One likely domino from the Opilka situation is that we are potentially back in the market for another goalie prospect. He should have been splitting time with Fitzpatrick in Tulsa this year.
We did draft Hofer last year, and oh man is he ever getting lit up on a much-depleted Swift Current squad. He’s seeing somewhere around 40+ shots per game so far, which is between 10-20 more shots per game than the other goalies we have in our system. The fact that he’s hanging in around .900 sv% is pretty impressive all considering.
As soon as next season, either Binnington or Husso will probably be in the NHL full-time, and the other one will be in San Antonio with Fitzy. Hofer will likely age out in the WHL before going pro, and maybe an overage year as well.
So it’s possible that we sign a guy like Stephen Dhillon who, for those that don’t remember, split time with Fitzpatrick in Traverse City two years ago. He is ready to take ECHL minutes right now if nothing else, he’s a big guy (6’5”), and he’s been through a lot of tough minutes in Niagara.
The better news is that the 2019 draft’s goalie class looks to be stellar. If we don’t have a first rounder this year, we should be able to get a really good one in the 2nd or 3rd.