Free Agency is under a week away, and all teams are now eligible to trade, with plenty of NHL goalies being available. With the flat salary cap and a shortened offseason, players will be moving and moving quickly. Especially goaltenders. Here are our NHL free agency predictions for goaltenders.

This offseason is especially unique because many goalies have expiring contracts and can test the free agent market, and many teams now have a 1A-1B goaltending rotation or are looking for one. Many teams are in need of an upgrade in the starter position, such as the Carolina Hurricanes, Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, Minnesota Wild, and San Jose Sharks.

For this article, we look at ten different goaltenders who are either rumored to be on the trade block or can become unrestricted free agents by Friday, and predict where they will be playing in the 2020-21 season. NHL Free Agency can seed quite the difference of opinions, which is why multiple writers on our staff have also made predictions for this article.

Darcy Kuemper

Shawn D’Aversa: Arizona Coyotes

Ben Kule: Arizona Coyotes

David Lazar: Arizona Coyotes

Matthew Page: Arizona Coyotes

Kuemper, 30, is coming off of a career season, posting a .928% SV and 2.22 GAA with the Arizona Coyotes last season. There has been plenty of buzz regarding a trade, and if Bill Armstrong will trade him to another team. The same goes for Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and Taylor Hall may walk in free agency. Many fans think the Coyotes should just rebuild, even at the expense of trading Darcy Keumper. However, after winning their first playoff round since 2012, it doesn’t seem like a logical time to trade your goaltender, especially when he is playing the best hockey of his career. He will likely stay in Arizona.

Tuukka Rask

Shawn D’Aversa: Boston Bruins

Ben Kule: Boston Bruins

David Lazar: Boston Bruins

Matthew Page: Boston Bruins

Tuukka Rask was a Vezina candidate for the 2019-20 season, as he put up a .929% SV and 2.12 GAA in the regular season, and helped propel the Bruins to the Presidents’ Trophy. Rumors have been circulating regarding a potential Rask trade, but it doesn’t seem to make much sense for the organization at this time. This team is competitive for a Cup, and Tuukka Rask is just as good or better than any goaltender in free agency. He is likely staying put.

Corey Crawford

Shawn D’Aversa: Calgary Flames

Ben Kule: Carolina Hurricanes

David Lazar: Chicago Blackhawks

Matthew Page: Chicago Blackhawks

Corey Crawford, sneakily, had an excellent 2019-20 campaign. He has a chance to re-sign with the Chicago Blackhawks in the next week, or move on to another squad. There is always the chance he stays with the Chicago Blackhawks, but may want to move on to a team that can contend for the cup, like the Carolina Hurricanes. A team like Calgary or Edmonton, that is almost there but really needs goaltending, may offer him a pretty nice contract. The odds Crawford stays are around 50/50, but he will certainly create stability in goal wherever he ends up.

Devan Dubnyk

Shawn D’Aversa: San Jose Sharks

Ben Kule: San Jose Sharks

David Lazar: San Jose Sharks

Matthew Page: San Jose Sharks

Over the past few days, a trade rumor between the Minnesota Wild and San Jose Sharks has been gaining steam. Devan Dubnyk has been an excellent goaltender for the majority of his career, but he is 34 and is coming off of an abysmal season. It is likely the Sharks try and trade for him. This could bring him the change of scenery he needs, or can be a disaster for both parties. However, it is clear that San Jose wants to move on from Martin Jones, at least being in the starter spot.

Matt Murray

Shawn D’Aversa: Minnesota Wild

Ben Kule: Colorado Avalanche

David Lazar: Toronto Maple Leafs

Matthew Page: Edmonton Oilers

Matt Murray is a tough one. Since winning back-to-back Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2016 and 2017, his play has declined significantly. General Manager Jim Rutherford extended Tristian Jarry to a three-year contract, and has hinted that one of his goaltenders would be traded this offseason. Through process of elimination, it is likely that Matt Murray will be on the move. Despite not having a great season, he is still a championship goaltender, and that increases his trade value tremendously. The Penguins can get a pretty nice return for him from a team that needs goaltending.

Thomas Greiss

Shawn D’Aversa: St. Louis Blues

Ben Kule: Edmonton Oilers

David Lazar: Edmonton Oilers

Matthew Page: Detroit Red Wings

Thomas Greiss is certainly getting up there in age, as he is now 35. He has proven to be solid regardless of what situation you put him in, as Islander fans know. He is not a goalie that should take the starter role for the whole season and play 60 games, as it may wear on him. However, in a 1A-1B rotation or a backup role, Greiss will fill that role marvelously. Teams that need a backup, like St. Louis or Washington, may pick him up on the cheap in NHL free agency, or a team that simply needs stability in goal, like the Oilers or Red Wings may invest.

Henrik Lundqvist

Shawn D’Aversa: Washington Capitals

Ben Kule: Washington Capitals

David Lazar: Retirement

Matthew Page: Vegas Golden Knights

After an emotional buyout for the New York Rangers, Henrik Lundqvist is now available for any team to pick up. While there is always a chance he retires as he is 38, he has indicated that he wants to continue playing. A cup contender may pick him up and give him a backup role, like the Vegas Golden Knights. However, good teams will not just pick him up because of his legacy, as hockey is a business. It would have to work for both sides if Henrik Lundqvist wants to retire a Stanley Cup champion.

Jacob Markstrom

Shawn D’Aversa: Vancouver Canucks

Ben Kule: Calgary Flames

David Lazar: Vancouver Canucks

Matthew Page: Vancouver Canucks

Jacob Markstrom is coming off the season of his life heading into a contract year. General Manager Jim Benning has an interesting decision to make on whether he prioritizes Markstrom and gives him a handsome contract, or lets him walk to free agency in hopes of Thatcher Demko becoming the goaltender of the future. While Demko had an incredible playoffs against Vegas, the sample size is way too small to determine whether he is ready to be an NHL starter. It would be in Vancouver’s best interest to sign Jacob Markstrom.

Marc-Andre Fleury

Shawn D’Aversa: Pittsburgh Penguins

Ben Kule: Minnesota Wild

David Lazar: Carolina Hurricanes

Matthew Page: Calgary Flames

With Robin Lehner signing a 5-year, $25 million contract with the Vegas Golden Knights, Marc-Andre Fleury is likely going to be shipped elsewhere. Despite Fleury’s play declining, he is still a capable starter with championship pedigree that many teams would take as an upgrade over their current goaltending situation. There have been rumors about a return back to Pittsburgh, but he can also be traded to one of those teams that badly need stability between the pipes- like Minnesota, Carolina, or Calgary.

Braden Holtby

Shawn D’Aversa: Carolina Hurricanes

Ben Kule: Buffalo Sabres

David Lazar: Colorado Avalanche

Matthew Page: Carolina Hurricanes

Braden Holtby is a great goaltender coming off of a terrible year, posting an .897% SV in the 2019-20 regular season. However, Holtby has had a wonderful career and has proven he can backstop a team to a Stanley Cup. Due to his sharp decline recently, it is risky to give him a long-term deal, but a team desperate enough for goaltending might do so. Carolina comes to mind. Statistically speaking, Holtby wasn’t much better than Petr Mrazek or James Reimer last season, he has the experience and it might be a gamble a team like Carolina, or Colorado would take.