No. 3 goaltender. This makes Schmid an unrestricted free agent, although the Knights can still re-sign him.
Regardless, the team needs a backup for Hill. They have about $8.53 million in cap space going into Monday, with nine forwards, seven defensemen, and one goaltender under contract. However, there is still much to be done. Right-wing Jonathan Marchessault, the 2023 Conn Smythe Trophy winner for playoff MVP, remains unsigned as a pending unrestricted free agent.
There is a solid list of available goaltenders the Knights could target in free agency, including a few Stanley Cup champions.
Laurent Brossoit, Winnipeg Jets
An old friend is back on the market. Brossoit was crucial in helping the Knights secure their first Stanley Cup in 2023. He was the starter at the beginning of the playoffs before a lower-body injury in Game 3 of the second round against Edmonton ended his stellar run.
The 31-year-old went 7-0-3 in 10 starts for the Knights in the 2022-23 season. He signed a one-year, $1.75 million deal with Winnipeg last summer to reunite with two-time Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck. Brossoit played for the Jets from 2018-21 before signing with the Knights as a free agent in July 2021. Last season, he won a career-high 15 games, posting a .927 save percentage and a 2.00 goals-against average in 23 appearances.
A reunion could make sense. The key question is whether Brossoit’s strong recent form earns him better offers than the Knights can afford.
Cam Talbot, Los Angeles Kings
Talbot, who turns 37 on Friday, played some of the best hockey of his career last season. He started out 14-6-2 with a .925 save percentage and a 2.06 goals against average in his first 22 appearances. However, things spiraled down the stretch, with Talbot going 13-14-4 the rest of the way, posting a .905 save percentage and a 2.83 goals-against average.
The playoffs were no better. Talbot allowed 16 goals in the first three games of the Kings’ first-round series against the Edmonton Oilers and was replaced by David Rittich for Games 4 and 5. Los Angeles moved on in the offseason, acquiring goaltender Darcy Kuemper in a trade with Washington.
That leaves Talbot free to look for his fourth team in four years.
Anthony Stolarz, Florida Panthers
Stolarz, like Brossoit, is a backup in high demand. The 30-year-old made the most of his opportunity with the Stanley Cup champions this season while playing behind Sergei Bobrovsky. Stolarz set new career bests in wins (16), starts (24), and goals-against average (2.03).
His market should be interesting considering how good he was in limited action. Stolarz, who signed a one-year, $1.1 million contract with Florida last summer, led all goalies with at least five starts with a .945 save percentage at five-on-five in the regular season. He also saved 15.19 goals above average at five-on-five, ranking fourth-best in the NHL behind Hellebuyck, Seattle’s Joey Daccord, and 2023 Vezina Trophy winner Linus Ullmark in Boston.
Kevin Lankinen, Nashville Predators
Lankinen is a solid, reliable goaltender who has been dependable for Nashville over the last two years. The Predators might be moving on with top prospect Yaroslav Askarov, the 11th overall pick in 2020, waiting in the wings.
Lankinen at least deserves a new contract somewhere after posting a .908 save percentage and a 2.82 goals-against average in 24 appearances last season. The 29-year-old should be in demand as a backup if he hits the market.
Scott Wedgewood, Dallas Stars
Wedgewood, 31, is coming off an interesting year. He set new career highs in wins (16) and appearances (32) while serving as Jake Oettinger’s deputy in Dallas. However, his save percentage dipped from .915 in 2022-23 to .899, and his goals-against average increased from 2.72 in 2022-23 to 2.85 last season.
Counting on Wedgewood to continue to win games at a high rate may be a risk. However, he still managed to get the job done last season despite the numbers.