2:00pm: Craig Custance of ESPN reports that the Edmonton Oilers are one of the teams interested in Halak.
1:30pm: According to several reports on Twitter including Sportsnet’s John Shannon along with Frank Seravalli and Darren Dreger of TSN, the New York Islanders are receiving calls about goaltender Jaroslav Halak. Seravalli claims that at least two teams have already put in offers for the netminder, with a third interested.
Halak has another year left on his deal at $4.5MM and is currently buried in the minors with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the AHL. His numbers there give some credence to the idea that he can still help an NHL team, as he is 14-2-1 with a .933 save percentage. The Islanders meanwhile have committed to Thomas Greiss in net, meaning if they can find a taker they’d likely move Halak at the deadline.
The former Montreal Canadiens goaltender burst onto the scene in 2010 when he took the Habs to the conference final and has been a steady playoff performer through his otherwise limited experience. A career .924 postseason save percentage should have many teams wondering if he can help them down the stretch and guard against a young goaltender buckling under the pressure.
With the Islanders still fighting for a playoff spot, perhaps moving Halak would allow them to take on even more money elsewhere to bolster their offense. They’ve been in and out of the Matt Duchene rumor mill all day, but could move on a smaller deal like Radim Vrbata to help John Tavares carry the offense.
Bruins maybe?
I wouldn’t be shocked, but I’m not sure they want to take on the 4.5 mil since everyone knows they want to be in on Shattenkirk and other guys over the summer.
I mean if they are able to give the Islanders something of value that isn’t too much but also enough to make them willing to pay some of his salary would be the move but they shouldn’t feel forced to trade away a very good prospect for him just so they can save some money. I have always liked Halak ever since I watched him play for the Maineaks many years ago
Do the Bruins have any goaltenders, outside of Rask, that is expansion eligible? If so, I can’t imagine them trading for Halak. If they don’t, it would make sense but the cap hit would definitely be a problem.
Both Khudobin and Subban qualify for expansion draft.
Ottawa offers all of its remaining picks for next draft
Calgary would make sense. Halak for Elliot straight up. NYI gets to dump Halaks contract for one that expires at the end of the year. Calgary upgrades goaltender.