So before I start I’d like to say that ideally after the upcoming 2018-19 season, should Mike Smith choose to retire, that the Flames would be confident enough in their prospects (David Rittich, Jon Gillies or Tyler Parsons) that they wouldn’t need to make a move in free agency for a goalie.
However, goalies often develop at different paces, so the Flames could very well be looking for a stopgap or even a long term goaltending option come July 1 2019.
Here are three goaltenders that will be UFA’s and will be interesting options:
Varlamov is a goaltender who has certainly had his ups and downs over the last few years.