It seems every season there is an Antti Raanta or a Scott Darling.
By that, we mean a No. 2 goalie who finally earns a starting gig, albeit in a new city. Look around the NHL at the various No. 1 goalies, and you'll see more than a few of these cases.
During the 2015 offseason, we saw Robin Lehner leave a crowded Ottawa Senators depth chart and head to Buffalo to lead the charge in net. One day later, Cam Talbot was dealt by the New York Rangers to the Edmonton Oilers to answer their need for a steady tender. Martin Jones led the San Jose Sharks to the Stanley Cup Final two years ago in his first campaign as a starter, coming in after thriving in a backup role with the Los Angeles Kings.
Most recently, Raanta came to the Arizona Coyotes from the Rangers to replace Mike Smith, and Darling earned the opportunity to enter the season as the Carolina Hurricanes' top dog after solid play in Chicago. (He has since relinquished unquestioned claim to the Canes' No. 1 gig, shedding starts to Cam Ward.)
"When you're a backup and you get a chance to play, you always want to prove that you can also do the job," Raanta says now.
Raanta was directly in the middle of expansion draft discussion, but thought he might remain in New York when he wasn't taken by the Vegas Golden Knights. That didn't last long. He got a call telling him he would be traded to Arizona to start this season.
"I think it's a little bit easier to be the No. 1 guy," he says. "Sometimes when you're a backup, you play once a week or once in a couple of weeks. When you didn't have the greatest game of your life and didn't have another game right away, you were still holding on to the last game. Being the starter, you just need to be mentally strong and stay one day at a time and one game at a time."
He is turning in pretty strong numbers thus far, despite missing time due to injuries. The Finn has registered a .919 save percentage in 28 starts, but is rolling off a red-hot January (.933 save percentage, 1.93 goals-against average).
So, who is this year's Raanta? Who is the next No. 2 goalie to earn a bigger opportunity? There's a handful of tenders who could be dealt or sign with a new team in free agency this offseason and immediately ascend to the top of the depth chart in their new team's crease.
Let's take a look at some potential cases, ranging from almost definite to the long-shot-but-possible options.
Aaron Dell, San Jose Sharks
2017-18: 13-4-3, .919 save percentage, 2.44 goals-against average
Contract status: Pending unrestricted free agent
Dell is probably the top choice in the pack. The Sharks seem pretty set on sticking with Jones as their de facto No. 1 guy this season, even though Dell has outplayed him. His numbers took a bit of a hit after two poor starts heading into the All-Star break (11 combined goals allowed in back-to-back starts), and the stint might have kept him from taking the reins in net for San Jose the rest of the way.
Still, he posted a .931 save percentage last season, which would also be his save percentage this season if you remove that pair of bad games. According to Hockey Reference, only Carter Hutton has a better quality start percentage in the past two seasons than Dell's .657 among tenders with at least 35 starts.
Dell, 28, will be free to sign elsewhere in the summer, and chances are San Jose won't be able to reel him back in if another team comes knocking with a potential No. 1 gig. Carolina might be in the mix, with Ward probably leaving and Darling not impressing, but perhaps the New York Islanders make for the best fit. Jaroslav Halak is a free agent and the Isles seem to just need a capable goaltender to take them to the next level. What happens with John Tavares might play a part in how serious New York gets in hunting for a goalie in free agency, especially considering the goaltending prospects it has in the pipeline. But Dell could be a difference-maker in blue and orange.
Philipp Grubauer, Washington Capitals
2017-18: 4-7-3, .913 save percentage, 2.69 goals-against average
Contract status: Pending restricted free agent
Grubauer doesn't see a ton of action behind Braden Holtby, who is an absolute workhorse for the Capitals. Grubauer, however, has performed admirably when called upon. His .921 career save percentage is sixth in the NHL in that six-season span among goalies with at least 50 starts, and his 2.35 goals-against average is in the top 10. Even Raanta named Grubauer as one guy he thinks can immediately pivot into a No. 1 role.
"I think Grubauer has been very solid for many years in Washington. It wouldn't surprise me to see him get a starting job somewhere," Raanta said.
This season, Grubauer's .931 even-strength save percentage is ninth in the NHL. A little younger than Dell at 26, Grubauer might interest a team looking for a long-term option. It's easy to see him splitting time with Darling in Carolina next season, but he could also take the reins from Semyon Varlamov in Colorado or Craig Anderson in Ottawa. Varlamov will be 30 next season (and has dealt with injuries throughout the campaign), and Anderson turns 37 in May. Neither has been exceptional this season.
Another possible destination to keep an eye on? The Vancouver Canucks. Jacob Markstrom hasn't yet proven he is their guy going forward.
Carter Hutton, St. Louis Blues
2017-18: 14-4-1, .947 save percentage, 1.61 goals-against average
Contract status: Pending UFA
Hutton has been the surprise of the season. His .947 save percentage, 1.61 goals-against average and .953 even-strength save percentage all rank first in the league. His incredible play has led him to essentially steal the No. 1 job in St. Louis from Jake Allen.
At 32 years old, Hutton is dominating in his contract year. There's a chance he returns to St. Louis as a co-starter with Allen next season, but it's unlikely the Blues look to Hutton as the No. 1 beyond 2018. His ratios are all well outperforming his track record, including his .917 career save percentage. Coach Mike Yeo will certainly ride the hot hand this season with the Blues in the playoff mix, but it would be surprising if Allen isn't the go-to No. 1 next season, especially with Hutton entering unrestricted free agency, free to leave on his own in search of more starts.
His play has certainly earned him the chance to start somewhere. While he is playing out of his mind during the last few months, he also hasn't had a bad season in the NHL in five seasons with the Blues and Nashville Predators while playing second fiddle. He could be another good option for the Islanders, perhaps on a short deal.
Darcy Kuemper, Los Angeles Kings
2017-18: 8-1-3, .943 save percentage, 1.76 goals-against average
Contract status: Pending UFA
Here's another guy who is otherworldly this season. Standing in for Jonathan Quick through injury breaks, Kuemper's numbers rank behind only Hutton for goalies with at least 12 starts. According to Corsica Hockey, his .863 high-danger save percentage is second in the NHL, as well.
Kuemper has started as many as 28 games in a season, back in his Minnesota Wild days. He can certainly shoulder the load, and he'll be entering his age-28 season next fall. He might just be the next backup to Quick to find expanded work elsewhere, following Jones and Jonathan Bernier.
Tristan Jarry, Pittsburgh Penguins
2017-18: 9-4-2, .919 save percentage, 2.44 goals-against average
Contract status: Pending RFA
This one sort of depends on what the Penguins want to do. They have their starter, Matt Murray, but Jarry is a promising prospect who has played well in limited time with the big club this season. He's also a free agent of the restricted variety, which means the Pens might at least float his name out there to see what he would be worth in a trade. He isn't likely to start any time soon in Pittsburgh -- although Murray isn't exactly the healthiest goalie in the league -- so perhaps Pittsburgh could move him.
With that said, it's difficult to see a scenario in which Jarry experiences being a free agent this summer. The Penguins can shop him, but if there are no takers, they should ultimately re-sign him to a bridge deal. He is still only 22 years old with 17 career NHL starts. If he is moved, it would need to be similar to the Lehner deal, involving a high pick. Vancouver might be a good landing spot for the youngster as he builds time in the league, safe from truly contending just yet.
Petr Mrazek, Detroit Red Wings
2017-18: 7-6-2, .914 save percentage, 2.75 goals-against average
Contract status: Pending RFA
Mrazek isn't anyone's top choice as a No. 1 goalie. He has been there before, so we know what to expect. However, he has played decently this season, and with the Czech's contract expiring, it's tough to see another season of the 1A-1B tandem with Jimmy Howard happening.
To his credit, Mrazek has a .941 save percentage since the beginning of the new year. At the moment, he appears to have reclaimed the "1A" designation for Detroit. He is an adequate starter and can serve as a Plan B option this offseason for teams in need of goalie help. Alternatively, he might be a good fit for a team with an aging starter, like the Rangers or Boston Bruins. He would be able to provide plenty of rest for Henrik Lundqvist or Tuukka Rask while also providing the team with a quality No. 2 goalie.
Honorable mention
Jonathan Bernier will be a UFA and has played well, including starting while Varlamov has been on the shelf. He has been a starter before, and teams could do worse.
Malcolm Subban got a chance to play for Vegas with Marc-Andre Fleury was injured, but then was injured himself. The one-time top prospect is still only 24 years old and should be a full-time starter in the NHL in short while. He has one year left on his deal, so it would be interesting to see if any teams come calling in June. Despite the fantastic season, the Golden Knights still need to build quite a bit, so listening on Subban could make sense depending on the return. Ottawa could be a good fit.
The Predators are unlikely to move restricted free agent Juuse Saros, but it's not out of the question. He is their goalie of the future and a trade doesn't seem to be in the cards, but he is also probably the best possible option on this entire list. He has a .927 save percentage and 2.33 goals-against average this season. Expect him to stay put, but keep an open mind with his expiring deal and the current blockage on the Preds' depth chart in the form of Pekka Rinne.
Michal Neuvirth is inconsistent, posting a .924 save percentage and 2.27 goals-against average in 2015-16, only to follow up with .891 and 2.82 ratios one season later. He isn't a top choice, but it's not out of the question. He could also be a good fit in an enhanced No. 2 role with the Rangers, Bruins or Kings, along with the Sharks or Blues if either of their current No. 2 goalies depart.