NHL Trade Rumors: Market For Goalies To Be Active?

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Feb 2, 2015; New York, NY, USA; New York Rangers goalie

Henrik Lundqvist

(30) makes a save against the Florida Panthers during the first period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

Most NHL trade rumors will focus on scoring help or defensive depth for a playoff run. When it’s all over the number of goaltenders traded could be staggering.

NHL trade rumors take on a life of their own this time of year. We are three weeks ahead of the March 2nd deadline and I feel like I only know two things: the Winnipeg Jets are likely to start next season without Evander Kane, and Tyler Myers has been involved in 4,109 different scenarios. With all due respect to the talented forwards and defenseman that will (and won’t) get traded in the coming days the market for goaltenders has the potential to be quite active.

Last season there were six goaltenders moved ahead of the trade deadline and it wouldn’t be stunning to see at least that many traded this year. There are options with pending unrestricted free agents, a few interesting players that will receive qualifying offers and the Henrik Lundqvist injury that make the potential trade combinations more numerous than many years before. Speaking of Lundqvist, is there a fan base more nervous about their playoff prospects than the New York Rangers? Without question it was the right thing to keep “King Henrik” from playing once it was determined playing would have left him at risk for a stroke from being struck in the throat with a puck. But he is on the shelf for at least another few weeks and qualifying for the playoffs rests on the pads of Cam Talbot, he of the .500 record and .918 save percentage.

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Lundqvist was largely excellent in last years Stanley Cup playoffs and the possibility now exists that he could miss time after the trade deadline. Considering how serious this health scare is he should get all the time he needs to get himself right. Which makes for an interesting conversation in New York: do you go out and acquire a goaltender that will be an unrestricted free agent after the season? Or do you ride Cam Talbot and hope Lundqvist is healthy? Interesting to see how the Rangers spend their money in light of his injury. It’s not exactly the type of injury your training staff has a normal line of sight on. It’s easier to tell how contusions, sprains and breaks will heal because they are dealt with more often.

The New York Rangers would be wise to look to a potential UFA to bridge the gap, someone on the cheap that they can afford to let walk at season’s end. Look what losing Carey Price did to the Montreal Canadiens last year. If this is long-term the Rangers could be headed for the same fate instead of defending their Eastern Conference championship. But they aren’t alone in looking for help at the position. Take a look at these players and teams and see how active this market could be. Note that all contract information is found at spotrac.com.

Next: How Do San Jose and Philadelphia Figure In?

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