Free Agency 2011: The 5 Most Intriguing Goaltenders Available

While most teams have their goaltending set, there are a few where the position is in question; Colorado comes to mind, Washington has two young goaltenders who don’t seem quite ready to make the jump, and there’s a big question mark in Phoenix after the trade that saw Ilya Bryzgalov head to Philadelphia.

Ilya Bryzgalov was going to be the most sought after free agent goaltender, but Philadelphia secured his rights from Phoenix and signed him, taking him off of this list

Over the last few seasons, goaltending has become an interesting position in the way teams have addressed their situation.  In the past two or three seasons, there has been a culture shift towards the mid-priced, young player with high hopes that he’ll be able to get the job done, as opposed to overspending on that upper echelon player, like the money spent on Tim Thomas, Roberto Luongo, or the aforementioned Bryzgalov.

This year, coming off a playoffs that just saw the Vezina winning goaltender also hoist the Stanley Cup with a series victory over the Vezina runner-up, we could see that shift back.  Bryzgalov already started things off on the upper-end of the price scale, signing a nine year contract with the Flyers that will seem him get paid over $50 million throughout his tenure.  With a few other notables available, it could be an expensive year for a team looking for a starting goaltender.

Here is Cycle Down Low’s list of the Top 5 Most Intriguing Goaltenders:

5.  Brian Boucher

Boucher has been a career back-up, with a few trips on the Philadelphia goaltending carousel, but that doesn’t mean he couldn’t step in and win the majority of his starts when called upon.

With playoff experience and a few seasons as a starter under his belt, he could help push a younger goaltender and challenge for the starting position.

The NHL record holder for the longest shutout streak, Boucher’s talent has been vastly underrated.  He may not be a guy who can single handedly steal games night in and night out — there are very few of those goalies left in the league — but Boucher will certainly be more than just a body thrown between the pipes.  He has big game ability, it’s just a matter of whether or not someone gives him the shot to play in those games.

4.  Mike Smith

The deal that brought Free Agent-to-be Brad Richards to Dallas from Tampa Bay saw Mike Smith head back the other way.  In Smith, the Lightning believed they had brought back a guy they could develop into a longtime starter.  While his development hasn’t gone quite the way Tampa would have liked, he did show some flashes of brilliance this year, making the services of Dan Ellis no longer needed, especially on the heels of the trade that brought Dwayne Roloson to St. Pete Times Forum.

He may not be as wealthy as Dan Ellis, but Mike Smith still has starting potential

Smith is entering into a make-or-break time in his career at age 29, but some confidence and a good goaltending coach could go a long way for him.

His play in the playoffs, while limited, was outstanding and often begged the question why he wasn’t given more of a shot.  Dance with the one who brought you, I suppose, but Smith’s play in the Boston series and coach Guy Boucher’s decision not to start him left many scratching their head.

Smith should come cheap as his limited play, and how below his ability it was, will see his salary dip from the $2.4 million he earned last year.

3.  Jose Theodore

A one time Vezina trophy winner, Jose Theodore hasn’t been able to keep his game at the level many had come to expect since the outstanding campaign that saw him be named the League’s best goaltender.

With stints in Colorado, Washington, and Minnesota, Theodore has played most of the last three years in a backup role.  However, in his role as a backup, he has shown that he can still do things almost no other goaltender can.  More than anything, it seems to be his confidence that has had the most adverse affect on his ability.

Theodore needs some job security, and a place where he can battle for the starting job.  If he is given that — a true 1a, 1b atmosphere — Theodore can thrive and give a team some stability between the pipes.

It may be now or never for Theodore as, just like the rest of us, he’s not getting any younger.

2.  Ray Emery

This past season’s Masterton Trophy winner, Emery hasn’t been able to catch a break with his health since his return to the NHL from the KHL’s Atlant.

A season that seemed certain to be his best of all-time, Emery’s year with the Flyers upon his arrival back to the NHL was cut short with a bad hip and a subsequent surgery that would sideline the 28-year old for the remainder of the year and put his career in jeopardy.

After extensive rehab, and a stint with the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch for conditioning, Emery made his 2010-11 season debut with the Anaheim Ducks and went on to put up 7 wins in 9 starts.

Emery, while said to have a touch of an attitude problem, has the talent and has proven it, making it to the Stanley Cup Finals with the Ottawa Senators.  His signing could be one of the biggest steals of the free agency period if he turns out anything close to what he was doing in Anaheim in the absence of Jonas Hiller.

1.  Tomas Vokoun

Vokoun has spent the last four years in Florida where he has, make no mistake, been one of the only things keeping that team credible.

His four years in Florida were among his best statistically, due to the sheer number of shots he faced on a nightly basis, and Vokoun didn’t have a single season where he posted a lower save percentage that .919.

Tomas Vokoun is the cream of the crop for this off-seasons free agent goaltenders

While the crop of goaltenders isn’t the greatest this off-season, Vokoun is the one who can, and will be, a game changer for whoever signs him.  It’s almost a certainty he’ll end up in either Colorado or Phoenix (most likely Colorado, who are said to be set to table a big offer to the free agent keeper), as it’s very hard to believe he’ll be willing to spend another year toiling in exile.

His contract may be large, but it won’t be Bryzgalovian in size, and he has certainly proved he’ll be worth the money.

 

 

— JC

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