For two seasons, the Carolina Hurricanes have had one of the top goalie tandems in the league, but now they could be heading back to the drawing board.
Both Frederik Andersen and Antti Raanta are set to be UFAs, however, both Andersen and Raanta have expressed a desire to remain in Carolina.
"Definitely my priority is to be back here," Andersen said in his exit interview. "It’s been a really good time here in my two years here so far. I’ve really enjoyed the guys on the team and I think this run showed that we have a lot of care in our culture here. Just the way we play for each other has been a really good pleasure. Definitely believe in this group that we can do something special.”
“Obviously having been part of this team for two years now and seeing how close we got this year, that’s something that you hope to be a part of," Raanta said in his exit interview. "I felt good this year... Hopefully you can be a part of a winning team and winning culture and good organization. That’s something that you hope for."
So maybe there's a chance at least one of them returns, but Russian netminder Pyotr Kochetkov will more than likely get a shot for a long-term stay with the Canes after signing a four-year extension last season.
However, there's still the question of if he's ready to be a full-time NHLer yet.
Kochetkov stated that he was ready and wanted to remain up with the Hurricanes in his exit interview, but general manager Don Waddell was cautious about committing to him for this upcoming season.
“We believe Kochetkov is our future for sure. Is he ready for that full-time thing right now? We’ll find out probably beginning next year."
Either way, Carolina will need at least one if not two more goaltenders under contract for the upcoming season so who could the Hurricanes look to bring in?
“Both goalies want to come back, we know that," said Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell. "It’ll depend on what the contract terms are. We just want to make sure we do our due diligence not only in our guys, but making sure we know what the options are. If you look at our goaltending, it’s been pretty good. Goaltending seems to be a question all the time, but we’re fortunate because with the defense that we’ve built here, it really helps our goalies. Those decisions are coming in the near future because free agency starts July 1 and we want to make sure we’re ahead on that. In the next couple of weeks, I think we’ll figure the whole goaltending out.”
Here are five realistic options who the Hurricanes could target to fill their vacancies in net:
(Check back in later for a list of five goaltenders the Canes should avoid this offseason)
1. Frederik Andersen - CAR (33)
End of two-year, $4.5 million AAV contract
Heading into the postseason, it was more than likely that the Hurricanes would move on from Andersen after a season plagued by injuries and inconsistencies.
But after a tremendous run to the Eastern Conference Final where he posted a 0.927 save percentage and 1.83 goals against average, Andersen played his way back into the conversation.
Andersen has been a top goalie for a long time and there's a lot of reasons why. He's large, athletic and one of the most calm and even-tempered presences that has been in an NHL net.
He's formed good chemistry in Carolina with the team and their style of play and the way he performed in the playoffs gives hope that he still might have some more to give.
His health and availability are obviously still a concern, but the talent is still there.
2. Semyon Varlamov - NYI (35)
End of a four-year, $5 million AAV contract
Varlamov has been one of the most consistent goaltenders of the last decade and while his time in the NHL is nearing the end, he could be the perfect mentor figure for Kochetkov.
Already, Varlamov has been a guiding force for the one of the league's next best, Ilya Sorokin - who is a Vezina candidate this season - and it would be well worth it if he can bring that same support to Carolina for their young Russian netminder.
Often times, having a native speaker close by to help you learn and understand certain areas of the game, is something that still gets overlooked in the NHL. A lot of guys can benefit from building those support systems and Varlamov can be that guiding mentor for Kochetkov.
Age is the concern and with having played fewer and fewer games every year, the question is how much can Varlamov split the load.
Perhaps this is more of an option if Carolina does go with a three goalie split again, which Waddell made an inference to in his end-of-season interview.
-"This position, we always seem to have injuries, so we’re going to have to have three capable players, that’s for sure," Waddell said. "The day of goalies playing 55-60 games are behind us for the most part. Some guys still do, but I think our situation, if we have to use a three goalie system, we’ve learned this year that we’re fine with that. At the end of the day, the bottom line is that there will be three goaltenders that compete for those jobs."
3. Antti Raanta - CAR (34)
End of a two-year, $2 million AAV contract
Raanta was, when healthy, perhaps the Hurricanes most consistent goaltender over the past two seasons.
His 18-game home point streak this season set a franchise record and he gave the Canes a chance to win most every game he's started, including in the postseason.
'Father Finn' has posted a combined 0.918 save percentage and 2.34 goals against average in his two postseason runs with Carolina and proved that he can perform in those big moments.
Obviously the concern with him is also his health and availability, but that's going to be the case with almost all the UFA goaltenders on the market this year.
He's a known commodity and when he's on, he can be dang near unstoppable.
As a plus, he's also one of the nicest guys in the game.
4. Juuse Saros - NSH (28)
Two years remaining on a four-year, $5 million AAV contract
Carolina doesn't feel like they need an elite goaltender to win a Cup, especially when one will cost a small fortune in a trade, but if they're going to make a play for one, it should be for Saros.
Saros is one of the league's best goaltenders, who should have way more Vezina buzz than he has gotten so far in his career.
He's a legitimate elite talent who is capable of stealing not just games but entire playoff series.
Carolina witnessed it themselves in 2021 and have seen firsthand many other times, just how dominant Saros can be.
The Hurricanes have had good goaltending in the postseason, but if they want to have great/elite goaltending and worry a little bit less about goal scoring, then this is the guy to get.
And hey, more Finns, more wins, right?
5. Adin Hill - VGK (27)
End of a two-year, $2.175 AAV contract
Sometimes all you need is a chance.
That seems to have been the case for Hill, who is currently having his break out story as he's led the Vegas Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup Final and has them just two wins away from lifting the Cup.
Hill is one of the larger goaltenders in the league and he's also dazzled with his ability to make those desperation and down-and-out saves.
It might seem crazy for Vegas to let him go, but there's a precedent for letting Cup winning goaltenders go in free agency, as last year's Cup winning Colorado Avalanche did it with Darcey Kuemper.
Vegas also has a lot of money tied up in other players and already have the likes of Logan Thompson in net.
So maybe they keep Hill, maybe they don't, but if he's available, why not take a stab.
The question with Hill is if this is a one off or a new norm?