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Goaltending market going to be very interesting this summer

Thomas Greiss

New York Islanders goalie Thomas Greiss makes a save during the third period of the NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, in New York. The Flyers defeated the Islanders in overtime 3-2. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

AP

Thomas Greiss is the NHL’s second star of the week, and his New York Islanders suddenly have a flicker of hope.

Greiss went 2-0-1 with a .971 save percentage and two shutouts last week. Even the game he didn’t win was a good performance, as he made 44 stops in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Flyers on Sunday.

Greiss, 30, is a pending unrestricted free agent. And given his numbers over the last two seasons combined (35-18-7, .928), he’s got every right to seek out a significant raise from his current cap hit with the Isles of just $1.5 million.

For that matter, so does Scott Darling, who’s been so good as Chicago’s backup behind Corey Crawford. Ditto for Buffalo’s Anders Nilsson, New Jersey’s Keith Kinkaid, Ottawa’s Mike Condon and Calgary’s Chad Johnson. All are pending UFAs. And all are enjoying good to great seasons.

Another pending UFA who’s playing well is Vancouver’s Ryan Miller. Granted, his situation is a bit different in that he’s 36 years old and proven as an NHL starter.

Read more: What does the future hold for Ryan Miller?

But all these goalies playing well, and none of them with contracts beyond the current season, could sure make for an interesting summer -- and that goes double for a summer that will start off with an expansion draft.

As you surely know by now, each team is only allowed to protect one goalie. It’s already created quite the debate in places like Pittsburgh, where the youngster, Matt Murray, has outplayed the veteran, Marc-Andre Fleury.

Meanwhile, goalies like Brian Elliott, Ben Bishop, Steve Mason, and Michal Neuvirth have seen their stock fall. Each had an excellent 2015-16 campaign. Alas, they’ve all struggled quite badly this season, to the point any GM would have to think long and hard about signing one to a big-money, long-term contract. All four are -- yep, you got it -- pending UFAs.

With almost half a season, plus the playoffs, to go, there’s still plenty of time for goalies to make their cases, or lose them. We’ll have to wait and see how the market looks come July 1.

But it’s going to be interesting to watch. Goaltending is inherently unpredictable. There will probably be a surprise or two more.

Related: Anton Khudobin hasn’t solved the Bruins’ backup goalie problem