Laurent Brossoit landing spots: Top 3 NHL teams who may trade for $3.3M AAV Blackhawks goalie ft. San Jose Sharks

The Chicago Blackhawks could be getting netminder Laurent Brossoit back into game shape. As insider Elliotte Friedman noted in the November 29 edition of the Saturday Headlines, Brossoit could be headed for a conditioning stint. If so, the 32-year-old could be ready to return to the NHL.

Brossoit hasn’t played since the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs. He sustained a lower-body injury during the second round of the 2024 playoffs while playing with the Winnipeg Jets. The Blackhawks, meanwhile, signed Laurent Brossoit to a two-year, $6.6 million deal in the 2024 offseason, but he has yet to play.

With Spencer Knight the main goalie in the Blackhawks’ crease, and Arvid Soberblom the backup, the sense is that the Blackhawks could be dealing with the veteran to a team that is starving for a goalie.

As Friedman noted:

“The Blackhawks have given teams permission to talk to him, so you can understand what his situation is, what the exact surgery was, what the process is back. And the Blackhawks don't really have room for him.”

Friedman went on to add:

“Now, he's carrying a 3.3 million cap hit. Not everybody can take that. So there might be some work that needs to be done here, but he will be watched very closely and the Blackhawks have allowed people to talk to him.”

With that in mind, here’s a look at three potential landing spots for Laurent Brossoit, as the Chicago Blackhawks look to move the veteran goalie.

3 Laurent Brossoit landing spots this season

#3 Vancouver Canucks

The injury to Thatcher Demko was a huge hit to the Vancouver Canucks’ season. While Demko is believed to have a minor injury, there’s no telling if and when he’ll be back this season. Meanwhile, Kevin Lankinen needs a backup who can support him in the meantime.

The Canucks rolled with Nikita Tolopilo a few nights ago in a heroic effort against the Anaheim Ducks. But Vancouver will need more than just Tolopilo and Jiri Patera to support Lankinen. If the club moves Demko’s cap hit to LTIR, fitting Brossoit under the cap could make sense.

Moreover, Brossoit is an impending UFA. So, the club could find a low-risk option in Brossoit this season.

#2 Edmonton Oilers

The Edmonton Oilers are the team most-linked to a goalie, well, any goalie. Saturday’s shutout by Stuart Skinner has gone a long way towards calming the chatter surrounding the goaltending situation.

The Oilers could use Brossoit, given their current situation. However, the club is not higher on this list as Brossoit’s $3.3 million cap hit is too much for the cap-strapped Oilers. Perhaps moving out Skinner’s $2.6 million cap hit could make things work.

Given the cap gymnastics the Oilers would have to pull, the possibility of a Blackhawks-Oilers trade involving Brossoit is lower than most may believe.

#1 San Jose Sharks

The San Jose Sharks are a team potentially looking to move numerous veteran contracts this season. While the club has made a solid step forward this season, it’s unlikely GM Mike Grier feels this team is playoff-bound.

So, the Sharks could move one or two contracts out in exchange for Laurent Brossoit. The Sharks could use a reliable goalie behind rising star Yaroslav Askarov. Alex Nedeljkovic has been good enough. Perhaps the Sharks move Nedeljkovic to another club looking for a goalie, while Brossoit takes over for the remainder of the season.

San Jose loses nothing by adding Laurent Brossoit, as he’ll be a free agent next summer. If Brossoit can stick with the Sharks, he could sign a deal moving forward.