The 2020-21 NHL season is underway and it’s about one-fifth complete. With the shortened season and the compressed schedule, games are happening rapidly with shorter turnover than usual. This is giving some NHL backup goaltenders a higher percentage of ice-time, earlier in the season than they would typically experience. In more than one location, backup
Ilya Samsonov
The Washington Capitals’ plan to help Ilya Samsonov succeed Braden Holtby in net got upended on Thursday afternoon, as goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, who signed to a one-year, $1.5 million deal in October, announced he would be stepping away from the game to get medical treatment. “Today is a pretty tough and emotional day for me,”
In today’s NHL rumor rundown, there is news on Chicago Blackhawks’ goaltender Corey Crawford and his return to the lineup. Meanwhile, a goaltender out of Washington is now done for the season. In Arizona, is the general manager of the Coyotes and the team headed for a divorce? How is Ilya Mikheyev doing in Toronto
Braden Holtby has been counted out before. For those with short memories, in the midst of the worst statistical season to that point in his career in 2017-18, Holtby lost his grip on the Washington Capitals’ starting goaltending job at the worst possible time. Young backup Philipp Grubauer was more consistent down the stretch and
Henrik Lundqvist and the Colorado Avalanche? Mike Chambers of the Denver Post: The latest team for Henrik Lundqvist to be linked to is indeed the Colorado Avalanche. After all, this makes sense considering all the cap space that Colorado has ($31 million approximately). They would be on the hook for the remainder of Lundqvist’s deal.
We only had two games on the National Hockey League schedule on Friday night, but we got another road win from a top rookie. Also, the Pacific Division gets a new netminder for the All-Star Game and one of the top goalies in the league gets a big honor. Fleury Declines All-Star Game Invite Vegas
© Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports Bobrovsky the perfect comparable for Holtby JJ Regan of NBC Sports Washington: Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby is entering the final year of his contract. Holtby would like to remain with the Capitals, and would likely take a bit less than full market value, but not by much. Sergei Bobrovsky
© James Carey Lauder-USA TODAY Sports Back into the Braden Holtby dilemma and more Washington Capitals… Tarik El-Bashir of The Athletic recently wrote (mailbag): Again, Braden Holtby gets asked about frequently and for good reason. The goalie won a Stanley Cup and has been such an integral part of the team. With the signings of