Red Wings: Market for goalies is going to be plentiful in free agency

The free-agent market this offseason is going to be more than plentiful when it comes to available goaltenders, heavily benefitting the Detroit Red Wings.

After the Stanley Cup is handed out in 2020 and the offseason begins, the Detroit Red Wings are going to need to get to work on finding a new goaltender. They have 2019-20 team MVP, Jonathan Bernier, as one part of their tandem, but they will need to bring in another netminder.

Though it has been rumored, the Red Wings could be targeting Robin Lehner, or if they want to get real bold and make a play for either Tristan Jarry or Matt Murray from the Pittsburgh Penguins. But what if the Red Wings go rogue, and sign Washington Capitals netminder Braden Holtby.

There are plenty of top-tier, high-quality goaltenders on the free-agent market this offseason with Holtby being one of the top names. Just playing the hypothetical game, the Capitals will want to roll with Ilya Samsonov for their future.

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Given that happens, the Red Wings could use some significant cap space to make an offer to Holtby with the hope that they bring in a goaltender of the future.

Now, this drives the need for Bernier down significantly, but it could create one heck of goaltender tandem.

Beyond the big names like Holtby and Lehner, the market for goaltenders is deep, allowing the Red Wings to take ample time to find whoever the organization feels is best for the right price.

With the Red Wings cap space compared to some other teams, they have some freedom.

Now the freedom may come in the form of a forward or a defenseman worth top dollar, but throwing some coin at a goaltender is worth considering.

Though Bernier was an excellent netminder for the organization in 2019-20, he is only under contract through the 2020-21 season. There is also no guarantee that he performs the same as he did this past season, helping keep the team in some games even when the defense collapsed in front of him.

Even if they find a short-term solution to the problem, there are plenty of names for them to consider. The depth at goaltender this offseason is pretty strong, it may not all be marquee names, but there are role-playing goalies easily available.

For more of a bargain, the Red Wings could find themselves a goaltender in the form of Louis Domingue, Alexander Georgiev, Anton Khudobin, or Cam Talbot, to name a few. There is just plenty of goaltenders who can be a fantastic battery mate for Jonathan Bernier.

When Detroit Red Wings General Manager Steve Yzerman goes to work this offseason, he will have plenty of options for a new netminder, but Braden Holtby might be the best “shocker” candidate.