With Connor Hellebuyck officially off the goalie trade market following his high-profile blockbuster trade to the New Jersey Devils, attention across the National Hockey League is rapidly shifting. General managers around the league who missed out on the premier star are now pivoting toward alternative options. Rumored contenders like the Carolina Hurricanes and the Buffalo Sabres are still believed to be scouring the market for experienced stability between the pipes, waiting for the right moment to make a compelling offer.
The trade landscape has also been framed by the return Winnipeg received for Hellebuyck. The package sent to the Jets featured Dawson Mercer, Nico Daws, a couple of draft picks, and promising prospect Alexander Command. Because this return was relatively measured rather than exorbitant, league executives have to believe that the price tag for other available netminders may not be entirely prohibitive.
As teams evaluate their rosters in the early portion of the 2026-27 season, several veteran goaltenders have emerged as prime candidates to be moved next.
1. Jordan Binnington, St. Louis Blues
The odds-on favorite to be the next goaltender dealt is 33-year-old Jordan Binnington, a player whose resume boasts both a Stanley Cup championship and a 4 Nations Face-Off gold medal.
Binnington has endured a difficult start to the 2026-27 campaign, logging a 1-2-0 record alongside an uncharacteristic .831 save percentage and a 4.68 goals-against average. While those early numbers are certainly high enough to give potential suitors pause, context is critical. Binnington is currently playing behind a thoroughly mediocre St. Louis Blues team, and he is just two seasons removed from putting up a respectable .900 save percentage and 2.69 goals-against average.
Furthermore, Binnington has proven to be a durable workhorse for St. Louis, appearing in a combined 97 games over the past two seasons. If he were to be acquired by a significantly stronger roster that deployed him more selectively, his overall effectiveness could experience a sharp rebound.
Financially, Binnington is playing in the final season of a contract that pays him $6 million annually. This structure means that cap-conscious clubs with strong financial management could absorb his full salary without requiring the Blues to retain any money in the transaction.
Ultimately, Binnington’s established championship pedigree remains a massive selling point. Should the Blues continue struggling to find consistency in the standings, Binnington stands out as a logical candidate to be moved as his current team looks toward the future.
2. Filip Gustavsson, Minnesota Wild
Filip Gustavsson is not currently active as he works his way back from off-season hip surgery, and the Minnesota Wild netminder is expected to remain on the sidelines for at least another month. However, young star Jesper Wallstedt has been nothing short of sensational out of the gate this season, seizing control of the starting role in Minnesota.
Even though Gustavsson is currently in the first year of a lucrative five-year contract extension that carries an average annual value of $6.8 million, that term could actually be viewed as an asset by an interested trade partner. The deal does feature a no-move clause for the first two years, but Gustavsson represents a cost-certain asset who is still only 28 years old.
With Wallstedt locking down the starter’s crease for the foreseeable future, Gustavsson’s opportunities to play in Minnesota will likely be severely limited. Under those circumstances, the Swedish goaltender may welcome a trade to an organization that views him as a definitive number-one option.
Like Binnington, Gustavsson is accustomed to a heavy workload, having appeared in a combined 153 games over the past three seasons. Finding a solution where he splits time evenly with Wallstedt—or accepts a backup share of 30 games while Wallstedt plays 50—does not appear to be an ideal career path for a player of his caliber.
Performance-wise, Gustavsson has maintained a solid save percentage between .904 and .914 over the last two years. If he is eventually moved to a franchise seeking stability in net, he could prove to be one of the most reliable options available on both a short-term and long-term basis.
3. Anthony Stolarz, Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs may not be under any immediate pressure to trade Anthony Stolarz, particularly since he is currently playing in the first year of a four-year contract extension. The 32-year-old is coming off a difficult 2025-26 season where his individual statistics dipped below average, yielding an .893 save percentage and a 3.28 goals-against average. Consequently, Toronto has largely shifted him into an understudy role behind primary starter Sergei Bobrovsky this year.
Compounding the situation for Toronto is the presence of their goaltender of the future, Artur Akhtyamov. The young prospect captured the AHL’s Calder Cup last season with the Toronto Marlies and earned MVP honors during an impressive playoff run.
Because Akhtyamov will no longer be waiver-exempt next season, the Maple Leafs are heading toward a difficult organizational crossroads involving him and Stolarz. It is difficult to envision a scenario where Toronto elects to move forward with Stolarz over their younger, cost-controlled prospect.
The Leafs are unlikely to command a massive return in any potential Stolarz trade; the primary objective would be freeing up valuable salary cap space to address other roster needs. However, if a club emerges that values Stolarz as a reliable, lower-cost alternative in net, a deal could materialize by or before the trade deadline.