It appears as if Pittsburgh isn’t wasting any time with their offseason planning. They acquired winger Kasperi Kapanen from Toronto earlier today and it appears as if they’re making some progress on another trade front as well. GM Jim Rutherford told Josh Yohe of The Athletic (subscription required) that there has been interest in both Tristan Jarry and Matt Murray and that “there’s a very, very good chance that we’re going to have to move one of them”.
Rutherford clarified that discussions aren’t in the final stages by any stretch but that he has a good understanding of what type of return could be available.
Both netminders are slated to become restricted free agents this offseason and have salary arbitration eligibility. With more than $72MM committed in payroll for next season already to only 17 players, it’s difficult to see a scenario where they can keep both goalies in the fold without making a move to free up some salary. Considering that would essentially the opposite of what they did today, that doesn’t seem too likely to happen.
Murray is likely to be the higher-priced goaltender of the two considering he comes with a $3.75MM qualifying offer and is only a year away from UFA eligibility. However, the 26-year-old isn’t coming off the best of seasons as he had a 20-11-5 record with a .899 SV% and a 2.87 GAA in 38 regular season starts and while Murray opened up their Qualifying Round series against Montreal as the starter, he wasn’t between the pipes at its completion. That certainly won’t help his market value. On the other hand, he has a good overall track record in the playoffs with a pair of Stanley Cup titles and would represent an upgrade for some teams looking for goalie help.
As for Jarry, this was his first full season in the NHL after breaking camp as the backup. He didn’t stay in that role for too long though as he got off to a great start to his year, earning an All-Star Game nod in the process. Overall, he posted a 20-12-1 record to go along with a .921 SV and a 2.43 GAA in 33 games during the regular season. His qualifying offer will be much cheaper, checking in at just $735K although he stands to earn much more than that. On the other hand, his still limited NHL track record could limit the number of suitors that would be willing to part with a sizable return.
The trade market for goaltenders could be an interesting one over the coming months as the number of starting netminders available on the unrestricted free agent market is rather limited with Jacob Markstrom, Braden Holtby, Robin Lehner, and Corey Crawford being the only ones fitting the bill. Accordingly, trading for a younger (and potentially cheaper) option could be more palatable to teams that are looking to structure their rosters to fit a flat $81.5MM Upper Limit for next season.
From that standpoint, it would seem that Pittsburgh is in good shape to make a move with a pair of marketable goalies. Goaltenders haven’t yielded significant returns in recent years but with a number of teams likely looking for improvements, this appears to be a good time to try to move one which should have Rutherford well-positioned to get a notable return.
“limited?” how many high profile options makes the goalie market robust? i get many are declining, but is saying the market is limited valid?
@DarkSide830 – I’d say you’d need 4-5 genuine top-level guys that would be certain to hit the open market, with no real ability for their current team to keep them (aka cap casualties). That, to me, would be a robust market. From everything I hear out of Vancouver, they really want to keep Markie, and Holts may very well end up a cap casualty. Corey says he really wants to stay in CHI, even at a possible discount, but Stan and his Hall-Of-Fame Dad are steering the boat there. That leaves just Robin Lehner, the youngest of the bunch, who doesn’t seem to get the respect he deserves, IMO. Three guys not mentioned above would rate higher in my book for getting to that “robust” description: Thomas Greiss, Cam Talbot, and Anton Khudobin. There might be some disagreement about Talbot, but he outplayed Big Save Dave this postseason, so that helps his stock a little. I believe Greiss is also a little underappreciated, and look at what Khudobin is doing for Dallas. The rest of the list (on CapFriendly) is ho-hum, outside of Ryan Miller, who has stated he isn’t interested in going anywhere else. So, relatively speaking, it’s kind of slim pickings…
I’d love seeing Murray in Carolina.
Even assuming that Markstrom and Lehner resign with their current teams, I still see 13 teams that could potentially use Matt Murray (Jarry is staying) or another upgrade in goal.
I’ll have my fun and propose my trades now before Rutherford makes another trade and our offseason is over before the second round, in no particular order…
NJ- Zacha
OTT- 2nd and a 3rd
COL- Jost
MIN- Greenway
NSH- Ekholm and Rinne for Murray and Jack Johnson
DET- 2nd and 3rd
CGY- 2nd and 3rd
CAR- Bean, maybe Fleury or Necas
BUF- 2nd and 3rd
SJ- Two seconds (they have no 3rd and one of the seconds is the Avs)
EDM- Puljujarvi
CHI- Maatta for Murray and Jack Johnson
TOR- If this was going to happen, it probably would have today, but…I dunno, a 2nd and Hallander.
That Nashville trade is hilarious. They give up a top 3D and numbers are basically the same with Rinne and Murray. Pits would have to add a 1st rounder there minimum
Rinne is 37, now a backup and still owed $5 million next year. He has negative trade value. Murray is 26 and a potential starter for another decade. Ekholm is 30 and a candidate to pull a Hjarmalsson (break down quickly from years of hard play). This is probably the deal I’d be the least comfortable with the Pens making on this list.
Agreed, bigdaddyt. Nashville doesn’t need Murray and the certainly can’t afford losing Ekholm.
Except Murray is a ufa and costs 3 million so for two million more you don’t take on the albatross that is Jack Johnson’s contract and get to keep a great D man
Murray is an RFA.
zero chance to get Necas or Bean. Fleury if it was Jarry, but unlikely for Murray since the Canes cant take on his cap hit.
Fleury stays
No way Colorado would make a trade for another goaltender. But you can have jost for a couple cheeseburgers and a bag of pucks for all I’m concerned.
Murray for Brodin.
Sign him to a team friendly extension and I’d do that, but Brodin is a UFA after next year.