Goaltending though... Is there anything really coming through the pipeline? Or is it just hoping one of Bernier or Varly can step up?
Varly is capable of being an elite tendy. See: 2013/14 Avs, where we won the central division literally on the back of that man and basically nobody else(The kids were good but Varly stole that show, looking back it was absolute robbery by Rask to win that Vezina).
Injuries are the concern with him and will be for the rest of his career. When he's healthy he's a very, very good goalie. Inside the Top 10 across the league. Problem is he doesn't stay healthy long. Maybe a month or two but the nagging groin injuries start to creep in after a dozen starts or so.
Bernier is Bernier. He'll go on a crazy streak and flat out steel 5 or 6 games in a row, and then he'll go lay stinkers in his next 5 or 6. A decent backup and when he's on he can play like a starter and lighten the load of the starter for a few weeks substantially. But he's not a legit #1. The Avs pushed the Preds to 6 games with Bernier and Hammond starting. A healthy Varlamov and the Avs did enough to win that series on the ice, but that's besides the point.
We do have a wild card up our sleeve in the form of Francouz. Literally have no idea what to expect from him. He's put up some absurd numbers in the KHL(2 straight seasons as the #1 goalie in the league and carried a very average team deep into the playoffs this year), but has never played in North America and is a rare Right handed Goalie. He could turn out to be excellent next year and be our future #1. He could also struggle massively and be back in the KHL by December.
Behind those 3 we dont have much right now. But we will have Varly's contract up for renewal in summer of 2019 or we'll have his $6M to put towards signing a legit starting goalie or trading for one.
