Goaltending

[HeyKurtz]

I'm going to go out on a limb here and make a predicition: the Canes will sign Freddie Andersen to a two-year extension at an AAV of between $3 and $4 million in the offseason to be Pyotr Kochetkov's backup . This will happen because (a) the free agent goalie pool, as demonstrated from the list from The Athletic pictured below, is very weak and (b) Freddie and Koochie's performances have been in the top half of the league this season.


On the second point, if you look at Goals Saved Above Expected Per 60, my preferred metric for objectively evaluating goalies, the Canes' netminders look more than solid. In fact, of the 71 goalies who have played at least ten games this season, Andersen is ranked at #7 and Kochetkov is ranked at #14.

I've made my call. Unless Tulsky & Company come up with some magic trade, I think this is the way they'll go. What do you predict?

 

[HNIM]

If you sign Freddie, you need three goalies. That’s the problem.

 

[Fayettenamcanesfan]

Koochie has really locked in lately. Still playing aggressively but not making as many boneheaded ‘aggressive’ plays. If this turns out to be his norm, I can live with that for sure. Anderson as a backup is fine also. We could go alot worse

 

[Fayettenamcanesfan]

If you sign Freddie, you need three goalies. That’s the problem.

Not if he’s a backup. IMO. If he’s trying to play everyday, I’d agree

 

[andyt]

My prediction?


View: https://giphy.com/gifs/nbc-tv-law-and-order-organized-crime-rr1DGz8pXZVHVDZyu6

 

[andyt]

Koochie has really locked in lately. Still starting aggressively but not making as many boneheaded ‘aggressive’ plays. If this turns out to be his norm, I can live with that for sure. Anderson as a backup is fine also. We could go alot worse

He became the 6th fastest active goalie to 10 career shutouts, doing it in his 109th career game. He also became the first Canes goalie to start 40 games in consecutive seasons since Cam Ward in 2016-17.

 

[SlapShots]

I saw that same list, too, and nothing on it made me think we’d get better that what we have now. There will have to be a very serviceable 3rd for us to succeed. Both Anderson and Kochetkov can get banged up and trying to rely on Spencer Martin is a problem.

 

[jeffbear]

Personally, I think they'll look around the trade market after July 1 because some team some where is going to overspend on a veteran forward or two and will be looking to save on the budget in the trade market. If you're just going to plug Freddie is as a backup you would do just as well with some of those other guys.

Either way, if you get to market and find that Freddie is the best option, you can always try to make a deal. I really doubt he's going to get a chance to start with a decent team.

 

[cmaleski2]

If the Canes have Kochetkov and Freddie, they will end up in an almost even platoon if they are both healthy. So while you might call Freddie the backup, he is going to be a 40 game backup if he doesn't get hurt.

Unless the Canes win the Cup this year, there will be plenty of folks who will throw a fit if the Canes roll out Freddie and Kochetkov again. Sure I would prefer a goalie who never gets injured and will come up big for us in the playoffs. And that goalie is???......not likely available as a UFA or via a trade.

It wouldn't shock me if Freddie is re-signed. How the playoffs go this year might factor into that.... Honestly it really doesn't matter who your 2 goalies are, you really need a playable #3 now-a-days. But that becomes critically important if Freddie one of your goalies. Spencer Martin sure looked ok in the #3 role in 23-24....but he was a complete train wreck this season (so we need another guy).