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New York Islanders Goaltending Options In 2019

PHILADELPHIA, PA - FEBRUARY 11: Goalie Robin Lehner #40 of the Buffalo Sabres looks after giving up a goal in the second period against the Philadelphia Flyers at Wells Fargo Center on February 11, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - FEBRUARY 11: Goalie Robin Lehner #40 of the Buffalo Sabres looks after giving up a goal in the second period against the Philadelphia Flyers at Wells Fargo Center on February 11, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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COLUMBUS, OH – APRIL 19: Sergei Bobrovsky #72 of the Columbus Blue Jackets prepares to make a save in Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Washington Capitals on April 19, 2018 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Sergei Bobrovsky
COLUMBUS, OH – APRIL 19: Sergei Bobrovsky #72 of the Columbus Blue Jackets prepares to make a save in Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Washington Capitals on April 19, 2018 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Sergei Bobrovsky /

Free Agent Goalies

There are a few big name goalies that will possibly be available going into the 2019 free agency period. Goalies sitting on expiring deals at the moment are Sergei Bobrovsky, Cam Talbot, and Semyon Varlamov.

All are starters for their respective hockey clubs, and all could be starters on a new team. But as you can imagine the hurdles in the Islanders way to signing any are considerable. Free agents rarely sign with the Islanders unless we drastically overpay them. See Andrew Ladd.

Sergei Bobrovsky: Would he actually leave Columbus? He’s already won two Vezina trophies there and holds an outstanding 2.37 GAA and .923 SV% in his six years with the Blue Jackets. It’s hard to imagine the Blue Jackets not throwing all their monies at him.

Free agents of Bobrovsky’s magnitude never reach free agency. Although for an entire year pundits said the same thing about John Tavares. So, never say never.

Cam Talbot: After the Oilers picked up former Isles draftee Mikko Koskinen from the KHL, Cam Talbot was apparently put on the trade block. Two years ago he played an insane 73 games with a 2.39 GAA and 0.919 SV%. Pushing the Oilers into the playoffs for the first time in years.

If Koskinen plays as well as he did in the KHL maybe Talbot is left to walk.

Semyon Varlamov: The Colorado Avalanche picked up the best available goalie on the market at the end of the 2017-18 season in Philipp Grubauer. The move immediately put Varlamov’s tenure in Colorado in doubt.

Turning 31 at the end of the season, Varlamov could still have a few good years left and a reduced price that should entice the Islanders.

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