Fantasy Take: Backups and Timeshare Goalies on the Move
Ian Gooding
2023-07-01
Numerous backup/timeshare goalies have changed teams during the free agency period. Dollar amounts are cap hits and not total salary.
Jonathan Quick, 1 year, $825,000, NY Rangers
Now in the twilight of his career, the 37-year-old Quick is coming off a career-worst (since 2008-09) 3.41 GAA and .882 SV% split between Los Angeles and Vegas. Only three other goalies had a worse GSAA (goals saved above average) than Quick (-23.32 GSAA). Expect him to be not much more than a spot starter for Igor Shesterkin, who has played at least 50 games over back-to-back seasons and should play in at least 60 games in 2023-24 should he remain healthy.
Mackenzie Blackwood, 2 years, $2.35 million, San Jose
Held to under 30 games in two consecutive seasons due to various injuries, Blackwood has the opportunity to start more often in San Jose but could take a further hit ratios-wise. Kaapo Kahkonen was ineffective in 2022-23 (-23.82 GSAA), but so was Blackwood (-23.52 GSAA in fewer games). For a Sharks team in need of a long-term rebuild, neither goalie is worth pursuing in standard single-sized leagues. Blackwood might get the slight edge due to experience and better career numbers, but he will need to remain healthy in order to take advantage of that situation.
James Reimer, 1 year, $1.5 million, Detroit
Alex Lyon, 2 years, $900,000, Detroit
Reimer has proven to be a decent timeshare option throughout his career, although he was never really "the guy" on any team. He has played at least 30 games in a season 11 times in his career, although he has played more than 45 games in a season only once. At age 35, he will likely settle into more of a backup role in Detroit behind Ville Husso. He is still capable of taking on starts should Husso be injured, although a potential decrease in starts shouldn't help his fantasy value.
Lyon had an impressive late-season run for the Panthers with seven consecutive quality starts while Sergei Bobrovsky out of the lineup. That being said, he'll need to battle Reimer for the backup spot and could find himself in the AHL again to start the season. Prior to that, he never had a sustainable run of NHL success, which seems to be how NHL teams viewed him on the open market. The good news for Lyon is that his contract is for two years while Reimer's is for one year, so the backup role could be his in 2024-25 with a strong season.
Laurent Brossoit, 1 year, $1.75 million, Winnipeg
Collin Delia, 1 year, $775,000, Winnipeg
Brossoit's workload will depend on whether the Jets trade workhorse Connor Hellebuyck this offseason. If a Hellebuyck trade happens, expect the Jets to bring in another goalie in return or in another signing or trade (high-end goalie trades don't happen very often, so there isn't much precedent here). Hellebuyck has played at least 60 games four times in his career, including over each of the past two seasons. That has limited his backup to around 20 games, which is what Brossoit should expect if Hellebuyck remains.
Injuries have also been a concern for Brossoit, which is why the Jets are also bringing in NHL/AHL tweener Delia. If the Jets trade Hellebuyck and don't acquire another goalie in return, then… yikes.
Alex Nedeljkovic, 1 year, $1.5 million, Pittsburgh
The Penguins also re-signed Tristan Jarry (5 years, $5.38 million), so Kyle Dubas has had a busy day. We know Jarry will be the starter, but will Nedeljkovic or Casey DeSmith be the backup? DeSmith (already signed for 2023-24) could be a decent trade option for any team that misses out on a backup. But if DeSmith remains in Pittsburgh, he and Nedeljkovic would compete for the backup role. Former Calder Trophy finalist Nedeljkovic is hoping for a fresh start in Pittsburgh after being demoted to the AHL last season. He is only a season shy of playing 59 games and should still offer potential at 27 years of age, which is a relatively young age for a goalie.
David Rittich, 1 year, $875,000, Los Angeles
Rittich was okay in a backup role in Winnipeg in 2022-23, posting a 2.67 GAA and .901 SV% in limited duty (21 games). The Kings signed Cam Talbot earlier in the day, likely knowing that he might have trouble playing a full season because of his age (35) and injury history. Rittich is likely the third-stringer here behind Talbot and Pheonix Copley, but there's a very good chance he could be suiting up for a lot of games, albeit mostly as the backup.