Late on Tuesday evening, we noticed the primary goaltender transfer this commerce deadline season. How does that stunning commerce influence the marketplace for New York Islanders netminder Semyon Varlamov?
The Los Angeles Kings shocked the hockey world as they traded franchise netminder Jonathan Quick, a 2023 first and third-round choose to the Columbus Blue Jackets for defenseman Viktor Gavrikov and goaltender Joonas Korpisalo.
With how a lot speak there was concerning the asking worth for Gavrikov and the way a lot the Kings wanted to enhance their goaltending, this was a robust transfer for them–regardless of Korpisalo’s struggles–as Quick has been a multitude.
Per TSN’s Chris Johnston, only a week in the past, the asking worth for Gavrikov was a primary, a 3rd, and a fourth-round choose–an astronomical ask for a pending unrestricted free agent. Looking at this deal, it’s potential that the Kings solely had to surrender a primary for Gavrikov and that Korpisalo value a 3rd, with Quick coming again for “free.”
Given that the New York Islanders are in a playoff spot, regardless of his enjoying time, Semyon Varlamov doubtless stays put, however it’s up for debate if that will be the correct transfer if the Islanders don’t re-sign him to a team-friendly extension within the offseason.
For starters, the Kings had been a match for Varlamov, who’s having a robust bounce-back season with a .912 SV% and a 2.68 GAA.
His final sport, he shut out the Winnipeg Jets, stopping all 23 pictures that got here his means in a 4-0 win.
The asking worth final season was a primary, given Varlamov’s further 12 months of management, and that asking worth may nonetheless be there.
Looking on the deal above, Korpisalo (.911 SV%, 3.17 GAA) for a 3rd means, on the very least, a second-round choose would should be a part of a deal for the 34-year-old Varlamov.
The Kings went the cheaper route.
So that takes the Kings out of the operating.
What now turns into fascinating is the place the Blue Jackets ship Quick.
The Vegas Golden Knights, who has curiosity in Varlamov final commerce deadline, have a goaltending downside with two goaltenders out injured. But given what number of NHL-caliber goaltenders they’ve on the roster, with constructive information that All-Star Logan Thompson will return sooner or later, they doubtless go a less expensive route if they will.
Quick is that cheaper route.
Yes, he’s on the tail finish of his profession, however have you ever seen him within the postseason? Did you see what he did a season in the past, posting a .910 SV% and a 2.59 GAA? He was the prime motive they made the postseason a 12 months in the past.
He can be a less expensive possibility than a Varlamov for groups trying to usher in a veteran backup for a playoff run.
There are nonetheless a number of groups that might use goaltenders.
Remember that Varlamov has a modified no-trade clause of 16 groups with the idea that each one of Canada is on it. However, in contrast to final season, Varlamov can take a look at free company wherever he goes, even when he stays, so a number of months some other place may lead him to waive his clause to hitch a contender.
The Seattle Kraken discover themselves holding down the third see within the Pacific Divisions, however proper now, they’re pretenders till they purchase a reputable primary goaltender. Martin Jones owns a .890 SV% with a 2.93 GAA. Philipp Grubauer has been even worse, posting an .893 SV% with a 3.10 SV%.
The Kraken have a first-round choose within the upcoming draft whereas holding on to 3 second-round picks. Back the opposite means, in the event that they needed Varlamov, would doubtless be Jones, who’s a pending unrestricted free agent.
Just a few different groups want goaltenders, just like the Buffalo Sabres and Ottawa Senators.
Despite being 41 years previous, Craig Anderson has been sturdy (.918 SV%, 2.77 GAA), however teenager Ukko-Pekka Luukkonnen has struggled (.892 SV%, 3.57 GAA). Varlamov may present that veteran expertise and be the starter, permitting Luukkonnen extra time to develop within the AHL.
The Sabres have a route they need to take, and it’s been figuring out since buying and selling Jacke Eichel. Although they’ve three picks within the second spherical, it will be onerous to think about Lamoreillo buying and selling Varlamov to not solely a workforce on the surface trying in however a workforce making an attempt to catch the Islanders within the wild-card race.
The similar goes for the Ottawa Senators, who quietly have put themselves again within the wild-card dialog. Cam Talbot (.905 SV%, 2.87 GAA), who signed with the Senators this summer season, is on the block. Anton Forsberg has been worse (.902 SV%, 3.26 GAA) and is on Injured Reserve.
The Senators will want sturdy netminding to do the unthinkable with 22 video games remaining on their schedule. They don’t have a second and aren’t buying and selling a primary, with their playoff probabilities fairly slim.
Another workforce that doesn’t want Semyon Varlamov however may actually attempt to improve in between the pipes is the Toronto Maple Leafs.
This summer season, common supervisor Kyle Dubas introduced in Ilya Samsonov (.917 SV%, 2.30 GAA) and Matt Murray (.911 SV%, 2.73 GAA). As a lot as the 2 have them have been good, Murray is on Long-Term Injury Reserve, and the Leafs, particularly Dubas, are determined to get previous the primary spherical–with jobs relying on it.
Joseph Woll, a 24-year-old third-round choice again in 2016, has performed simply two video games this season, posting a .929 SV% with a 2.57 GAA. If issues go incorrect with Samsonov, are they happy with Woll main them within the playoffs?
Varlamov would not going waive to go to a workforce the place he wouldn’t begin as he would fairly end out the season with the Islanders–if Toronto is a workforce on his no-trade record (we’ve motive to suppose it’s).
Could the Islanders throw in a choose and get Woll again in return to backstop Ilya Sorokin for the foreseeable future? Islanders must retain some wage however not a lot.
It’s a thought–not going–however a thought nonetheless.
There’s choices on the market for Semyon Varlamov, as we’re lower than 48 hours away from the 2023 NHL Trade Deadline.
