Curtis McElhinney, G, 35
Free agency will be the last thing on Curtis McElhinney’s mind right now as he prepares for an epic matchup against the Boston Bruins with the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Finals.
However, McElhinney will become an unrestricted free agent this summer unless the Hurricanes decide to reward their dependable backup with a new deal, which is a high possibility given his heroics in the postseason.
But if the 35-year-old does hit the open market then he could be an intriguing option for the Vegas Golden Knights to explore, given that backup Malcolm Subban can walk away for nothing in 2020. If the Knights want to trade Subban this summer and get something back in return, then McElhinney would be a home run possibility as a number two for Marc-Andre Fleury.
The epitome of an NHL journeyman, McElhinney has jumped from team to team throughout his career but is a model pro and would be a tremendous addition to the Vegas locker room.
McElhinney started 33 games for Carolina during the regular season, posting a 2.58 goals against average and a .912 save percentage, and is a great insurance policy. He’s been captain clutch for the Hurricanes during the playoffs too, coming in as relief for the injured Petr Mrazek and helping his team sweep the New York Islanders in the Second Round.
The 176th overall pick in the 2002 NHL Draft is a popular figure within the hockey world and he could well get the nod to start the Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Bruins following his displays between the pipes against the Islanders.
Currently earning $850,000 a year, McElhinney should expect to see an increase in salary in 2019-20 especially if he enters the offseason as a Stanley Cup Champion. However, his value isn’t likely to jump up by a great amount and he would certainly be a solid short-term option for the Golden Knights while they look for a long-term successor for Fleury if they do indeed decide to cut their ties with Subban.