Goalie Musical Chairs: Breaking Down the 2023-24 Atlantic Division Tandems

Credit: Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman (© Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports)

With more than two weeks of free agency in the books, the NHL’s goaltending landscape is beginning to come into focus for the 2023-24 season. After all the turnover we’ve seen in net, let’s break down every team’s goaltending situation. In Part 4 of this series: the Atlantic Division.

ATLANTIC DIVISION

Boston Bruins: Linus Ullmark & Jeremy Swayman

Reason to be happy: Boston’s tandem is arguably tops in NHL: Ullmark and Swayman were an integral part of the Bruins’ record breaking 2022-23 regular season. It was a banner year for Ullmark, who took home his first Vezina Trophy as the league’s best netminder.

Reason to be hopeful: While I think there’s a good chance Ullmark comes back down to earth during the 2023-24 season, his consistency was stunning last season. And Swayman was red hot in the back half of the season. Both goaltenders are entering the prime of their careers.

Reason to be nervous: I think GM Don Sweeney would like to move one of them. Swayman is an RFA due a big raise, and Ullmark already makes $5 million a year. Boston is up against the salary cap, and having two goalies capable of No.1 minutes – and being paid like it – doesn’t make sense in today’s NHL. And there’s the looming question of playoff performance. Two seasons in a row Ullmark and Swayman haven’t been able to shut the door in the postseason.

Buffalo Sabres: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Eric Comrie, & Devon Levi

Reason to be happy: Doesn’t it feel like the Sabres have finally turned the corner? GM Kevyn Adams did a nice job of bolstering his defense this offseason, which should help the team’s netminders.

Reason to be hopeful: Buffalo is on the rise, and in my eyes, that includes goaltending with the arrival of Devon Levi. The product of Northeastern University has been dominant at every level leading up to his first full professional campaign. In a seven-game cameo last season, Levi looked at home in the Sabres crease.

Reason to be nervous: Comrie didn’t perform as expected during the 2022-23 season, and I think Luukkonen has hit a wall in terms of development. So unless Comrie rebounds, the fate of the Sabres lies in the hands of Levi. But he might not be ready for full-time NHL duty. It’s extremely difficult to go from NCAA hockey to the NHL. Levi will likely need time in the AHL this season to hone his craft. Adams has been patient in rebuilding, and that needs to continue with Levi’s development. But I wonder if Buffalo is eventually forced to bring in a proven veteran.

Detroit Red Wings: Ville Husso, James Reimer, & Alex Lyon

Reason to be happy: There were moments during the 2022-23 season when Husso looked dominant in the Red Wings crease.

Reason to be hopeful: If Husso can smooth out the rough edges – and Detroit performs better defensively in front of him – the Red Wings should be fine in goal. And Lyon was fantastic for the Panthers last season, practically willing his team into the Stanley Cup Playoffs. I think he has a real shot at making the roster of training camp.

Reason to be nervous: Detroit has depth in the crease, but what’s the top-end of the team’s goaltending? I’m a big fan of Ville Husso but it’s hard to gauge his performance behind such a defensively atrocious team like the 2022-23 Red Wings. Reimer is durable, but at this stage of his career, can he steal games? What about a Stanley Cup? Another area of concern: Detroit’s top goaltending prospect, Sebastian Cossa, the No.15 overall pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, spent his rookie pro season in the ECHL, where he performed well – but it’s a reminder that he’s still years away if he needs to jump up two leagues.

Florida Panthers: Sergei Bobrovsky, Spencer Knight, & Anthony Stolarz

Reason to be happy: Florida is coming off a run to the Stanley Cup Final that was largely fueled by Bobrovsky’s heroics. And just like last year, GM Bill Zito has put an emphasis on depth in the crease with the signing of Stolarz. Over the past three seasons, the former Duck quietly outplayed John Gibson, his Anaheim goalie partner.

Reason to be hopeful: The $10 Million Dollar Man – Bobrovsky – finally played up to his price tag during the postseason. And Knight, the 13th overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, is back on the ice after entering the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program in February of 2022. Given his $4.5 million cap hit over the next three seasons, the uber-talented prospect holds the keys to Florida’s crease.

Reason to be nervous: Having $16.5 million dollars tied up in goaltending isn’t ideal. The Panthers’ expensive log jam eats up valuable dollars that could be committed elsewhere in the lineup. And as well as Bobrovsky played during the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, his streakiness is a documented problem. What Florida really needs is for Knight to claim the crease, and I’m not sure he’s ready for that. Especially after missing a significant chunk of the 2022-23 season. At 22 years old, Knight has plenty of time to develop. But his lucrative contract belies that truth.

Montreal Canadiens: Samuel Montembeault & Jake Allen

Reason to be happy: The 2022-23 season was a year of growth in Montreal, where Montembeault took a big step forward despite the challenging setting of a rebuilding team. And Allen is the perfect mentor.

Reason to be hopeful: Montembeault now has more than 100 games of NHL experience. At 26 years old, he’s entering the prime of his career. As for Allen, last season was the first time in his 10-year NHL career that his save percentage dipped below .900. I’d be surprised if he doesn’t rebound. And while the Habs have too many defensemen learning on the job for my taste, there should be improvement on the back end compared to last season.

Reason to be nervous: There’s no guarantee Montembeault will continue to progress. And Allen has been injured for a decent chunk of time since joining the Canadiens in 2020. Montreal has some intriguing prospects, but depth at the pro level is a real question mark.

Ottawa Senators: Joonas Korpisalo & Anton Forsberg

Reason to be happy: This tandem has been sneaky good at the NHL level. Korpisalo had a resurgent 2022-23 campaign with the Blue Jackets and Kings. And Forsberg has been the best Senators goalie over the past three seasons.

Reason to be hopeful: In 2016, the duo were Calder Cup Champions with the AHL’s Lake Erie Monsters. Korpisalo and Forsberg thrived as a tandem. I think that chemistry is important and something Ottawa can rely on.

Reason to be nervous: Health. Forsberg suffered a terrible setback last season when a crease collision tore the MCL in both his knees. He’s been on the road to recovery since February. Will Forsberg be the same goaltender? And how about Korpisalo, who had hip surgery in 2022? He was fantastic last season but needs to prove his performance wasn’t a one-off. Especially with a five-year contract in place with the Senators.

Tampa Bay Lightning: Andrei Vasilevskiy & Jonas Johansson

Reason to be happy: Vasilevskiy continues to be a workhorse for the Bolts. He can steal games on his own. And the two-time Stanley Cup champion is durable. Since he became a full-time NHL goalkeeper at the start of the 2016-17 season, Vasilevskiy’s 483 games played (regular season and playoffs) leads all NHL netminders.

Reason to be hopeful: At the conclusion of the 2022-23 season, Vasilevskiy said he was going to take some time off. Which I think is overdue. ‘The Big Cat’ has a legendary work ethic, but training non-stop, year-round eventually catches up. Stepping away from the rink (and gym) for a few months should help recharge his batteries.

Reason to be nervous: A few more nights off wouldn’t be a bad thing for Vasilevskiy during the 2023-24 season. But is Johansson capable of providing quality secondary goaltending? He’s on a two-year, one-way contract. Seems like a big gamble unless the Lightning plan on signing another veteran netminder to a cheap one-year deal.

Toronto Maple Leafs: Ilya Samsonov & Joseph Woll

Reason to be happy: After being a surprise pickup from the 2022 free agency scrap heap, Samsonov’s first season in Toronto went better than expected. He earned the crease over veteran Matt Murray and gained the trust of his teammates.

Reason to be hopeful: The Leafs are finally on the verge of developing a No. 1 goaltender in-house. Woll was really sharp last year and his calm, focused demeanor is a perfect fit for Toronto’s pressure cooker. He has all the tools to be a top NHL netminder.

Reason to be nervous: Samsonov is a restricted free agent in need of a new contract. And if he decides to play hardball, the Leafs could be in a tight spot. Comparable contracts easily put him in the three-year, $3 million-plus AAV category. Will new GM Brad Treliving be willing to commit to that kind of term? And can Woll carry the load if called upon? The 25-year old from St. Louis is still green at the NHL level. And then there’s Murray. Whether he’s bought out in the second window or lands on LTIR, I would be extremely surprised to see the two-time Stanley Cup Champion on Toronto’s roster at the start the 2023-24 season.

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