It seems inevitable that the <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/monday-mailbag-are-edmonton-oilers-in-a-better-or-worse-spot-than-year-ago">Edmonton Oilers</a> will go into next season with a different goaltending tandem after dropping their second Stanley Cup Final in a row. What sort of options are available to them on the free agent market? 

Recently, I looked at <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/goalies-edmonton-oilers-could-target-trade-market-off-season">five netminders the Oilers should target</a> through trade, which seems like the most realistic option for the team this off-season. Why? Well, the list of goalies available this off-season isn’t very strong, and there might not be a clear upgrade over Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard available.
That said, let’s take a look at some of the netminders who are unrestricted free agents.
<h2>Ivan Prosvetov</h2>
Ivan Prosvetov is a netminder whose name doesn&#8217;t get mentioned much regarding goalies available in the free agent market. In May, he and CSKA Moscow mutually terminated his contract, making him an unrestricted free agent. <a href="https://flamesnation.ca/news/flames-main-contender-to-sign-russian-goaltender-ivan-prosvetov-report">It&#8217;s been reported that the Calgary Flames</a> are the top contender to sign the 26-year-old netminder, but let&#8217;s be real, the Oilers are a better fit.
In 2024-25, Prosvetov had a .920 save percentage and 2.32 goals against average in 38 games, finishing with a 20-16-2 record. He made five appearances in the postseason, finishing with a .918 save percentage and 2.90 goals against average.
Prosvetov has experience in the National Hockey League, playing parts of four seasons in the league. Three of which were spent with the Arizona Coyotes, the team that drafted him in the fourth round of the 2018 draft. In 2023-24, he played 11 games with the Colorado Avalanche. Prosvetov has played 24 NHL games and has an .881 save percentage and 3.70 goals against average.
<h2>Jake Allen</h2>
Jake Allen is the most well-known and experienced netminder available in free agency. Last season for the New Jersey Devils, Allen served as the team’s backup and had a .908 save percentage and 2.59 goals against average in 31 games, with a 13-16-1 record.
In his younger years, Allen had strong back-to-back seasons in 2015-16 and 2016-17, posting save percentages of .920 and .915 while playing 47 and 61 games, respectively. Since Jordan Binnington took over the St. Louis Blues’ crease in 2019, Allen has primarily served as a backup or 1B, spending parts of four seasons with the Montréal Canadiens and parts of two seasons with the Devils.
Still, Allen has a respectable .908 save percentage and 2.75 goals-against average in 460 games. He won a Stanley Cup with the Blues in 2019, but served as the backup for the second half of the season.
According to <a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1WuCp8WHgCaTAijtVsww-C-1qmdBdNBiTbDIPdJr_Fwo/edit?gid=1769332179#gid=1769332179">AFPAnalytics</a>, Allen is projected to make just over $3.5 million on a two-year deal.
<h2>Anton Forsberg</h2>
Anton Forsberg is one of the better UFA netminders come Jul. 1. Last season with the Ottawa Senators, the 32-year-old had a .901 save percentage and 2.72 goals against average in 30 games played.
The Swede&#8217;s career-best season was in 2021-22, as he appeared in 46 games and had a .917 save percentage and 2.82 goals against average with a 22-17-4 record.
On top of that, Forsberg will be relatively cheap, as AFPAnalytics predicts he&#8217;ll sign a two-year contract worth about $1.7 million a season. He&#8217;s probably an upgrade over Calvin Pickard, but not Skinner.
Forberg was an Oiler once upon a time. He signed a <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/edmonton-oilers-sign-goaltender-anton-forsberg-to-one-year-contract">one-year, $700k contract</a> ahead of the 2021 season to be the team&#8217;s third-string goalie, but was claimed off waivers by the Carolina Hurricanes.
<figure id="attachment_144782" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-144782" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-144782" src="http://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/USATSI_22271605_168383996_lowres-1024x683.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/USATSI_22271605_168383996_lowres-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/USATSI_22271605_168383996_lowres-300x200.jpg 300w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/USATSI_22271605_168383996_lowres-768x512.jpg 768w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/USATSI_22271605_168383996_lowres.jpg 1393w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-144782" class="wp-caption-text">Jan 11, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (97) scores on Detroit Red Wings goaltender Alex Lyon (34) in the third period at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure>
<h2>Alex Lyon</h2>
The second-best netminder on the market is Alex Lyon. In 2022-23, he went on a six-game winning streak to help the Florida Panthers make the postseason, before handing the reins over to Sergei Bobrovsky.
Lyon signed a two-year deal with the Detroit Red Wings before the start of the 2023-24 season. In his first 16 games with the team, Lyon had a .916 save percentage and a 17-8-2 record before dropping off a clip in the second half.
Last season with the Wings, Lyon had an .896 save percentage and a 2.81 goals against average in 30 games played, with a 14-9-1 record. Lyon is a solid backup netminder who can get hot in brief stretches.
Per AFPAnalytics, Lyon is projected to make $1.8 million annually on a two-year deal.
<h2>Ville Husso</h2>
Ville Husso was Lyon’s teammate in 2023-24 and 2024-25 with the Red Wings. In his first full season in 2021-22 with the St. Louis Blues, Husso had an encouraging .919 save percentage and a 2.56 goals against average.
After a trade to the Red Wings, Husso started the season off well, posting a .918 save percentage in 20 games, with an 11-5-4 record. Husso’s play fell off from there, finishing his final 36 games of the season with an .883 save percentage and a 15-17-3 record as the Wings missed out on the postseason.
The Finnish netminder didn’t play well in 2023-24, as he had an .892 save percentage and 3.55 goals against average in 19 games. He played just nine games with the Wings in 2024-25, posting an .866 save percentage and 3.69 goals against average in nine games before being demoted to the American Hockey League.
Before the trade deadline, Husso was traded to the Anaheim Ducks, where he played four games and had a .925 save percentage and 2.99 goals against average.
Is Husso a netminder the Oilers should look at? Maybe for their American Hockey League team, but he isn’t an upgrade over Skinner or even Pickard. Maybe he can recapture his ability from the 2021-22 season.
<h2>Alexandar Georgiev</h2>
Alexandar Georgiev is the only player who was born in Bulgaria to play in the National Hockey League. After five solid seasons with the New York Rangers, Georgiev was traded to the reigning Stanley Cup champions at the time, the Colorado Avalanche.
The 2022-23 season was the best of his career, as the 29-year-old netminder had a .919 save percentage and 2.51 goals against average in 62 games, finishing seventh in Vezina Trophy voting. In 2023-24, Georgiev was named as an All-Star, but he had an .897 save percentage and 3.02 goals against average in 63 games played.
Georgiev started the 2024-25 season off <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/nhl-notebook-avalanche-acquire-goaltender-mackenzie-blackwood-from-sharks">terribly with the Avalanche</a>, posting an .874 save percentage and 3.38 goals against average in 18 games. The netminder was traded to the San Jose Sharks, where he posted similar stats behind an awful defence.
He’s in the same boat as Husso. Perhaps he bounces back at some point in his career, but the Oilers should only be interested in him as an American Hockey League option.
<h2>Ilya Samsonov</h2>
Similar to Georgiev and Husso, Ilya Samsonov had a good season as the Toronto Maple Leafs’ crease in 2022-23, posting a .919 save percentage and 2.33 goals against average in 42 games. The 28-year-old Russian struggled in 2023-24 and eventually signed with the Vegas Golden Knights ahead of the 2024-25 season.
After starting the most recent season off well, Samsonov eventually returned to earth and had an .891 save percentage and 2.82 goals against average in 29 games played. Unlike Husso and Georgiev, Samsonov had a strong defensive team in front of him.
These three goalies illustrate just how weak this unrestricted class of free agent netminders are.
<h2>Notable Restricted Free Agents</h2>
That said, some intriguing restricted free agents have yet to sign. If they wish to sign a player to an offer sheet, it’s worth noting that the Oilers don’t have their 2026 first-round pick. That means the highest AAV they can go to is $4,680,076, the compensation for which is a second-round pick.
Lukáš Dostáal had a .903 save percentage and 3.10 goals against average in 54 games played behind a weak Anaheim Ducks defence. Despite a save percentage notably weaker than John Gibson’s, Dostáal had a 14.3 goals saved above expected.
Remember when the <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/former-oilers-holloway-broberg-blues-late-season-surge">St. Louis Blues signed both Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway</a> to offer sheets last summer, significantly hindering the Oilers’ depth? Well, it could be time to give Joel Hofer an offer sheet out of pure spite. In 2023-24, he had a .914 save percentage and 2.62 goals against average in 30 games. This past season, it dropped to a .904 save percentage and 2.64 goals against average in 31 games.
The Montréal Canadiens have a weird goaltending situation going on. Sam Montembeault is the clear number one, but both Jakub Dobeš and Cayden Primeau are restricted free agents. The former looked good in his 16 NHL games, posting a .909 save percentage and 2.74 goals against average in 16 games played, along with a 9 GSAE.
Another restricted free agent netminder is Devon Levi, who seems like he’s on the cusp of breaking out. Although his nine NHL games didn’t go well, the 23-year-old had a .919 save percentage and 2.20 goals against average in 42 American Hockey League games this season.
<hr />
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Oilersnation, FlamesNation, and Blue Jays Nation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

It seems inevitable that the <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/monday-mailbag-are-edmonton-oilers-in-a-better-or-worse-spot-than-year-ago">Edmonton Oilers</a> will go into next season with a different goaltending tandem after dropping their second Stanley Cup Final in a row. What sort of options are available to them on the free agent market? 



Recently, I looked at <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/goalies-edmonton-oilers-could-target-trade-market-off-season">five netminders the Oilers should target</a> through trade, which seems like the most realistic option for the team this off-season. Why? Well, the list of goalies available this off-season isn’t very strong, and there might not be a clear upgrade over Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard available.

That said, let’s take a look at some of the netminders who are unrestricted free agents.
<h2>Ivan Prosvetov</h2>
Ivan Prosvetov is a netminder whose name doesn't get mentioned much regarding goalies available in the free agent market. In May, he and CSKA Moscow mutually terminated his contract, making him an unrestricted free agent. <a href="https://flamesnation.ca/news/flames-main-contender-to-sign-russian-goaltender-ivan-prosvetov-report">It's been reported that the Calgary Flames</a> are the top contender to sign the 26-year-old netminder, but let's be real, the Oilers are a better fit.

In 2024-25, Prosvetov had a .920 save percentage and 2.32 goals against average in 38 games, finishing with a 20-16-2 record. He made five appearances in the postseason, finishing with a .918 save percentage and 2.90 goals against average.

Prosvetov has experience in the National Hockey League, playing parts of four seasons in the league. Three of which were spent with the Arizona Coyotes, the team that drafted him in the fourth round of the 2018 draft. In 2023-24, he played 11 games with the Colorado Avalanche. Prosvetov has played 24 NHL games and has an .881 save percentage and 3.70 goals against average.
<h2>Jake Allen</h2>
Jake Allen is the most well-known and experienced netminder available in free agency. Last season for the New Jersey Devils, Allen served as the team’s backup and had a .908 save percentage and 2.59 goals against average in 31 games, with a 13-16-1 record.

In his younger years, Allen had strong back-to-back seasons in 2015-16 and 2016-17, posting save percentages of .920 and .915 while playing 47 and 61 games, respectively. Since Jordan Binnington took over the St. Louis Blues’ crease in 2019, Allen has primarily served as a backup or 1B, spending parts of four seasons with the Montréal Canadiens and parts of two seasons with the Devils.

Still, Allen has a respectable .908 save percentage and 2.75 goals-against average in 460 games. He won a Stanley Cup with the Blues in 2019, but served as the backup for the second half of the season.

According to <a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1WuCp8WHgCaTAijtVsww-C-1qmdBdNBiTbDIPdJr_Fwo/edit?gid=1769332179#gid=1769332179">AFPAnalytics</a>, Allen is projected to make just over $3.5 million on a two-year deal.
<h2>Anton Forsberg</h2>
Anton Forsberg is one of the better UFA netminders come Jul. 1. Last season with the Ottawa Senators, the 32-year-old had a .901 save percentage and 2.72 goals against average in 30 games played.

The Swede's career-best season was in 2021-22, as he appeared in 46 games and had a .917 save percentage and 2.82 goals against average with a 22-17-4 record.

On top of that, Forsberg will be relatively cheap, as AFPAnalytics predicts he'll sign a two-year contract worth about $1.7 million a season. He's probably an upgrade over Calvin Pickard, but not Skinner.

Forberg was an Oiler once upon a time. He signed a <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/edmonton-oilers-sign-goaltender-anton-forsberg-to-one-year-contract">one-year, $700k contract</a> ahead of the 2021 season to be the team's third-string goalie, but was claimed off waivers by the Carolina Hurricanes.

[caption id="attachment_144782" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]<img class="size-large wp-image-144782" src="http://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/USATSI_22271605_168383996_lowres-1024x683.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" /> Jan 11, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (97) scores on Detroit Red Wings goaltender Alex Lyon (34) in the third period at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]
<h2>Alex Lyon</h2>
The second-best netminder on the market is Alex Lyon. In 2022-23, he went on a six-game winning streak to help the Florida Panthers make the postseason, before handing the reins over to Sergei Bobrovsky.

Lyon signed a two-year deal with the Detroit Red Wings before the start of the 2023-24 season. In his first 16 games with the team, Lyon had a .916 save percentage and a 17-8-2 record before dropping off a clip in the second half.

Last season with the Wings, Lyon had an .896 save percentage and a 2.81 goals against average in 30 games played, with a 14-9-1 record. Lyon is a solid backup netminder who can get hot in brief stretches.

Per AFPAnalytics, Lyon is projected to make $1.8 million annually on a two-year deal.
<h2>Ville Husso</h2>
Ville Husso was Lyon’s teammate in 2023-24 and 2024-25 with the Red Wings. In his first full season in 2021-22 with the St. Louis Blues, Husso had an encouraging .919 save percentage and a 2.56 goals against average.

After a trade to the Red Wings, Husso started the season off well, posting a .918 save percentage in 20 games, with an 11-5-4 record. Husso’s play fell off from there, finishing his final 36 games of the season with an .883 save percentage and a 15-17-3 record as the Wings missed out on the postseason.

The Finnish netminder didn’t play well in 2023-24, as he had an .892 save percentage and 3.55 goals against average in 19 games. He played just nine games with the Wings in 2024-25, posting an .866 save percentage and 3.69 goals against average in nine games before being demoted to the American Hockey League.

Before the trade deadline, Husso was traded to the Anaheim Ducks, where he played four games and had a .925 save percentage and 2.99 goals against average.

Is Husso a netminder the Oilers should look at? Maybe for their American Hockey League team, but he isn’t an upgrade over Skinner or even Pickard. Maybe he can recapture his ability from the 2021-22 season.
<h2>Alexandar Georgiev</h2>
Alexandar Georgiev is the only player who was born in Bulgaria to play in the National Hockey League. After five solid seasons with the New York Rangers, Georgiev was traded to the reigning Stanley Cup champions at the time, the Colorado Avalanche.

The 2022-23 season was the best of his career, as the 29-year-old netminder had a .919 save percentage and 2.51 goals against average in 62 games, finishing seventh in Vezina Trophy voting. In 2023-24, Georgiev was named as an All-Star, but he had an .897 save percentage and 3.02 goals against average in 63 games played.

Georgiev started the 2024-25 season off <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/nhl-notebook-avalanche-acquire-goaltender-mackenzie-blackwood-from-sharks">terribly with the Avalanche</a>, posting an .874 save percentage and 3.38 goals against average in 18 games. The netminder was traded to the San Jose Sharks, where he posted similar stats behind an awful defence.

He’s in the same boat as Husso. Perhaps he bounces back at some point in his career, but the Oilers should only be interested in him as an American Hockey League option.
<h2>Ilya Samsonov</h2>
Similar to Georgiev and Husso, Ilya Samsonov had a good season as the Toronto Maple Leafs’ crease in 2022-23, posting a .919 save percentage and 2.33 goals against average in 42 games. The 28-year-old Russian struggled in 2023-24 and eventually signed with the Vegas Golden Knights ahead of the 2024-25 season.

After starting the most recent season off well, Samsonov eventually returned to earth and had an .891 save percentage and 2.82 goals against average in 29 games played. Unlike Husso and Georgiev, Samsonov had a strong defensive team in front of him.

These three goalies illustrate just how weak this unrestricted class of free agent netminders are.
<h2>Notable Restricted Free Agents</h2>
That said, some intriguing restricted free agents have yet to sign. If they wish to sign a player to an offer sheet, it’s worth noting that the Oilers don’t have their 2026 first-round pick. That means the highest AAV they can go to is $4,680,076, the compensation for which is a second-round pick.

Lukáš Dostáal had a .903 save percentage and 3.10 goals against average in 54 games played behind a weak Anaheim Ducks defence. Despite a save percentage notably weaker than John Gibson’s, Dostáal had a 14.3 goals saved above expected.

Remember when the <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/former-oilers-holloway-broberg-blues-late-season-surge">St. Louis Blues signed both Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway</a> to offer sheets last summer, significantly hindering the Oilers’ depth? Well, it could be time to give Joel Hofer an offer sheet out of pure spite. In 2023-24, he had a .914 save percentage and 2.62 goals against average in 30 games. This past season, it dropped to a .904 save percentage and 2.64 goals against average in 31 games.

The Montréal Canadiens have a weird goaltending situation going on. Sam Montembeault is the clear number one, but both Jakub Dobeš and Cayden Primeau are restricted free agents. The former looked good in his 16 NHL games, posting a .909 save percentage and 2.74 goals against average in 16 games played, along with a 9 GSAE.

Another restricted free agent netminder is Devon Levi, who seems like he’s on the cusp of breaking out. Although his nine NHL games didn’t go well, the 23-year-old had a .919 save percentage and 2.20 goals against average in 42 American Hockey League games this season.

<hr />

Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Oilersnation, FlamesNation, and Blue Jays Nation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

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