[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

OK, here's the list of UFA goaltenders who are over 25 (Rittich's age) and played around 20 games or more last year, along with last year's cap hit:

Ryan Miller, 36 games, $6 million
Curtis McElhinney, 21 games, $800 K.
Brian Elliott, 49 games, $2.5 million (I think that ship has sailed)
Chad Johnson, 36 games, $1.7 million (rumored to sign in Buffalo)
Steve Mason, 58 games, $4.1 million
Jonathan Bernier, 39 games, $4.15 million
Keith Kinkaid, 26 games, $750 K.
Anders Nilsson, 26 games, $1 million
Darcy Kuemper, 18 games, $1.55 million

The only guys I would consider on that list are Kinkaid and Nilsson as both had good numbers and are only 27 years old. They would also be had for less than $1.5 million without any problem.

It's either a guy like those two to give a comparable talent for the other goalies to compete with in camp, or you just give the job to the best of the two and put the other in the minors. If one doesn't work out, you have another quality goaltender to call up and give them a chance. If NEITHER work out, you make a trade for a goalie in the season.

Thanks for the research, interesting info. It does seem the options available through that route are limited. Flames won't be limited to strictly the UFA market. Thought I heard a quote from an executive recently that "the backup goalie market was robust". You've got CAR with 3 goalies. There might be veteran AHL options they'd consider for backup over their kids.

Should be interesting see which way they go. Pretty sure the Flames will plan for injuries at the NHL and AHL level. We keep visualizing the list of goalies when healthy but Treliving will get the depth to survive a major injury.