The Senators may add their name to the goalie carousel this summer. As the Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch writes, general manager Steve Staios is becoming intent on upgrading the club’s situation between the pipes.
The Sens thought they had their man last summer when previous GM Pierre Dorion inked Joonas Korpisalo to a five-year, $20MM contract in free agency. The 30-year-old’s market value was at an all-time high after a strong stint to finish 2022-23 with the Kings, but he was unable to keep it going in Ottawa in his first full season as a true starter.
His 49 starts and 21 wins were career-highs, but there wasn’t much else to write home about his season. Korpisalo’s .890 SV% and 3.27 GAA both ranked near the bottom of the list of starters, and his -16.1 goals saved above expected was second-worst in the league to Chicago’s Arvid Söderblom, per MoneyPuck.
With new management in town and a clear directive to end the Sens’ seven-year playoff drought, one season of below-average play appears enough for a serious change to be considered. They’ve been “one of the most aggressive teams” in trade discussions for Flames netminder Jacob Markström, a league executive told Garrioch, and they’ve also contacted the Bruins about trading for 2023 Vezina Trophy winner Linus Ullmark.
Even with the salary cap’s upper limit increasing to a record $88MM, the Sens may find themselves in a little bit of a cap crunch this summer. They’ve got $12.5MM in projected space with anywhere from five to seven roster spots to fill, including a new deal for pending RFA Shane Pinto. Offloading Korpisalo with four years left on his deal may be unrealistic in a goalie trade, but repurposing backup Anton Forsberg’s $2.75MM in a trade, along with many other parts for a starter, could help ease any financial considerations.
They’re not viewed as the favorites for either Markström or Ullmark, though. The Devils have positioned themselves as the frontrunner in Markström talks. While it’s not clear who’s put together the most competitive offer to the Bruins for Ullmark, he’s got a 16-team no-trade list. The stuck-in-low-gear Senators might very well be on it. Even if Markström wasn’t so closely tied to New Jersey, he boasts a full no-move clause and could block a trade.
Nonetheless, it would be smart to count the Sens in for nearly every netminder who finds himself on the block this summer.
Staios may be saved by said no-trade deals on a blundering Markstrom or ullmark trade – no doubt he’s willing to overpay. He should target a reclamation like Husso or FA broisort. Goaltending alone won’t guide these Senators to the promised land.
We’re sick of reclamation projects or one year wonders like Murray and Korpisalo. Goaltending is by far their biggest issue. It might not make them contenders, but a decent goalie that can win you a game every couple weeks would make them competitive for a playoff spot at the very least.
35yr old markstrom isn’t the answer .. fix the defense in front of the goalie first .. then you won’t have to keep reaching .. sogaard will be better for a quarter of the price
I was going to suggest Soderblom but I guess he was the only Goalie WORSE than yours. Hawks need to do something also.
I don’t think Chicago is wanting to change that just yet. Few more blue chip additions and that lineup is going to be unstoppable.
Driedger?
Keumper
Samsonov?
Binnington?
Including Forsberg in a trade for a goalie upgrade might not work. The Flames want to get Wolf playing time. They don’t want another goalie to take time away from him. The Bruins probably aren’t going to want Forsberg either. It would probably take another team being involved to take Forsberg
Jordan Bennington and Torrey Krug for Brady Tkachuk
And what do the Senators get for those 3 losses?
Bennington and Krug won’t even get them Brady Tkachuk’s phone number.
Binnington and krug for forsberg and a first round pick or other picks. Blues retain 50 salary on both this year or take on another bad contract.
Both Binnington and Krug have no trade clauses that won’t be waved for Ottawa.
Why does everyone say Markstrom is 35? He’s only 34 till next year.
Kochetkov and Necas for Brady