NHL: Free agent goalies looking for work
Not everyone can be Patrick Roy; retire from the league, get placed in the hall, decide to coach all the way up to the NHL level, and win the Jack Adams Trophy in your first season behind the bench.
None of these goalies are anything like Patrick Roy (except for maybe one), but still have a chance to not lie down on the road at the end of their careers. They’re old, yes, but are contending tenders – even if it means sitting on the bench for most of the season.
Jean-Sebastien Giguere had a .914 save percentage and 2.51 goals against average in 72 games over a few seasons with the Colorado Avalanche – respectable numbers, especially for a 37-year-old. However, he hasn’t been a starter since 2008. He could be backing up Seymon Varlamov again, but the deal would really have been done by now if that was the case. The Los Angeles Kings may be interested, should Jonathan Quick not fully recover in time for the season from wrist surgery.
Tomas Vokoun didn’t even play in the NHL for the 2013-2014 season; he had a blood clot discovered at the beginning of the year and is now 100% healthy and ready to go. The 38-year-old has “multiple offers” but is not said where these offers are from, though it’s likely one of them is from the Washington Capitals. Vokoun played a bit of preseason, and spent some time conditioning in the AHL, but the last time he played for the Pittsburgh Penguins, he lost four straight in the playoffs to toss them out of cup race.
Tim Thomas has so many antics, it would not be surprising if he just decided to retire. However, after taking a season off, he came back last year with a .908 save percentage and 2.88 goals against average – nowhere near Boston 2011 numbers, but acceptable. He’s one of the only goalies left that could be a starter, but Dallas has said they do not want him to return. He made $3.75-million last year with bonuses, and it would be hard to expect that kind of cash again. Philadelphia is one of the team’s interested (but of course, with their long train-wreck history of goalies).
Nik Khabiboulin is not likely to resign in Chicago, GM Stan Bowman said. There was some early speculation of him heading to Toronto, but the Leafs have not moved James Reimer yet, and would likely not bring in another backup for Jonathan Bernier until that deal is made. The 41-year-old signed a 1-year $2-million contract last season with the Blackhawks, but his numbers were as attractive as Tie Domi: 5.00 GAA, .811 save % in four games (and he only finished two of them).
The only one comparable to Patty Roy, is likely the best goaltender of all-time, breaking a few of Roy’s records. It would be weird to see him in anything but a Devils jersey, but 42-year-old Martin Brodeur wants to be a contender, as the oldest player on our list. He’s made over $80-million in salary during his career, and just finished a two-year $9-million deal.
His NHL totals are really good: .912 save percentage, and a 2.24 goals against average. He’s never even had his GAA above 2.50 until this past season (2.51 – and also his first ever season with 3.36 in 1991). Marty even went as low as 1.88 and 1.89 in the ’96-97 and ’97-98 seasons. Like what? I know the Devils defense led by Scott Stevens was great in those years too, but man, that most have been some dull hockey to watch.
It’s been said that the Pittsburgh Penguins, Tampa Bay Lightning, Chicago Blackhawks, Boston Bruins, Winnipeg Jets, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Arizona Coyotes (how weird is that to say) have reached out to Brodeur. New Jersey GM Lou Lamoriello has no interest in resigning Marty, with Cory Schneider on the rise.
“I don’t want to look at this as sadness,” Lamoriello said. “He had a great career. He’ll always be a Devil. Just in a different way. Right now it’s going forward. Time has a way of taking care of that and decision have to be made. Marty’s legacy is what he is. Cory is not here to replace Marty.”
I don’t know Lou, it sounds like he’s replacing Marty – and those are some big hockey pants to fill.