just so we are clear. Grubauer can not go looking for a starters job. The Capitals hold his rights for years to come still. No NHL team may talk to the agent about him without the Capitals expressed permission until he is an rfa at which time the Caps may match.
I know.
I'm just stating that if he goes on a tear on the games he gets, there will be teams calling for his services, that think he can be a starter in this league. I'm pretty sure if that happens then Grubauer will see that for himself too, and might request a trade. That's what great backups have always done, you don't get paid much, no matter how well you play if you only get 10-15 games in a season. Do that with another team for 40-50 games and you get paid 3 times more. It's still too early this season for these talks and while Grubauer has been good, i'm not sure he has enough games in his resume that teams start paying the premium to get him as their starter.
I'm not worried, at all though. Caps are propably the deepest team in the NHL in terms of goaltending talent, and when (and if) that day comes knocking, i'm sure GMBM will get a good return for him, and have capable replacement lined up.