Yesterday at The Rink we discussed whether or not it would be in the Capitals’ best interest to use the salary cap space Chris Clark‘s placement on Long Term Injured Reserve has opened up to try and make a splash at the trading deadline and, if so, what the best personnel move(s) for the team might be. After twenty-four hours, more than 320 votes, and more than 180 comments, we may just be back to square one, as Tarik has reported that Brent Johnson may need surgery on his hip.
While nothing’s certain at this point, if Johnson does indeed decide to have surgery rather than play through the injury, the Capitals are almost certainly going to want to swing a deal for a veteran backup netminder. Simeon Varlamov has plenty of talent and played well in his brief time with the big club earlier this season, but asking a 20-year-old with two games of NHL experience to be the backup on a team expected to make a deep playoff run holds far too much potential for disaster.
With that in mind, here are some of the veteran goaltenders who could be available between now and March 4th. [Ed. note: The ‘Years Left’ number counts 2008-09. Thus, players whose contracts expire after this season have a ‘1’.]
Update: Martin Gerber, Dany Sabourin, Curtis Sanford, and Kevin Weekes have been added to the table.
If you’re the Capitals, who’s your top choice? And what are you willing to give up to get get him?
*Martin Gerber has been waived this season. If claimed off re-entry waivers, the Capitals would be responsible for only half of his salary, $1,850,000.