Top 5 NHL Free Agent Goalies For The Summer of 2014

May 16, 2014; Anaheim, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks goalie

(1) makes a save against the Los Angeles Kings during the second period in game seven of the second round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

Jonas Hiller

This is just another story of a good goalie who got squeezed out by two very good young goalies. Age and salary certainly come into play with the Anaheim Ducks’ decision not to offer a contract to Jonas Hiller.

Hiller made $4.5 million last season with the Ducks, so the emergence of Frederik Andersen and highly-acclaimed John Gibson made the decision easy for Anaheim.

Hiller played very well most of the year, but his performance trailed off in the last two months of the season, resulting in him losing his starter’s role for the playoffs.

Hiller’s career numbers are great – .916 save percentage, 2.51 GAA, 21 shutouts – so his career isn’t downhill from here.

I can see Hiller fitting in nicely in Winnipeg with Pavelec backing him up. The Capitals also could do something similar to what they did with Halak and Holtby down the stretch – a strong tandem of sorts.

I expect to see Hiller sign somewhere before Miller, so it will be interesting to see where those two end up.