Now that Josh Harding has signed with the Minnesota Wild, there are 38 free agent goalies available come July 1, according to TSN’s list.
(That’s not taking into account Curtis Sanford, who although the information is not included by TSN, we know is headed to the KHL.)
Of those 38 free agents, 12 are 32 years of age, or older. The remaining netminders have played an average of 50.2 NHL games.
In fact, of the 26 younger goalies, only ten have played more than half a season’s worth of games in the NHL: Dan Ellis (165), Curtis McElhinney (69), Yann Danis (50), Al Montoya (57), Alex Auld (237), Michael Leighton (104), Antero Nittymaki (234), Sebastien Caron (95), Jonas Gustavsson (107), Dany Sabourin (57)
Worse yet, there are only six goalies on TSN’s list who are under 32 years old and who have ever played in an NHL postseason game: Ellis, Auld, Leighton, Nittymaki, Sabourin, and Johan Backlund.
Considering the premium teams place on goaltending, it is fair to say it is going to be tough for the Blue Jackets to address their needs through free agency.
And that might be an understatement.
Once again Howson goes into the time he’s paid to excel and instead of pulling a rabbit out of his hat he pulls a Mason…. Since its safe to assume nobody is going to give up a true elite #1 goalie for ANYTHING we have and none are available via free agency its going to be another miserable year. Luongo is not going to be a savior for the CBJ as if he is unfortunate enough to get traded here he’ll just pull a Carter and be gone at the trade deadline. The true failure in this team is the front office duo of Howson and Priest. Their #1 priority after the season ended should have been getting a real goalie here and not trying to trade Nash. With nobody left in FA Howson has little ability to win a trade for Nash even if he gets a goalie in return. He lost his position of strength going back to his risk averse ways. Anything he touches turns to crap.
Dan Ellis is the best of what is available. The Jackets cannot go into the season with Mason in net.