[Proposal] NHL Goalie Deals Before The Expansion Draft

[underrated]

With the expansion draft coming up after this season, team's can only keep one goaltender protected.  The two teams this hurts most are Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay, who each have a veteran #1 (Fleury, Bishop), plus a top young goalie waiting to take over (Murray, Vasilevski).  While both teams don't want to hurt their current contending teams, it makes sense in the long run to deal these assets.

 

Trade
To Philadelphia: Ben Bishop (5.85 million), conditional pick that varies based on whether Bishop re-signs.

To Tampa Bay: Michal Neuvirth, Mark Streit, Travis Sanheim (6.875 with Sanheim in minors)

 

Why

TAMPA: While Tampa would like to contend for the cup this year, it would be hard to see Bishop walk for nothing in the off-season, or get claimed in the expansion draft.  This deal gives them a decent backup goaltender, a very good puck moving defenseman (granted old and expiring deal as well, similar to Bishop), and a top defensive prospect.  Streit could be instrumental in a cup run, giving them great depth on defense.  Sanheim is a potential top pairing guy for the future.  Neuvirth is a solid backup while Vasilevski is the #1.  

PHILADELPHIA: Philly won't be contending this year so they can afford to lose Streit now.  They can also afford to lose Sanheim in the future, especially due to Provorov and Gotisbehere stepping up as top young defenseman.  Then they focus on re-signing Bishop long-term.  Philly has needed a true #1 goalie for a very long time.  Mason's contract expires after this season so they won't have too much cap hit at goalie.

 

Trade

To Pittsburgh: Jeff Skinner, Eddie Lack (8.5 million)

To Carolina: MA Fleury, Eric Fehr (7.75 million)

 

Why

PITTSBURGH: Murray is ready to take over in goal for the Penguins, but in this deal they also get back Lack as a solid backup if needed in the playoffs.  They also get a scoring left winger who could be lights out beside Crosby on the top line.  Skinner is still young (24), and will be able to capitalize on his talents playing alongside someone like Crosby and Hornqvist.  
CAROLINA: With a young team about to take the next step, Carolina needs to upgrade their goaltending.  Carolina has Lack and Ward, both of whom don't seem to truly be stepping up as the #1.  Fleury is locked in for a few more years as a stable veteran presence on this young up-and-coming Carolina team.  Fehr helps balance the salaries, and also is a forward replacement for Skinner for the time being.

 

Thoughts?

[Rick Blight]

Tampa could let Bishop go to free agency and then re-sign him in the off-season. Vegas could select him in the draft but Bishop can sign anywhere he wants.

Fleury has a NMC so I doubt he would waive that to go to Carolina. I think Pittsburgh may have to try to move Murray.

[underrated]

On 10/29/2016 at 4:51 PM, Rick Blight said:

Tampa could let Bishop go to free agency and then re-sign him in the off-season. Vegas could select him in the draft but Bishop can sign anywhere he wants.

Fleury has a NMC so I doubt he would waive that to go to Carolina. I think Pittsburgh may have to try to move Murray.

It's possible they re-sign Bishop, but he's a big cap hit when they have a similarly skilled younger goalie with a smaller cap hit waiting in the wings.  Not sure he would re-sign with that possibility, but maybe he would.  Would be a risk for Tampa instead of getting assets for him now.

True that Fleury may not waive to go to Carolina.  Right now he's starting in Pittsburgh.  If he loses that starting job, it may change his mind to get playing time.