This deadline could spell exception to goalie trade rule

As you might have heard (countless times), NHL teams usually refrain from trading goalies during the season as a general rule.

Such deals tend to be difficult and potentially disruptive.

But the March 3 trade deadline could be an exception for one obvious reason: Several goalies on contending teams are battling health woes. A number of netminders are also due to become unrestricted free agents and teams will not want to lose them for nothing in return.

Here are some potential teams and goaltenders to watch as D-Day approaches. If deals don’t occur this week, watch for some to happen in the off-season.

Leafs’ No. 1 vulnerable to injury

Toronto’s Matt Murray, the team’s nominal No. 1, is battling an injury again and is on long-term injured reserve. Although Murray has told reporters he is close to returning, he has been highly vulnerable to injury in recent seasons. Do the Maple Leafs want to take a chance with his health in the playoffs as they seek to advance beyond the first round for the first time since 2004? Ilya Samsonov is sporting an impressive 21-7-2 record, but most of his wins have come at home and he has a 1-7 career playoff mark. He also battled illness a few weeks back. With the Leafs likely to face Tampa Bay in the opening round for the second consecutive year, GM Kyle Dubas could decide – reluctantly – to acquire another goaltender with proven playoff success. (Although Murray won two Stanley Cup titles with Pittsburgh, his play has dipped considerable since then.)

Signs indicate that Dubas is willing to stand pat. But other clubs could take some risks.

Kings could make move

But the Los Angeles Kings, a dark horse Cup contender, could use some goaltending insurance with 29-year-old journeyman Pheonix Copley now serving as their starter. Copley has no NHL post-season experience. Jonathan Quick is having a sub-par season and Kings GM Rob Blake could opt for someone else than the 32-year-old veteran, who backstopped L.A. to a pair of Stanley Cup wins.

Blake could also try to move Quick and his expiring $5.8-million contract to facilitate another deal for a player with an expensive contract.

Hurricanes have issues in net

Arguably, the Carolina Hurricanes, a team with high Stanley Cup hopes, also have goaltending issues. Veterans Frederik Andersen and Antti Raanta have both suffered from several health issues in recent seasons. Although they both have strong records this season, they have played just 41 games combined. Furthermore, both have spotty playoff records and both are 33 years old, on expiring contracts and due to become unrestricted free agents.

Meanwhile, 23-year-old Pyotr Kochetkov has a better save percentage than both of them while playing almost as many games as each. Hence it is doubtful that GM Don Waddell will want to re-sign both Andersen and Raanta. If Waddell wants to avoid losing either or both of them for nothing, the time to trade one is now.

Waddell could still trade Andersen or Raanta in the summer before free agency begins, but their value will be severely diminished by then because interested teams could just wait until their contracts expire. Also, more goalies will almost certainly be available via trade then and other teams will have more options to choose from.

The Vegas Golden Knights could have pressing goaltending concerns, too. Upstart rookie Logan Thompson is out week-to-week with a lower-body injury and he has no NHL playoff experience. Veteran Laurent Brossoit has impressed lately but is coming off a long injury hiatus, has never been a starter and has only one post-season appearance – back in 2016-17, when he logged just 27:08.

San Jose could also seek a No. 1 goaltender now rather than later, because GM Mike Grier has another key player to move – defenceman Erik Karlsson – after dealing winger Timo Meier to New Jersey on Sunday. Karlsson appears keen on joining a contender and could be unhappy if he stays. And, his large contract – which still has four years remaining at $11 million per season – will be of no benefit as the Sharks rebuild.

Gibson in same boat as Karlsson

Anaheim goaltender John Gibson is in the same boat as Karlsson and could also be of interest to a contender now as GM Pat Verbeek looks to add to a young core. Verbeek can afford to wait until more bidders show interest in the summer. It will be interesting to see whether he rolls the dice now instead.

Other pending UFA goaltenders could also be on the move. See Buffalo’s Craig Anderson and Eric Comrie, San Jose’s James Reimer, Ottawa's Cam Talbot and Pittsburgh’s Tristan Jarry (especially if the Penguins fall further out of playoff contention this week). The Sabres have oodles of cap space that would enable them to take on a high-priced netminder.

With the Oilers looking to acquire Karlsson, Edmonton GM Ken Holland may have an opportunity to deal goaltender Jack Campbell, who is now backing up Stuart Skinner. Campbell’s contract still has four years to run at $5 million per season. If Campbell and one or two others get moved, Karlsson’s contract would be easier to fit under the salary cap.

Holland would be making a gamble and would need to get a capable backup somewhere, or rely on journeyman Calvin Pickard, 30, who has spent most of this season – and his career – in the minors.