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NHL Free Agency: 5 potential landing spots for Braden Holtby

By Brad Berreman

TORONTO, ONTARIO – AUGUST 12: Braden Holtby #70 of the Washington Capitals makes the first period save against the New York Islanders in Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 12, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ONTARIO – AUGUST 12: Braden Holtby #70 of the Washington Capitals makes the first period save against the New York Islanders in Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 12, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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Credit: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
Credit: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images /

3. Chicago Blackhawks

The Blackhawks were a beneficiary of the NHL’s expanded playoff format this year. Then they dismissed the Edmonton Oilers 3 games to 1 in the qualifying round, before losing to the Vegas Golden Knights 4-1 in the traditional first round.

After recovering from coronavirus Corey Crawford started all nine qualifying round/playoff games for Chicago, with mixed results. He allowed three goals or fewer in four games, with three single-game save percentages of .923 or better, and he allowed four or more goals five times. At age-35, flashes of the past level that helped the Blackhawks win two Stanley Cups are par for the course and all there is.

Crawford will also be a free agent, so the Blackhawks have a tough decision to make that can’t be driven by the past and sentimentality. Collin Delia and Kevin Lankinen are the goalies they have under contract for next year, with 18 total NHL appearances between them (all by Delia). An inexperienced, mistake-prone defense and an inexperienced goaltender feels like a really bad mix.

Chicago has just $7.35 million in cap space, so without buyouts or trades to provide the relief they won’t be able to do a lot in free agency. Holtby stands as one of the better free agent goaltenders on the market, and coming off a down year he may come at a nice discount.

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