Saros or Hellebuyck to the Canes?

[Panthers Fan 69]

From ESPN

 

Saros, Hellebuyck hop on the goalie carousel

There are two different goalie markets this offseason. There's the unrestricted free-agent pool, filled with a collection of familiar names of advanced age, some intriguing question marks like Tristan Jarry and Joonas Korpisalo, and whatever one makes of Stanley Cup champion Adin Hill. Then there's a much more tantalizing collection of trade possibilities, which makes that free-agent pool look like a neglected, algae-filled motel swimming pool by comparison.

Among the trade possibilities: Juuse Saros of the Nashville Predators, the Jets' Hellebuyck and John Gibson of the Anaheim Ducks. Thatcher Demko of the Vancouver Canucks was available earlier this year, but the team pulled him back -- although with the Canucks in a state of change, who knows what the summer will bring?

There are several teams theoretically in need of a goaltender upgrade. Teams like the Ottawa Senatorsand Carolina Hurricanes don't have a No. 1 starter under contract. The Pittsburgh Penguins, Los Angeles Kings, Toronto Maple Leafs and Vegas Golden Knights have one goalie signed. (We'll include Vegas, because who knows what's up with Robin Lehner?) The New Jersey Devils have Vitek Vanecek and Akira Schmid, but given how the playoffs went, perhaps they want an upgrade, too?

Of that group, the Kings should be one of the most aggressive teams in seeking a solution in goal, given how close they're inching toward true Stanley Cup contention. Acquiring Saros would help with that progress.

 

Juuse Saros could be one of the final pieces of the puzzle for the Kings as they look to assemble another Stanley Cup champ. John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images

Saros, 28, is everything the Kings need, which is why they were after him before last season's trade deadline. He's a Vezina Trophy-caliber goalie who has led the NHL in games played for the past two seasons. He's on a $5 million AAV deal for the next two seasons without any trade protection. The Kings are a team that has been searching for a solution in goal since Jonathan Quick aged out of stardom. Saros could be it.

He won't come cheaply. Former Predators GM David Poile reportedly asked for two first-round picks from the Kings for Saros. What would new GM Barry Trotz want from the Kings? It's tough to say, given that the only move he has made is hiring coach Andrew Brunette. But that might clue us in on his philosophy: Trotz said he wants Nashville to play "an entertaining, offensive brand of hockey that the fans would enjoy watching."

So how about 21-year-old winger Arthur Kaliyev, dynamic but injury-prone center Gabriel Vilardi and a conditional first-round pick for Saros?

Kaliyev had a strong second full season (28 points in 56 games). Vilardi had a breakout season (41 points in 63 games) ... but again, it was 63 games. The Kings don't have a first-rounder this summer, but own theirs for 2024 and 2025. Lottery protect it for 2024.

The Predators would only trade Saros because they've got Yaroslav Askarov on the way in their system. But he needs more time. So how about stop-gapping it with Kevin Lankinen (already signed through next season) and free-agent goalie Frederik Andersen, most recently of the Hurricanes? He'll be 34 when the season starts. While his regular-season performance wasn't ideal, he was effective in the playoffs (.927 save percentage, 1.83 goals-against average in nine starts). But again, that was behind the Hurricanes' defense.

Many goalies have looked great behind coach Rod Brind'Amour's scheme, but how many great goalies have been Hurricanes under his watch? To that end: Connor Hellebuyck has been great for a lot of Winnipeg teams, but how many of those Winnipeg teams were great defensively in front of him?

For the sheer curiosity of how good he'd be on a Brind'Amour team, how about Hellebuyck to the Hurricanes?

The Canes have other needs -- particularly in the goal-scoring department -- but this solidifies their net. He'd solve their tandem issues, as one of the NHL's biggest workload goalies.

Carolina has a ton of draft capital to get this deal started, but completing a trade for Hellebuyck is the sticky part. Would either Brady Skjei or Brett Pescesign an extension with the Jets, as they're one year away from unrestricted free agency? Would the Hurricanes have to part with someone like Seth Jarvis in the deal? Can they balance a Hellebuyck trade with what they'd need to move for scoring help, as the free agent solutions are few and far between?

One last question: If Hellebuyck plays behind the Canes' defensive system, is it possible to award the Vezina Trophy before the season?

[Anybodyhome]

Pesce, Drury and a conditional 2nd for Hellebuyck or Saros.

And I addressed the Hellebuyck possibility in my "Don't Look Now" thread a couple days ago.

Edited June 20, 2023 by Anybodyhome

[Harbingers]

Saros. 

[MillionDollarCam]

Either would be fantastic.

[KingKucci]

Both would make us better.  No brainers

Add in a goal scorer.....Thats a cup winner

[KillerKat]

2 hours ago, KingKucci said:

Both would make us better.  No brainers

Add in a goal scorer.....Thats a cup winner

goaltending hasnt been the reason why we lost. We need more than just 1 goal scorer. We need 2 or 3 and also need to add more size and grit to the team. Ugrading at goaltender would be great, but we dont have to break the bank there.

[PleaseCutStewart]

On 6/21/2023 at 12:03 PM, KillerKat said:

goaltending hasnt been the reason why we lost. We need more than just 1 goal scorer. We need 2 or 3 and also need to add more size and grit to the team. Ugrading at goaltender would be great, but we dont have to break the bank there.

This. Goaltending has been average, if not better, the past 2 playoffs. Our inability to score paired with our approximately 5 minute lapses in how to play hockey have been what's killed us.

Would I love saros or Connor, sure. I'd rather have scorers though

[Anybodyhome]

Both Freddie and Raanta had very good years heading into UFA status. There's no way the team can afford to keep both- one of them is going to get paid elsewhere and the other is going to get paid by Waddell.

The question is whether or not Kochetkov is ready to be a regular backup behind whomever stays, Freddie or Anti.