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Originally Posted by Caged Great
His numbers are alright pretty good this year, and he performed well at the NHL level. Last year he was the starter for the 2nd best team in their division and was the best goalie on the team his first year in the AHL. Sv% are typically lower in the AHL and that mainly has to do with a large amount of terrible defensemen more than anything. Internationally, he has been dynamite for Latvia. He's a big goalie that is positionally sound and athletic. He's only 23 and hasn't had an opportunity because of being blocked.
Tampa's goalies may be free agents (Bishop UFA, Vas RFA) after next season, but Gudlevskis is also waiver eligible next year and would have to be exposed to be sent down. Unless they trade Bishop at the draft, which wouldn't make a lot of sense considering his success and that he's only 28 and wouldn't need much of a raise from his current salary to retain him.
The Flames would likely have to send a decent asset to the Bolts to acquire him, but they are still in win now mode despite their early struggles and are only a point out of a playoff spot.
There are not a lot of teams with multiple good young goalies. Tampa is one of those teams. Gudlevskis is the least good of the three at this point, but is a good goalie in his own right and is going to need a shot at the NHL level. I would easily take him over Ortio.
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Great post. I also have been very intrigued by Gudlevskis, but his numbers in the AHL scared me off. I still think he has potential at the NHL level, probably a little more than Ortio at this point, but not by a large margin or anything.
Personally, I see Tampa trading Bishop away before trading a young goalie with promise. Bishop is 29, and while he's a solid goalie, he's probably not their long term answer in net. Plus, looking at their cap hell, trading Bishop makes sense if they don't see themselves competing for the cup this year. Going by their record so far, they likely aren't. Bishop makes 5.95 mill this and next year, and it would allow them to retain Stamkos long term by freeing up Bishop's cap hit and putting Vasilevsky and Gudlevskis in net next year.
Gillies is probably our long term solution in net, but for now, if Tampa was willing to trade Bishop for not too steep a price, I'd be pretty happy with him in net for the rest of this year and next year while Gillies continues to develop.