The 2020 goalie market may be the hottest in recent memory. There are many NHL free agent goalies as well as others who could be traded before the puck drops next season. Let’s look at who’s available and for what cost:

Top 5 NHL Free Agent Goalies

1. Braden Holtby

The goalie who led Washington to the Stanley Cup can be wearing a new jersey when next season starts. Ilya Samsonov emerged as a legitimate starting goalie and probably would have started in the postseason if he were he not injured. After the Round Robin, it seemed like Holtby had returned to form after a shaky regular season. However, the Islanders scored often on Holtby and sent him and the Caps packing in five games.

However, Holtby is still one of the bests of the NHL free agent goalies and someone will pay him based on his resume alone. But the veteran netminder is 31 years old, and his best days are probably behind him. He’s been linked to teams like Calgary, a team that is a goalie away from being a playoff contender. A tandem of Holtby and David Rittich could be scary for the Pacific Division, though I worry more about the repercussions of the bloated, long-term deal he’ll surely get.

Landing spots: Calgary, Chicago

2. Jacob Markstrom

The 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs were a coming out party for Canucks’ goalie Thatcher Demko. He played four nearly perfect games. Who knows what would have happened if they beat Vegas in Game 7?

The same can’t be said for Jacob Markstrom, who was also playing in his first NHL postseason. Despite a strong regular season, he put up a 2.85 goals against average (GAA) in 14 playoff games and was replaced by Demko during the second round.

Markstrom is a 1A who works best in a tandem. He played 43 games this season to Demko’s 27. A more even split might have benefitted both goalies. A team with a 1B who worked a bit too hard this year can be a perfect fit for him. He can also sign short term in Vancouver and mentor Demko for a little while longer.

It is important to note that at his best, he is a very capable starting goalie who can contend for the Vezina Trophy, as he did last season.

Landing Spots: San Jose, Edmonton, Minnesota, Buffalo, Vancouver, Detroit

3. Anton Khoudobin

Khoudobin had the run of a lifetime this summer, taking the Dallas Stars to their first Stanley Cup Final in 20 years. But “Dobby” is an unrestricted free agent and the Stars have some important pieces to re-sign. Prospect Jake Oettinger might be the new successor to Ben Bishop.

Khoudobin proved he can be a valuable 1B for a contender. He had a 2.22 GAA in 30 regular season games. Dallas would be wise to try and keep him, but his playoff performance has surely peaked the interest of many teams around the league.

Landing Spots: Dallas, Tampa Bay, St. Louis, Edmonton

4. Thomas Greiss

After five years with the Islanders, Lou Lamoriello all but confirmed that Greiss will not be returning to Long Island next season. Semyon Varlamov started most of the team’s playoff games en route to the conference finals and Ilya Sorokin will make his long-awaited NHL debut next season.

But whoever signs the German goalie is in for a treat. Some analysts made the argument that he should have been nominated for the Vezina Trophy instead of Robin Lehner in 18-19. He has a Jennings trophy to his name as well. He proved during the regular season and playoffs that he’s still got plenty to give a contender in search of a 1B.

Landing spots: Dallas, Florida, Tampa Bay, St. Louis, Edmonton

5. Corey Crawford

Corey Crawford practically rose from the dead this postseason and channeled his 2013/2015 cup winning form to drag a rebuilding Blackhawks team past Connor McDavid and the Oilers. I wouldn’t be shocked if the 35-year-old goalie was considering retirement after the injuries he sustained over the past few seasons.

But Crawford put up a decent regular season and an okay playoffs and is back in the 1B conversation. However, he sets himself apart from Greiss and Khoudobin from his years as a starter for the Hawks, as well as his two Stanley Cup rings. Ultimately, however, he is older than both of them. But put him on a contender and you might be surprised at what he can pull out of his bag of tricks.

Landing spots: Chicago, Dallas, St. Louis, Tampa Bay

If a team misses out on one of the top NHL free agent goalies, the trade market is full of intriguing options.

Top 5 NHL Goalie Trade Targets

1. Matt Murray, Pittsburgh Penguins

The Penguins have traded multiple pieces this summer in attempt to stay under the salary cap and continue to compete in a stacked Metropolitan Division. Murray is likely to be next. The team recently signed Tristian Jarry to a three-year contract extension after he practically stole the starting job from Murray during the season. With backup Casey DeSmith signed for another two years as well, Murray is the odd man out.

Considering the Penguins only have about $2 million to work with in cap space, the most likely return would be draft picks. Let’s not forget he’s only 26 and has plenty of years left in the tank. He can go to a rebuilding team and become their cornerstone netminder for years to come.

2. Frederick Andersen, Toronto Maple Leafs

Andersen will be tough to move considering he has a modified no-trade clause. He will also be a huge loss for the Leafs if they choose to trade him. He was fourth in regular season wins this year and played well during the qualifying round despite getting ousted in five games.

The motivation to trade him is his contract. He has one-year left at $5 million. Getting a goalie of Andersen’s caliber for $5 million would be any team’s dream. He will command a nice return as well. The only risks are that he’s on the wrong side of 30 and has a history of injuries, but a team looking to win a cup now can surely utilize him as a rental.

3. Devan Dubnyk, Minnesota Wild

Dubnyk is in a similar situation as Andersen, but with a few key differences. He has one year left at $4.33 million with a modified NTC. But unlike the Leafs, the Wild can afford to trade Dubnyk as once-backup Alex Stalock emerged as a formidable starter this season, playing in 38 games.

The team trading for him would risk regression. Dubnyk played 30 games this season with a 3.35 GAA . He’s 34 years old as well. He can be option for teams seeking an experienced 1B, including the San Jose Sharks, who are a likely suitor.

4. Marc-Andre Fleury, Vegas Golden Knights

Vegas has just about exhausted their cap space, and their backup goalie during the playoffs is the second-highest paid player on their team. Vegas mostly rode Robin Lehner to the Conference Final and signed him to a five-year extension. Fleury is making $7 million for two more years and is on the wrong side of 30. He had his worst year since 2009-2010 with Pittsburgh.

Vegas might be better off signing a 1B in free agency and saving some money so they can sign add more talent to their team in free agency. The hard part is unloading $7 million when most teams are in a cap crunch. But Vegas can temporarily afford to carry Fleury and Lehner into next season considering their roster is all but locked up to multi-year deals.

5. Antti Raanta, Arizona Coyotes

Raanta is a dark horse trade candidate considering Arizona’s cap crunch. Reports alleged that they didn’t pay their player bonuses on time. They also lost some draft picks for the next two years because of secret draft workouts they held for prospects.

With Darcy Kuemper as their clear No. 1 and locked into a two-year contract, why not trade Raanta for a second or third round pick? He played 33 games this season and had a 2.63 GAA.

Adin Hill played well in 13 NHL games this season and if he takes the next step in his development, he can be a solid 1B in the desert. A team looking for a 1B can get a steal in Raanta and he’s only signed for another year.