Today we begin a week-long look at potential players who could help fix the glaring holes that the Islanders have in their roster. The most noticeable need is between the pipes. There is no way to sugarcoat it; if the Isles have any chance of even sniffing a playoff spot next season, they must improve their goaltending. The entire league knows this is an issue for the Isles, so I am assuming that the organization itself will use a majority of its allotted funds or assets to acquire some much needed help in net.
I do believe that Evgeni Nabokov would be fine if he returned in a backup capacity. I think it would not be the end of the world if the netminder played 20-25 games next season. His veteran presence in the locker room is much needed. However, if Nabokov still feels he can be a starter somewhere, the Isles may need to bring in two goalies. I believe that Kevin Poulin will not return to the organization, and I think that rookie Anders Nilsson would benefit from getting more time in the AHL where he can see a vast majority of starts and gain some more experience.
First, let’s look at the starting goalies who may be available as free agents on July 1st. It appears that Anaheim goalie Jonas Hiller will be the most coveted free agent goalie come July. With Hiller not starting in the playoffs, it is becoming clear that the Ducks are ready to go young between the pipes and it looks more certain that they will let Hiller walk. Hiller is 32 years old, and despite playing on a great team, his 2.48 goals against and .911 save percentage are just average when compared to the rest of the league. With that being said, Hiller would be a significant upgrade in net, but I do believe there is some “buyer beware… when it comes to the Swiss netminder.
Jaroslav Halak and Brian Elliott are two other interesting pending UFA’s. I like both goalies, but Elliott has never been a starting goalie before. Despite his success, are his numbers inflated because of the great defense that played in front of him in St. Louis? To me, Halak may be the best fit for the Islanders. He is still relatively young being only 28 years of age. His numbers are very impressive considering he was traded twice this season and played on teams with very poor defenses in Buffalo and Washington. Halak has also had some success in the playoffs, carrying a young Montreal team a few rounds in the playoffs. I also don’t believe that Halak would be concerned where he plays, as this would be his fifth franchise.
Two other goalies that will be available are Cam Ward and James Reimer. However, both are under contract and would have to be acquired via trade. Despite Ward’s amazing cup-winning performance, he has not shown an ability to stay healthy for some time. Assuming the Hurricanes asking price is high, I don’t think Ward is worth the price. James Reimer is an interesting case. At times, Reimer has shown flashes of being a quality NHL goalie, however he has not shown an ability to flourish under the intense microscope of the Toronto media and fans. Up until their crushing playoff loss to the Bruins, Reimer had played well, but he was the scapegoat for the series loss and did not bounce back from that. His numbers were not good this season, but I do believe the talent is there and the cost to acquire him is at an all-time low. This is certainly someone the Isles may want to consider targeting.
When it comes to the backup position, there are two players I like who also may have starting potential: Thomas Greiss and Justin Peters. Both are under the age of thirty, have solid numbers, and when they have played, both goalies show signs of being above average NHL backups at worst. If Nabokov walks, you could make a case that one of these goalies would be a solid improvement.
The bottom line for Islander’s General Manager Garth Show is that at least one goalie must be brought in this offseason. They cannot stand pat on this position if this team has any chance of improving. Snow needs to be aggressive, and the improvement of this position must be priority number one during the offseason. On Wednesday we will look at some of the potential Islander targets who could improve the defense of this team. As always, for more on all things hockey, please follow me on Twitter at @DanDanNoodles78.