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Free Agent Profile: Scott Darling

August 28, 2019 at 7:52 pm CDT | by Zach Leach 13 Comments

Veteran goaltender Cam Ward called it a career today, signing a one-day contract with the Carolina Hurricanes, who he served for 13 seasons to begin his NHL career. The 35-year-old finally moved on from the Hurricanes last season, but struggled in a backup role with the Chicago Blackhawks. With his numbers slipping and age catching up with him, Ward decided now was the time to retire.

Interestingly enough, Ward’s failed replacement in Carolina, Scott Darling, also remains an unsigned free agent, waiting for a market to develop. Just two UFA goaltenders – Anthony Stolarz and Jared Coreau – have signed an NHL contract since July 2nd and no goalie has been inked in 50 days. The market is dead quiet, but Ward’s exit leaves Darling as the obvious top name if a team does come calling. Darling, 30, is just hoping at this point that he too doesn’t have to consider retirement.

It was not long ago that Darling was actually considered one of the best backup goaltenders in the NHL. A 2007 draft pick, Darling was a slow-developing prospect who played another year of juniors, two years in college, and four years bouncing around the minors before he ever saw NHL action. However, when he broke through in 2014-15 with the Chicago Blackhawks, he immediately impressed. Darling spent three seasons as the backup to Corey Crawford, with his role increasing each year, and in total posted 39 wins, a .923 save percentage, and a 2.37 GAA in 75 appearances.

The Hurricanes believed they were getting a bargain when they acquired Darling for a third-round pick in the summer of 2017 and signed him to a four-year, $16.6MM contract. However, it quickly became clear that the star backup was not cut out to be a starter. Darling was unable to overtake Ward despite ample opportunity, posting an .888 save percentage and 3.18 GAA in 43 appearances. Darling made 40 starts to Ward’s 42 and was outplayed by the aging veteran, which is not what either he nor Carolina had hoped for.

The ‘Canes essentially cleaned house last summer, letting Ward walk in free agency and burying Darling in the AHL, replacing them with the far more effective duo of Petr Mrazek and Curtis McElhinney. Darling did make eight spot starts for Carolina this past season, but somehow performed even worse than he did the year prior. In the minors, Darling sat behind lauded prospect Alex Nedeljkovic and when he did get a chance to play – he made just 14 appearances – the results were just as bad if not worse than his NHL performance. Not wanting to be weighed down by Darling’s $4.15MM cap hit any longer, the team traded him to the Florida Panthers this off-season along with a sixth-round draft pick for a new backup in James Reimer. The Panthers quickly bought out Darling, making him a free agent.

Potential Suitors

It has now been more than two years since anyone has been impressed by Darling’s efforts on the ice. With that said, the free agent market at goalie is slim pickings, with Darling easily headlining a group that includes Michal Neuvirth – who has signed a PTO with the Toronto Maple Leafs – Chad Johnson, Al Montoya, and Michael Leighton. Each of those players is both older than Darling and was last considered a legitimate NHL option far prior to Darling’s downfall. Darling is simply the best of a poor group, but is looking for redemption. Unlike Ward, Darling will have no expectations of any role or guaranteed play time. He will instead be looking for an opportunity to show that he can still be an effective NHL backup, likely by seeking a third-string role with the chance to battle for play time at the top level.

Accepting a role such as this could open some opportunities for Darling, especially once training camp begins. Injuries to starters or backups can shift the paradigm for an NHL team and leave them searching or an experienced option. The Vegas Golden Knights, Anaheim Ducks, and Philadelphia Flyers are examples of teams with shallow depth in net and injury concerns who could turn to Darling in the even of an incident.

It’s also very possible that several teams are already aware of their weaknesses in goal and simply waiting to see how their current keepers look in training camp and the preseason and potentially even early on the in the regular season. The Columbus Blue Jackets are the one team that everyone is focused on in net, as the team is set to have former backup Joonas Korpisalo and newly-signed European prospect Elvis Merzlikins begin the year as a young, unproven tandem. Early concerns could lead to Columbus looking for additional support, with Darling as the top option other than trade or waivers. The Colorado Avalanche are also in need of depth in net. Their top two of Philipp Grubauer and Pavel Francouz are likely to be fine this season, but the lack of any other experienced name behind them could be a cause for pause, especially given this will be Francouz’ first full NHL season.

Ironically, the Florida Panthers are one final team that could be in the goalie market and would have been a good fit for Darling. The team understandably bought out Darling’s hefty contract, but could’ve actually used a player of his experience. The Panthers spent big on Sergei Bobrovsky’s this summer and will likely ask him to start 65+ games this season, but young Samuel Montembeault is currently slated to be his backup with other untested prospects behind him. Montembeault’s performance in the backup role, as well as the effect on his development of sitting so often, could lead the Panthers to search for a veteran option. Darling won’t be the answer now, but one has to wonder if the two sides connected at all prior to what was clearly an orchestrated trade-and-dump.

Projected Contract

It’s nearly September and teams are getting ready for training camp, yet Darling still sits without a contract. At this point, he will receive a PTO or nothing. Even if he proves himself in camp, it will likely only result in a minimum $700K NHL cap hit on a one-year, two-way deal. If that’s what it takes to climb his back way into the NHL though, Darling will surely take it. After all, he’s receiving a nice pay check from the Panthers for four more years anyway.

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AHL| Al Montoya| Alex Nedeljkovic| Anaheim Ducks| Anthony Stolarz| Cam Ward| Carolina Hurricanes| Chad Johnson| Chicago Blackhawks| Colorado Avalanche| Columbus Blue Jackets| Corey Crawford| Curtis McElhinney| Elvis Merzlikins| Florida Panthers| Free Agency| James Reimer| Jared Coreau| Joonas Korpisalo| Michael Leighton| Michal Neuvirth| Petr Mrazek| Philadelphia Flyers| Philipp Grubauer| Prospects| Retirement| Vegas Golden Knights

Snapshots: Werenski, Kempny, Pominville
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View Comments (13)
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Comments

  1. ryan2k18

    3 years ago

    The Panthers are barred from signing Scott Darling until July of 2020, teams that bought out a player cannot sign that player for another year.

    Reply
    • dugdog83

      3 years ago

      Good note

      Reply
  2. pawtucket

    3 years ago

    This is sort of a wasted article. Several more UFAs that need contracts that actually have a chance to make a team

    Darling isn’t

    Reply
  3. uvmfiji

    3 years ago

    Please sign with a Metropolitan team

    Reply
  4. Marner#16

    3 years ago

    Back to Chicago where he belongs and re-establishes himself.

    Reply
    • statefarm44

      3 years ago

      And where do you expect him to play? Crawford and lehner with Blackhawks and Delia in Rockford … nice try … darling is done

      Reply
    • Marner#16

      3 years ago

      statefarm44,

      It was just a suggestion its where he has played his best. Crawford has concussion and we all know about Lehners issues to which I was glad to see him bounce back this year with help. You really think that tandem is gonna lead Chicago to a cup you gotta be kidding me. Delia is 7 and 5 with a .365 gaa… career and your gonna rely on common now. We all know that Darling has great stats in chicago his worst wins season was 9 still more then Delia less losses and gaa almost half of what Delia was. Let’s be realistic. You do well somewhere you deserve a chance to come back. Not gonna get through the season with those 3 I can gaurantee you that. Doesn’t hurt to have some added depth.

      Reply
  5. HalosFan8

    3 years ago

    Don’t see Anaheim looking at him with Stolarz signed as a #3 and Kevin Boyle as a #4. Plus there are 3 others signed for either the ECHL or Europe.

    Reply
  6. unclemike1525

    3 years ago

    Hawks are strong at Goalie, no room for Scott Darling. Crawford, Lehner, Delia, Lankinen, Gravel and just drafted another young Goalie. They just jettisoned Forsberg because he didn’t fit. Why waste more money on a position that doesn’t need it? I’m pretty sure that after this year Crawford will be gone and the Hawks will re sign Lehner to a contract he deserves. After all, they’ll have 11 million more cap space to play with, just at Goalie.

    Reply
  7. riverrat55

    3 years ago

    Hey Marner when are you going to sign?
    Agree with unclemike Chicago doesn’t need Darling

    Reply
  8. Marner#16

    3 years ago

    Gerald,

    I’m not Mitch nor do I represent him. My guess is when he gets paid what he’s worth which should be more then what Matthews is being paid. Mitch is the best player on the team and top score the last two seasons time to pay the man!.

    Reply
  9. riverrat55

    3 years ago

    Just having fun Marner#16 , no hard feelings, thou I wish some other free agents would sign to set the price for major stars. that do deserve a big contract. just hate to see it for first time it has come to this , with possibility of top stars sitting out. The NHL has to do something about getting more money into salary cap , it is ridiculous they set it at $81.5 M , I know from reading salary caps will be going back up and hit higher when Seattle comes into league in a few years. Start putting some pen to paper boys am ready for some hockey. Go! Chicago Black Hawks.

    Reply
  10. Marner#16

    3 years ago

    Gerald,

    It’s all go no issues with you. I just wish it would happen too. I highly doubt he sits out. Rumours now are that Point will sign first. Looking forward to the season. Go Leafs/Blackhawks!

    Reply

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