Sheng Peng
“I wouldn’t count out the Sharks going for Grubauer.”
Could the San Jose Sharks pursue free agency’s premier goaltending prize? That’s what one NHL scout suggested to San Jose Hockey Now.
It sounds crazy, but if Philipp Grubauer comes in at a contract comparable to fellow UFA Jacob Markstrom’s six-year, $36 million dollar pact last off-season, the San Jose Sharks could have the cap space.
“I think goaltending, we have to address,” GM Doug Wilson said in May. “The 3C spot, certainly we have to look at and explore.”
We’ve already talked to three NHL scouts about free agents at center:
We also offered up some potential trade targets up the middle:
Yesterday, we looked at potential trade candidates between the pipes for the San Jose Sharks:
Now, let’s talk free agent netminders: How does the rest of the league see UFAs Grubauer, Frederik Andersen, Jonathan Bernier, James Reimer, Petr Mrazek, Jaroslav Halak, Chris Driedger, Linus Ullmark, Laurent Brossoit, David Rittich, and Antti Raanta?
Of this group, who do the scouts see as true No. 1 starters? Or as better fits for a 1A-1B tandem? Or as just back-ups?
Philipp Grubauer
Scout #1: I wouldn’t count out the Sharks going for Grubauer. I wouldn’t count it out. They still got the core and they still want to win, right?
I would argue that you got a good goalie, you’re sniffing a playoff spot. And if you get into the playoffs, you got a shot, right?
I wouldn’t put it past them.
I would say he’s top-15 in the league, for sure.
Scout #2: I don’t know if he’s a top-10 goalie. I think I’d have 10 before him pretty easily. I’ve watched him some nights, I love him. I watch other games, he just leaves me [wanting more]. He’s an enigma for me.
If that’s what you got to pay — [say five years and $25 million] — he’s on the upside. He’s improving for me. I have no problem with that, but I don’t think he’s a top-10 guy.
Scout #3: He’s certainly a starter. I don’t know if he’s necessarily a top-10. His numbers have been behind good teams.
The guy can’t stay healthy. So that concerns me. I don’t think he’s played more than 40 games in a season.
I don’t know how comfortable I would be signing him to a big number.
Unless you think that you’re one piece away from being a true contender, and then you’re like, I’m just going to go to the market and get the best guy I can.
I think Grubauer is a great goalie. But he hasn’t played a whole lot.
Frederik Andersen
Scout #1: Freddie is a pretty good goalie. I think he would do better in a different market without the pressure. He’s had injuries, but I still think he’s got game left. He’s certainly in that conversation, if you want a starter.
I still feel comfortable with him as my starter.
Scout #2: I don’t mind Freddie Andersen. There’s a lot of pressure playing in Toronto. Yeah gotta have pretty strong character to play there, shield yourself from that type of market. He’s another [1A] guy for me. I don’t think teams have any real problem with a guy like him.
Scout #3: I always looked at Andersen as a guy who was vastly overworked.
I like Freddie Anderson [as a potential starter]. I hear he’s a good guy too and that’s kind of what you want, especially with a younger No. 2.
Chris Driedger
Scout #1: He has a good, good chance of being a starter going in. But being the guy going in is a different situation than being behind Bobrovsky.
He certainly has a chance to be a starter.
Driedger is probably the most intriguing [among the more realistic goalie targets for the San Jose Sharks].
Linus Ullmark
Scout #1: Ullmark has got a lot of tools. He’s huge, a guy who moves well. He’s got starter written all over him. Hasn’t shown all that much consistency in his career yet, but he’s got all the tools. He’s a guy who I’d take a swing on.
Scout #2: He could be the sleeper of this whole group. Our guys like him.
Scout #3: I would take a shot on Ullmark. He’s 27 years old. He’s played for a bad team. I think he’s still is on the ups.
I think he could be a sneaky-good pickup.
I think he could surprise some people and turn some heads.
Petr Mrazek
Scout #1: I think he’s proven that he could be a starter.
Scout #2: I like Mrazek. He’s grown on me the last couple of years. He was okay in Detroit, but I think he’s played better in Carolina. He would be a good 1A guy that your kids could battle for the net.
Scout #3: Mrazek, I’m not as high on. When he shows up, he can be awfully good, but I’ve seen him be awfully poor too. He’s got injury trouble, so he kind of falls more in that 1A-1B bucket for me.
He’s a small goalie, really athletic. He’s quick. But sometime, he compromises his position because he can get swimming at times.
He’s a competitor, he’s a gamer. I just don’t always trust him.
Jonathan Bernier
Scout #1: I’d consider him a 1A for sure. He had a really good year last year in a tough place to have a good year.
He should be a guy that they really consider. He won’t be super expensive. I’d be comfortable grabbing him as a 1A.
Scout #2: I do like Bernier. But he’s in the same boat as those other guys. They’re the second-tier guys. They’re all good goalies. They can all win games. But they’re all in that second tier. Bernier, Andersen…
Scout #3: I like Bernier a little bit more than Reimer.
He’s small, but he’s quick and athletic. He’s in the Mrazek mold, I guess, a good 1A who can steal you games and can and he’ll show up when you need him to. But if I’m a contending team, do I think that Bernier is enough to lean on?
James Reimer
Scout #1: He’s more of a 1B, I’d say. He can give you some fits as he’s a blocking-style guy, pucks hit him and he leaves rebounds. But he’s a guy who can stop those rebounds. He’s a hard-working guy, competitive. Maybe he’s more of a back-up now.
Scout #2: He’s below those other guys. He’s down another tier for me. He’s just okay for me.
Scout #3: He’s a notch below Mrazek. He’s more of a 1B for me.
Jaroslav Halak
Scout #2: I like Halak. I like the way he plays. He’s been on a winner and he’s played under pressure. I got some time for him. He might be just below a Khudobin. I feel good about him as a 1B.
Scout #3: I think he’s more of a pure back-up now.
He’s a good teammate, high character, I hear everyone loves him. I think his play just dropped off. He’s getting up there in age.
Laurent Brossoit
Scout #1: Brossoit is another blocking style of goalie, but I think he does a little bit better directing his rebounds to better places. He’s certainly under consideration to be a 1B type.
Scout #2: Never been a big fan of his. I always thought he was just okay. He actually did better in Winnipeg than I thought he would. But I see him as a back-up. I don’t see him as a guy to compete for a starting job. I don’t think he’ll take that step.
Scout #3: I still think he’s more of a back-up or a No. 3 in an organization.
David Rittich
Scout #2: He’s very well-liked by his teammates. That goes a long way. I have some time for Rittich. I think Rittich is still on the cusp of being better, take a step up. That would be a good gamble.
Antti Raanta
Scout #1: Raanta is a good goalie. Injuries have plagued him a bit. If he’s healthy and engaged, he could be a starter. But he’s never shown that ability to stay healthy.
Scout #2: Raanta, I love his game. But he’s always broken. I would stay away from him.