NHL Free Agency: 5 potential landing spots for Braden Holtby

2. Calgary Flames

The Flames’ 2019-20 season came to a bitter end in Game 6 of their first round series against the Dallas Stars, as they not only surrendered a 3-0 lead in the game but allowed seven straight goals to go out in a real whimpering collapse. They did win a playoff series for the first time since 2015, beating the Winnipeg Jets in a qualifying round series, which counts for something. But there are plenty of questions about the future of the current core of players, up to and including the possibility of trading Johnny Gaudreau.

Focusing on the goaltending situation, the Flames had Cam Talbot and David Rittich this year. The bad Game 6 against Dallas should not obscure Talbot’s very good performance in the playoffs as a whole (.924 save percentage, 2.42 GAA). But he’s also 33 years old, and not necessarily an ideal No.1 goaltender as he hits free agency. Keeping him will require more than the one-year, $2.7 million deal the Flames gave him last summer.

Rittich has been fine with a step up in role for the last two years. He has also faded late in both seasons though, and his only playoff appearance this year was in the Game 6 eliminator. Rittich has one year left on his contract.

Flames general manager Brad Treliving has to have a lot of potential moves on his radar this offseason. Signing Holtby to take over as the No.1 goaltender, or even pretty equally share the crease with Talbot or Rittich, should be somewhere on the list.