Five Goalies Who Could Get Moved

There’s a cliche in hockey that teams can’t trade goalies in the middle of the season, certainly not starting goaltenders. It turns out they can, and the door is open to do so. The Colorado Avalanche did it last season, acquiring MacKenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood, while the Pittsburgh Penguins and Edmonton Oilers made the big splash in the net this season.

With Tristan Jarry heading to the Oilers and Stuart Skinner moving to the Penguins, there’s a good chance more is on the way. There are plenty of teams in the contending conversation who can use the help between the pipes and expect them to address those needs. So, who might be next?

Let’s first get the American Hockey League (AHL) goaltenders out of the way. Yes, they can be traded but they aren’t the blockbuster needle-moving trades. Those teams to keep in mind include.

Clay Stevenson – There was talk about him getting claimed off waivers before the season started, and if the Washington Capitals want to make a splash, he can be a part of a small deal.
Joel Blomqvist – The Penguins have a surplus of goaltenders. With Skinner and Arturs Silovs on the NHL roster and Sergei Murashov waiting in the wings, Blomqvist is fourth on the list and the expendable one.
Michael DiPietro – He’s always the AHL goaltender to watch since he’s a veteran at this point but someone an NHL team will want to take a chance on. If the Boston Bruins aren’t willing to give him a shot, maybe they’ll move him?
Devon Levi – Among the many issues the Buffalo Sabres have, one is their goaltending. With three on the NHL team, Devon Levi is sitting in the AHL with no way up. He’s expendable but the Sabres in general are the team to watch.

Alex Lyon

After the Sabres claimed Colten Ellis off waivers, they put themselves in a bind. He joined a team that already included Ukko-Pekka Lukkonen and Alex Lyon. Typically, teams don’t have three goaltenders but the Sabres have tried to do the balancing act with injuries helping them navigate the mess.

Ellis and Lukkonen are the younger goaltenders who can help turn the team around in the long run. Lyon is the older option who was brought in as a placeholder. Eventually, the Sabres will look to trade him and most likely, do so this season.

So, where does Lyon end up? He’s the ideal backup for any Cup contender. The Florida Panthers are the perfect fit, especially since he was there in 2022-23 to help them sneak into the playoffs. In the Western Conference, the Los Angeles Kings and Vegas Golden Knights are the two teams that stand out as they can use an upgrade at backup.

Thatcher Demko

Thatcher Demko is a fascinating goaltender following the Quinn Hughes trade. The Vancouver Canucks are stuck at a crossroads and can either retool or rebuild after trading their best player. If they choose to tear it down, trading Demko makes sense since he’s an older goaltender who won’t play at a high level when the team is competitive again.

Demko has a tricky contract to move. His no-trade clause and $8 million average annual value (AAV) kick in after this season. It’s why the time to trade him is now, and with Jim Rutherford running the team, it’s hard to see the Canucks wasting any time to make this move.

What makes Demko more intriguing is that when he’s healthy, he’s one of the best goaltenders in the NHL. His 2023-24 season was Vezina Trophy caliber, and there’s a good chance the Canucks make it to the Stanley Cup Final if he’s healthy for that playoff run. There are plenty of teams that can see his upside and try to bring him in, knowing he can lead them to a Cup.

Calvin Pickard

While Calvin Pickard isn’t the big name, he’s the goaltender to watch since the Oilers already made a big move. It wouldn’t surprise anyone if the Oilers make another move with hopes of upgrading in the net. Pickard is having a forgettable season, and with the need to find a backup, expect this team to shop him.

The question is which teams will want Pickard. He’s not a goaltender a rebuilding team will want to build around, and certainly not an option for a contending team. Instead, the Oilers will likely package him into a blockbuster trade to get a goaltender. If they move a future first round pick and a prospect with Pickard, they can add a goaltender in the process. Maybe someone like the next name on this list.

Jordan Binnington

Jordan Binnington is having a forgettable season, one that has many questioning whether he should start for Canada in the Olympics. That said, Binnington’s proven throughout his career that when he must win a big game, he can play at another level and do so. It’s why he led the St. Louis Blues to their first and only Stanley Cup title in franchise history. It also explains how he helped Canada defeat the USA in the Four-Nations Final.

This makes Binnington an intriguing trade chip. If the Blues are willing to hit the reset button, they can move him to a contender. The Oilers are the team that comes to mind but the Golden Knights, Carolina Hurricanes, and Utah Mammoth are also worth watching.

The question is whether the Blues want to trade him or not. Yes, this is a rough season but do they want to rebuild or just shrug it off and come back with the same group next season? The other problem specific to the Blues is that they lack reinforcements. They don’t have a backup or any future options down the road to start for them. So, as fun as a Binnington blockbuster sounds, it’s unlikely.

Juuse Saros

The no-trade clause makes things tough for the Nashville Predators. Juuse Saros will have a say in where he goes. That said, the Predators are going nowhere and might need a teardown to salvage things. If that’s the case, there’s a good chance Saros waives his clause to join a contender.

Saros has had a rough two seasons with the Predators, mostly because the defense in front of him hasn’t helped. That said, he’s one of the few elite goaltenders in the NHL who can be traded. A lot of contenders will want to add him but some teams can see him as a goaltender who gives them multiple runs at a Cup, especially since he’s in his prime and under contract for multiple years.