When the Colorado Avalanche acquired Alexandar Georgiev from the New York Rangers earlier this week, it became abundantly clear that the Avalanche would be moving forward without their Stanley Cup-winning starting goalie, Darcy Kuemper. Kuemper is set to hit the market on Wednesday, and with other pending free agents such as Valeri Nichushkin, Nazem Kadri, Andre Burakovsky, and Josh Manson, as well as Nathan MacKinnon’s mega-extension coming up a year from now, the Avalanche just aren’t in a position to spend significant cap dollars on a goalie. That leaves Kuemper with an intriguing opportunity, as he’s proven himself to be a championship-caliber starting goalie and is coming off of a regular season where he posted a .921 save percentage in 56 starts. There should be significant market interest from teams looking to acquire his services.
One of those teams is presumed to be the Washington Capitals. They traded one-half of last season’s goalie tandem, Vitek Vanecek, to the New Jersey Devils, and have enough cap space to make a splash on a goalie. According to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet on the 32 Thoughts Podcast, the Capitals have been “very interested” in Kuemper for “quite some time” and should be “very motivated” to sign him once the market opens next week. The Capitals are looking to remain a Stanley Cup contender for the rest of Alex Ovechkin’s career, and acquiring a cup-winning number-one goalie is certainly one way for GM Brian MacLellan to keep his team in the mix.
Now, for some other notes regarding netminders across the league:
- Earlier this week, we covered the trade that would have sent Ottawa Senators goalie Matt Murray to the Buffalo Sabres, before being nixed by Murray himself. Murray scuttling that trade possibility hasn’t stopped the Senators in their attempts to move him, and according to Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch, Senators GM Pierre Dorion is “trying to get creative” in order to solve his current goalie logjam that currently has the team rostering three goalies on one-way contracts. Per Garrioch, the Toronto Maple Leafs are “involved in talks” with the Senators about Murray, and the Edmonton Oilers and Arizona Coyotes are two teams “studying the option” of taking on Murray. Murray, 28, carries a $6.25MM cap hit for the next two seasons and has not performed like a quality NHL goalie since 2018-19. Murray does, however, have two Stanley Cup rings on his resume and a career .911 save percentage, making him a potentially intriguing reclamation project for a team willing to take on his contract along with some sweetener assets as well.
- For some time now, it’s looked as though the Toronto Maple Leafs and their number-one goalie for the last two years, Jack Campbell, were headed for a divorce. Campbell struggled as the season went on in 2021-22, and many assumed that the cap-strapped Maple Leafs would prefer to go in a different direction than extend Campbell on a market-value contract. Now, with Petr Mrazek’s $3.8MM cap hit off the books, it seems a Campbell reunion may be possible after all. TSN’s Chris Johnston reports that Campbell is “the priority” for Toronto and that before GM Kyle Dubas approaches any other goalie options he’ll want to make one last push at an extension for Campbell.
Eh, I have a notion for Ottawa: waive Murray again when it comes time in September. If Buffalo (or anyone else) claims him, well, good. Just clearing his salary from the roster is a plus.
I don’t see Buffalo biting on Murray if he is waived. Buffalo was getting Ottawa to retain a few million & the benefit of acquiring another top 10 selection (#16 going out #7 coming back). Besides GMKA had another reminder of the NMC being a hindrance in a trade (T. Hall?).
Buffalo doesn’t NEED anyone to retain salary — not with $34 freaking million in cap space — and getting an upgrade in goaltending for free doesn’t hurt.
Upgrade? Murray?
Potential bounce back yes.
That was the conditions of that nixed trade-
Salary retention & draft pick sweetener.
Buffalo currently has cap space but in the upcoming few off seasons extensions (short & long term) will be needed for many of their RFAs.
Ask the Rangers how quickly future cap space dwindles.
Also GMKA also has stated he wants players to want to play for Buffalo. Nixing this trade shows Murray might become a locker room issue.
Ottawa eating 50% of Murray’s deal to Tronna for Sandin seems ideal. Tronna letting IM walk is not ideal. Kerfoot needs a ride.
Bruh we ain’t getting Sandin for eating 50% of an awful player.
you make us laugh. buffalo was getting a pick upgrade for Murray and some salary retained. now you think the leafs will give up Sandin (or the rights to him since he is an RFA) for Murray.
lmao. thx DF that made me laugh.
why don’t the sens trade him to Edmonton , retain 50% and get back nurse. why only shoot for Sandin
Didn’t Dubas has Campbell and Murray in the minors before ?
Toronto would be stupid acquiring Murray especially if he always wanted to play there & using his NMC to stay there if he sucks again.
I legitimately hope Matt turns his career back around, but I wouldn’t bet on it or allow him on my roster without getting a top asset back for it.