Edited Dec. 3, 2019 at 1:26 p.m.
Quoting: bsilk18
He isnt a backup, thats what you are not understanding. He is and always has been a starter, in the past couple years (with STL and MTL and his first and last year in New York) his play has declined which is why they bought him out and he signed as a backup in boston, but because he is showed himself to be a terrific goaltender again (.924 SV% and 2.34 GAA with Boston) he will sign somewhere else as a starter.
Lehner signed to start in Chicago as there was uncertainty about whether Crawford would play or not this season (concussions), but you didnt care to look into that, you just wanted to prove me wrong, meaning that yes: a starter (like Lehner or Halak) can and will get a 1 to 2 year 5 million dollar deal
OMG Seriously? Untwist your panties.
First Halak was never bought out. Anywhere. He’s been traded a couple times. He signed 4 year deal with Isles and played the entire contract there. They put him on waivers at one point, he cleared and went to AHL for awhile.
Second, no he could not be a starter anywhere, that’s ridiculous. He’s not the #1 where he is is he? He is not going to Tampa and supplant Vas, or Anaheim and oust Gibson, or 20 other teams either. Just silly to even say that.
Third he has always been a starting caliber type of goalie. He has not always had a starters job though. Sometimes there are more asses than there are seats. Musical goalies.
Just because he has starter talent does not mean he gets starter job and starter $. Understand? Teams don’t pay guys they bring in to be backups 5m regardless if they are starting quality or not.
There will be between 2 and 7 starting jobs open next year depending how things play out. And half of those would have to move out someone that is already under contract for that to happen. The rest are already filled. And with Holtby, Lehner, Crawford, Greiss, Markstrom hitting the market along with Halak, Howard, Smith.Talbot and others. It’s going to be musical goalies. And that does not factor in guys who could be traded like Raanta, Georgiev, Dubnyk, Quick, Allen that could change the landscape of the market.
Then there is the problem of his age. His next contract will be a 35+ contract. No cap relief if he flatlines. So teams will be looking at 1 or 2 years tops. Most of the teams that will be looking for starting goalies are not looking for a short term stopgap. Buffalo would be a great spot. Hutton and Ullmark make nothing combined and are average at best. Halak could split time there for around 4m while giving UPL a year or 2 to develop. If they have the cap space, and the desire to do it.
So it does not matter if he has starting ability. What matters is - is there is a starters job, co-starter, or highly paid mentor/backup to a kid making nothing available.
There are not many openings and more bodies available to fill them than there are slots. Musical goalies.
If he gets one...great for him, best of luck. If not B’s will take him back at 3. If not...Dobby is a UFA too...musical goalies.