Free-agent goalies, 2011-2012 season

Here's a whole list: CapGeek.com :: It's a numbers game :: NHL Free Agents Unrestricted/Restricted

Cedrick Desjardins would be a good signing for a team looking to lock up a solid backup who they would want to stick around for "med" term (2/3 years). While still being pretty young, the club would probably have to give him 25+ starts a year, for him to develop into a starting goaltender. He would (in theory) sign a relatively cheap contract if the team and term is correct. If he pans out, then you get a year to a year and a half with a solid starting goaltender at a cheap cost, then give him a raise after his contract expires. If he doesn't pan out, then you have a backup who doesn't really effect your salary cap negatively, and if he was really not working, could send him down to the minors until the contract expires. That's if he signs a 2 way deal, or makes it past waivers.

Just some quick thoughts:

Goalies who will sign large money, short-term contracts: Vokoun, Roloson
Goalies who will sign good money, short-term contracts: Giguere, Smith, Harding, Emery
Goalies who will sign small money, short-term contracts: Conklin, Theodore, Turco, Garon, Boucher, Leclaire
Goalies who will sign overseas: Budaj, Khudobin
Goalies who will retire: Osgood, Hedberg, Lalime, Gerber

I don't see any of this goalie class commanding any long-term contracts. Too many old goalies or chronically injured goalies for that. However, there are several teams who need to sign big contracts to meet the salary cap floor, and short-term but big money contracts to Roloson and Vokoun can certainly help with that. I also don't see many teams skimping on small money backups like Desjardins. I see goalies like him either going to the KHL, other otherseas teams, or sticking it out in the AHL.

Roloson signed a 1y/$3m contract with Tampa Bay. I figured he would hit FA where he might get a slightly bigger contract, but he's doing himself a favor by going back to a contender, gets a nice contract, and, as I predicted, would be short term due to his age.

Harding resigned with Minnesota for 1 year, $750k. The money is less than I thought he'd get, but that is what he deserves, given that he's been injured so often (and for much of last season).

Garon signed a 2 year, $1.3m per contact with Tampa Bay. That's about what I expected.

Theodore signed a 2 year, $1.5 per contract with Florida. Perhaps a tiny bit more than I expected, but it looks like he'll be the starter or 1A/1B with Clemmenson, so that money is about right for his recent worth.

Mike Smith to Phoenix, 2 years, $2m per. This is about where I expected.. in the $2m-$2.5 range for 2-3 years. Didn't see Phoenix being the team to get him, so that's interesting. Guess he's their new, cheap starter. I expected him to take another backup role or perhaps a 1A/1B.

• Avalanche acquire G Semyon Varlamov from Capitals for 2012 1st round pick and a conditional 2nd round pick.
• Florida Panthers sign G Jose Theodore to a two-year, $3 million contract.
• Tampa Bay Lightning sign G Mathieu Garon to a two-year, $2.6 million contract.
  

Great job by the Avs for getting Varlamov. Guy's a beast and deserves to be a #1.

More signings:

Alex Auld goes to Senators for 1 year, $1m. More money than I had expected given the guy sucks.

Boucher goes to Hurricanes for 2 years, $1.9m (I believe for the entire contract). Good signing.

Budaj to Montreal for 2 years, $1.15m per. EDIT: Originally I said at $1.5m per he was overpaid, but I was mistaken, it's $1.15 per, which is a good deal. Still not a fan, though.