This article profiles the NHL unrestricted free agent goaltenders for the summer of 2008, and is the final of five installments. Prior installments profiled the centers, left wings, right wings, and defensemen.

Rankings were not constructed based on skill level and production alone. There were a number of factors which played into these rankings. Skill level, ability, production, age, upside, prior and projected salary, as well as speculation on where each player’s career might go in the next couple of years, were all contributing factors.

Projected salaries are not based on how much money the player will be making next season, necessarily, but rather the cap hit throughout the length of the contract. All ages for the players ranked are based on how old they will be when the unrestricted free agency signing period begins on July 1st, 2008.

Goaltender
Overall grade - D

To be perfectly honest, this is just a very weak group of free agent goaltenders. There are no elite level goaltenders available, only two proven quality starters, another who may or may not be that guy, and then a collection of backups. Like with most years, the unrestricted free agent market will not be the best way for teams looking upgrade between the pipes, to do so.

1. Cristobal Huet, Washington Capitals
32-years-old

Huet is not a spectacular goalie, but he is a very solid starting goalie in this league. He played very well for the Washington Capitals down the stretch and in the playoffs. The Caps would be very wise in not letting him get away as they continue to build around Alex Ovechkin and company.

Prior Salary - $2.75 million
Projected Salary – $4.0 million
Projected Team – Washington Capitals

2. Jose Theodore, Colorado Avalanche
31-years-old

Theodore’s up and down career continued this past season, as he put together his best campaign in quite some time. Buyers beware though, any team willing to invest big money and years in Theodore will have to wonder which Jose they are getting.

Prior Salary - $6.0 million
Projected Salary – $3.5 million
Projected Team – Colorado Avalanche

3. Dan Ellis, Nashville Predators
28-years-old

Ellis came out of nowhere this season and was very good, supplanting Chris Mason as the Preds’ number one goalie. In a very weak goalie market, Ellis, despite still being a bit of a relative unknown, will be sure to draw some legitimate interest on the open market this summer.

Prior Salary - $500,000
Projected Salary – $3.0 million
Projected Team – Ottawa Senators

4. Olaf Kolzig, Washington Capitals
38-years-old

“Godzilla” isn’t the goalie he once was, and time is running out at 38 years old. However, I still feel Kolzig can be an effective starting goalie in this league. At the very least, he would provide a team with a great split starter or backup, and potentially provide mentoring for a younger goalie. In a league so deprived of talent between the pipes from top to bottom, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if someone signs Kolzig to be their starter.

Prior Salary - $5.5 million
Projected Salary – $2.0 million
Projected Team – Atlanta Thrashers

5. Alexander Auld, Boston Bruins
27-years-old

Auld's career has been a roller coaster ride over the last few years. First he burst onto the seen (almost out of nowhere) and took over as the starting goaltender for the Vancouver Canucks. The following summer he was traded to the Florida Panthers in one of the most lopsided trades in league history, which ended up putting Roberto Luongo in western Canada. Expectations were high, and the results weren't very good for Auld as a Panther. Since then he spent time with both Phoenix and Boston last season, and very much under the radar, begin to regain his form of a few years ago in a backup role. With a market so weak at his position, Auld should definitely get a nice look league wide this summer, and quite possibly get an opportunity to be a starter once again.

Prior Salary - $600,000
Projected Salary – $1.5 million
Projected Team - Nashville Predators

The Best of the Rest

6. Patrick Lalime, Chicago Blackhawks
33-years-old

7. Ty Conklin, Pittsburgh Penguins
32-years-old

8. Johan Holmqvist, Dallas Stars
30-years-old

9. Brian Boucher, San Jose Sharks
31-years-old

10. Wade Dubielewicz, New York Islanders
29-years-old