Goalies Set to Hit the Free Agent Market

Hey everybody, thanks for joining us! The NHL offseason is in full swing with trades and signings happening daily, and it appears that more and more teams (and players) have gotten a head start on free agency by enacting ye olde sign-and-trade. We have seen defenseman Darren Raddysh get moved to Toronto, as well as, big fish Alex Tuch move on to the Capitals, both without hitting the open market. Say what you want about Brady Tkachuk’s request (demand) to be traded out of Ottawa, but these sign-and-trade moves seem to be win-win-win for everyone involved. The player goes to the club he was going to go to anyway, the new club gets the player they wanted to get, and the old club gets a small “finder’s fee” for uncovering talent before it’s prime. Win-win-win.

With the free agent market set to open up in about a week, let’s take a look at some of the big name goalies that top the list.

Sergei Bobrovsky - The one time Panther, one time Blue Jacket, one time (long ago) Flyer will look to test the open market after a disappointing season in South Beach, Florida. 2025-26 saw Bob post career worst marks in GAA (3.07) and SV % (.877), but his 27 wins and 4 shut outs point to some optimism. As does the entire Panthers season, which appeared to be something of a wash for the club. The question here is, at age 37, what does the Russian netminder have left in the tank? Can he lead another team to the promise land, or will he become a mentor and reliable backup for an up and coming team? If he wants a long-term deal, as rumored, then perhaps a move to San Jose would fit well for both sides. There he could mentor his fellow countryman keeper, Askarov, and may even hang around long enough to go on a playoff run or two as the backup on a roster beaming with talent. Otherwise a 1 year deal in Buffalo, Florida, or Edmonton may be the path he follows to the playoffs.

Stuart Skinner - At 27 and with a pair of Stanley Cup Final appearances to his name, Skinner has some swagger heading into free agency. The problem for him is his regular season numbers are rather pedestrian and they certainly weren’t lifted by playing in Pittsburgh. With career marks of 2.77 GAA and 902 SV%, Skinner is best known for his ability to make the key saves when needed. That could suit a playoff team well, but will Buffalo or Carolina really make a call to his agent? Maybe a fit in Los Angeles could work, where the team gets a little younger in net while embracing new coach Laviolette’s offensive approach. For Skinner, he is no stranger to backstopping teams that focus on offense first. A signing in L.A. could bring his win totals back above 30, while his GAA and SV % would likely hover around his career averages of 2.77 GAA and .902 SV%.

Frederik Andersen - Freddie just lifted the Stanley Cup so maybe he’s accomplished all he wanted to with his career and he simply mounts his horse and gallops off into the sunset… Ok, so realistically, he wants more. At age 36, however, not to many teams may come calling. The best fit for Andersen would be on a playoff contender in need of a reliable backup or tandem partner. His Carolina Hurricanes come to mind. As does a reunion in Toronto. Or perhaps McDavid has his name highlighted after watching him completely ruin teams in the first 3 rounds of the playoffs and he gets a short term deal in Edmonton. While his ugly regular season (3.05 GAA, .874 SV%) showed what can happen if he is relied on as a workhorse, the playoffs proved his desirability for a short term Stanley Cup run. Something all contenders should have taken note of.

Connor Ingram - Ingram is an interesting name on this list. He still has the goods, as evidenced by his 2.60 GAA playing keeper for a defensively-absentminded Oilers club, and at 29 he is still in the prime of his goalie days. But he, also, has an unproven track record and the 32 games he appeared in this year were just the second time of his career he’s played more than 30 games in a season. Still his wear and tear is minimal and the upside is there, so teams should be calling him this July. A potential fit includes a Florida club that needs a discounted goalie to fit with their cap requirements that won’t sink the ship. Getting the starting gig for the Panthers would skyrocket Ingram’s fantasy value for the season ahead. This is something to keep an eye on over the next coming weeks.

Daniil Tarasov - Tarasov joins Bobrovsky on the open market, after both Florida goalies from last year remain unsigned heading into July. Tarasov looked like the better option in net this year, but still posted lackluster metrics during the Panthers’ disappointing season (13 wins, 3.05 GAA, .895 SV%). His 33 games played set a new career high last season and it’s likely that he earns another backup role this season, as well. Though he won’t be signed to be the bonafide starter, fantasy manager’s know that the Brandon Bussi’s and Anton Forsberg’s of the world still play an integral part in fantasy championship runs, so Tarasov’s future is worth keeping tabs on. So while Tarasov likely won’t find himself starting between the pipes for a playoff run next season, he may find some viable suitors for his services in Utah or New York (Rangers), clubs that could use a reliable second option.

The Best of the Rest - A few other goalies will hit the open market, including 38 year old Cam Talbot, 30 year old journeyman Vitek Vanecek, solid fantasy contributor David Rittich, and 30 year old Winnipeg backup Eric Comrie. Most of these keepers are destined for backup roles, but in deeper leagues they still hold some value. David Rittich, for instance, has career marks of 2.79 GAA and .903 SV%, and should be good for 15 wins next season, assuming he finds a decent landing spot.

Trade Market - One final source for goalies worth mentioning is the trade market. With a thinner free agent crop to choose from don’t be surprised to see a couple keepers move around via trades. Joseph Woll and Samuel Ersson are a recent example, but reportedly other goalies are on the proverbial block, including New Jersey Devil Jacob Markstom, Columbus Blue Jacket Elvis Merzlikins, Vegas Golden Knight Adin Hill, and most notably, Winnipeg Jet Connor Hellebuyck.

The coming weeks should showcase plenty of goalie movement across the NHL and for fantasy managers, staying in the know could be the difference between a fantasy championship run and the consolation bracket. Here at Goalie Post, we will do all we can to help keep you up to date on the latest moves and rumors.

That’s all for this week, thanks for reading! My name is Garrett Finlay and you can follow me on X @garrett_fi51284 and on Bluesky @garrettfinlay.bsky.social where I am often talking goalies and fantasy hockey. I’ll be back here next Thursday, so until then - Happy Hockeying and good luck out there!