#10. Braden Holtby
Current Status: Unrestricted Free Agent
If you’re going to sign Holtby, you may as well sign Andersen because both goaltenders are very similar statistically. The only difference with Holtby is his resume.
From 2014-2017, Holtby was one of the best goaltenders on the planet. Averaging a 0.923 save percentage (Sv %) and 2.16 goals against average (GAA) for those three seasons, Holtby won the Vezina Trophy during the 2015-16 NHL season.
Besides that stretch of hockey, Holtby has been nothing but average. Even when he helped the Washington Capitals win a Stanley Cup in 2018, he was good, but he wasn’t Jonathan Quick in the playoffs-good. The Capitals were a solid hockey team but it was Barry Trotz’ defensive system that guided Washington to the Stanley Cup.
Hotlby only needed to be solid during that playoff-run for the team to be successful and that’s exactly what he did. He was extremely steady, but based off that system, there are a handful of other goalies (including Andersen) that could have guided the Capitals to a Stanley Cup.
For the price you’ll have to pay Holtby, you might as well keep Andersen.