NHL Free Agency Showdown: Which Top Goaltenders Are Poised to Shake Up the League?

The 2025 NHL free agent goalie crop? Well, it’s far from brimming with premium talent and downright thin when you really dissect it. Teams hunting for a bona fide starter or even a solid backup with starting potential will find themselves scratching their heads. The cream of the crop has already inked fresh deals, leaving a landscape cluttered mostly with seasoned backups and second-stringers—those stopgap options that might steady the ship but won’t necessarily propel a team forward. Most notably, Frederik Andersen remains the biggest prize available—his stats speak volumes, yet lingering injury concerns can’t be ignored. Meanwhile, Jake Allen emerges as a trustworthy veteran presence, reliable between the pipes and in the locker room. Beyond these two, the market’s peppered with names like Alexander Georgiev and Ville Husso, each with their own quirks and question marks, but none scream “game changer.” The glaring takeaway? This offseason’s goaltender pool offers quantity in experience but falls short on healthy, high-grade starters, inevitably nudging many clubs to explore trades if they aim to truly upgrade their netminding. Curious to dig into the detailed rundown of the available netminders? LEARN MORE

The 2025 NHL free agent goalie class is notably thin. There are few options for teams seeking a true starter or even a reliable tandem partner. Most top goaltenders have already been re-signed by their current teams, leaving a market dominated by veteran backups and 1B options.

Frederik Andersen (Hurricanes) is the most prominent name available. Despite his strong underlying numbers, he has an injury history limiting his starts. He could be a potential bargain but there is that injury risk. Jake Allen (Devils) stands out as a dependable backup, posting solid save percentages and providing veteran leadership.

Other available goalies include Alexander Georgiev (Sharks), who has recent starter experience but struggled with consistency. Ville Husso (Ducks) has shown flashes of potential but has not established himself as a clear No. 1 option. Additional names such as Anton Forsberg, Dan Vladar, and Vitek Vanecek are capable of handling backup or spot-starting duties but do not project as significant upgrades for teams needing a high-end starter.

Overall, the 2025 UFA goalie market offers depth in experienced backups but lacks proven, healthy starting-caliber netminders, likely pushing teams toward the trade market for major upgrades.

We’ve already taken a look at the pending UFA forwards and defense, now on to the goalies.

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