Sheng Peng
“I think everybody’s kind of waiting on Seattle to make their move. It’s kind of held back by them. At some point, the dam is going to break.”
That’s what one NHL scout told San Jose Hockey Now about this off-season’s goaltending market.
“There’s a lot of teams looking for goalies right now.”
The San Jose Sharks will be one of those teams.
“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:
Now, let’s address goaltending.
We chatted with three NHL scouts about 22 goalies — twenty-two! — free agents and potential trade targets who might fit the San Jose Sharks.
It’s a diverse group: Established veterans like Philipp Grubauer, Frederik Andersen, Cam Talbot, Anton Khudobin, Jake Allen, Jonathan Bernier, James Reimer, Petr Mrazek, Jaroslav Halak, and Braden Holtby. Up-and-comers like Chris Driedger, Linus Ullmark, Joonas Korpisalo, Tristan Jarry, Vitek Vanecek, Kaapo Kahkonen, Laurent Brossoit, and Adin Hill. Question marks like David Rittich and Antti Raanta. Even relative unknowns like Filip Gustavsson and Joey Daccord.
So 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?
Let’s look first at who the San Jose Sharks could trade for between the pipes — we’ll get to the UFAs tomorrow. We’ll answer these questions and more: Should we be worried about Khudobin’s struggles this year? Would you still trust Holtby as your starter? Is Korpisalo a sleeper No. 1?
Cam Talbot
Scout #1: I think he’s a good starting goalie. I wouldn’t even put him in the tandem category. He had a good year with Minnesota and was good in Edmonton outside of the one year where he faltered a little bit. Otherwise, fairly solid.
Scout #2: He really improved for me. Looks like he settled down. He’s more compact. He manages his space well. I think he moves well. I see him as a [1A].
Anton Khudobin
Scout #1: I wouldn’t say they want to get rid of him and this contract. I think he still has life left in him.
I think he’s a good 1A. He’s a little unpredictable, maybe. But also his styles is unpredictable too. He’s very acrobatic. I think in order to be an acrobatic goalie, you have to be feeling it. You have to be comfortable.
If you have him as your goalie [at his price tag], you’re going to be okay with it.
Scout #2: I like Khudobin. He’s another [1A] for me. He can be the starter, has shown that he can take that job and do a good job.
I suspect he’s gonna get himself ready [for next year]. I wouldn’t be worried about him.
That’s a pretty good deal for me, $3.33 million. You know what you’ve got. He’s gonna be high on people’s lists.
Scout #3: When we’re talking about Khudobin, or even maybe Talbot, I think there’s a little bit of disconnect between how close San Jose is to winning and do you really want to go out, get a 35-year-old goalie? Is that really the direction you want to go?
Khudobin falls in that 1A-1B category, but do you really want to go give up assets or an asset to go acquire a goalie who probably is not going to be there when you do try to win a Cup? It might be just a third-round pick, but it’s still an asset that you don’t hypothetically need to lose.
Dobie is a good goalie, he’s athletic and a competitor. He’s a good teammate. I just don’t know if it makes sense for their long-term plans or if he’s a significant upgrade on some of the others who you can get [as just a free agent].
Jake Allen
Scout #1: Allen has never really been good as the starter. He’s been a very good backup and a guy that can go in and help you win games.
I think Khudobin has shown more of the ability to be the guy. But let’s say you have both, I think they both would be pretty good for you.
Braden Holtby
Scout #1: He’s a guy who I’d probably stay away from because of cap hit and performance.
I don’t think [the goalie that he was is] there anymore.
For whatever salary, he’s [can’t be] your starter.
Scout #2: I have a tendency to think his game has diminished. He’s a bridge player for you.
Scout #3: I think Holtby is a notch or two below [Talbot or Khudobin]. I think his play has dropped off. I wouldn’t feel real comfortable with him in net.
It’s crazy. I just don’t know exactly know [what happened to him.] It’s like a switch flipped, and all of a sudden, he’s really, really struggled.
Joonas Korpisalo
Scout #1: I think Korpisalo could be a starter.
I would take a chance on him and be comfortable with it.
Scout #3: I like Korpisalo. He’s young, athletic, and competitive. I would give him a chance, it just comes down to acquisition cost.
Tristan Jarry
Scout #1: Jarry is getting a bad rap from a bad playoff. Still, he’s a goalie coming into his own. I think he’s a good goalie. I’m still okay with Jarry as your starter.
Scout #2: I like him. Those guys who are just starting to come into their own, it doesn’t always go smooth. I know he didn’t have a good playoffs.
He’s a big guy. He moves around pretty well. I think he has continued to improve. He’s decent.
I like him as a [1A].
Vitek Vanecek
Scout #1: I think Vanecek is a fine back-up. I don’t think he’s ever going to be a starter.
I’d be comfortable with him on my team as a back-up or a 1B.
Kappo Kahkonen
Scout #1: I don’t see Kahkonen as a starter yet. He’s got potential, but he’s still raw. He’s a big body that does a good job of getting in front of pucks. He’s still figuring out the NHL game.
Adin Hill
Scout #1: I don’t think he’s a guy who’s ready for the starting position but could be a solid back-up.
Scout #2: Adin Hill, for me, is a backup. And he’s a marginal NHL goalie.
I don’t think he moves well. I don’t think he’s athletic. He is big. He has a ways to go. He might turn himself into something more, but he wouldn’t be for me.
Scout #3: It sounds like they’re gonna move Kuemper, or try to, and Adin Hill would be the guy.
I think he’s more of a 1A type. He hasn’t proven to me that he’s gonna be a bona fide starter. But Arizona has been awfully high on him.
Filip Gustavsson / Joey Daccord
Scout #1: Both have potential.
It’s always difficult to go on results during garbage time. When a goalie like Gustavsson plays well at the end of the season when there’s no pressure, it’s different than playing in the playoffs when there is pressure. He’s proven to have some good games when it doesn’t really matter. As a starting goalie, that’s a way different pressure. Big weight on their shoulders.