His QO was under 1 mil though. They may have worried about him getting more in arbitration than they wanted to pay, but it's a completely different situation with Georgiev. We can't afford him at his QO number and other teams know that.
Playing the waiting game with Nedeljkovic wouldn't have gotten other teams anywhere. Carolina owned his rights and if he went to arbitration, he wasn't going to get enough that Carolina could walk away. The only way for other teams to obtain him was via trade. Teams can just wait until we don't QO Georgiev and then sign him for free.
Nedeljkovic was also coming off a season in which he put up very good numbers. Georgiev, not so much.
Adin Hill brought back a 2nd last year. Hill is a decent goalie. Hill or Georgiev.
SJ has Reimer signed for next season. They have Hill and Reimer signed. SJ also has Kakko Kahkonen who is arbitration eligible. If SJ was sold on Hill, they wouldn't have added Kahkonen at the trading deadline for Jacob Middleton.
There are so many goalies available this summer. The Caps want to add a veteran goalie which makes Samsonov or Vanecek available. Both of them are arbitration eligible.
Fleury wants to play next season. Does Minnesota keep him? Talbot is signed for one more season. Trade Talbot.
Do the Avs keep Kuemper? The Blues have Binnington signed long term and he is playing much better. Husso is a free agent. They can't afford both and Binnington has a big contract. Do the Ducks keep Gibson or trade him?
There are so many free agent goaltenders. They are much older than Georgiev.
If there a team which likes Georgiev and wants to sign him to a contract, he should listen to their offer and that team makes a trade with the Rangers. Easier said than done.
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