NHL Free Agent Rumors: 5 Teams with No Idea Who Their Goalie Will Be in 2012-13

With a number of talented goalies on the free-agent market this summer as either UFAs or RFAs, several NHL teams don't know who their goalie will be for next season.

The decision on who to start next season will come down to many things, two of them being can teams re-sign their own goalies who are free agents, and can they sign other team's goalies who will hit the market.

Let's look at five teams who don't know who their goalie is for next year.

Boston Bruins

The Boston Bruins have two guys for the starting job next season, but either one could win it. Tim Thomas will be an attractive trade chip this summer because he's entering the final year of his contract and has a salary of just $3 million.

If the team keeps him, he will battle it out for the starting job against the young Tuukka Rask. Rask is a restricted free agent and the future of the Bruins between the pipes.

Rask said multiple times this season that he likes playing in Boston, telling WEEI.com last month:

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“I think there’s a clear plan,” Rask said. “I think everybody’s been talking about it for a long time. It’s not about the money, it’s more about what’s good for everybody. I’ve always said I like it here, and I think we have a great group of guys and the organization is great, so I don’t see why anyone wouldn’t want to be here. In my case, I love it here and we’ve just got to make things work.”

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Either Rask or Thomas would be a tremendous starter for the Bruins next season, and either one could win the job.

Toronto Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs must bring in a quality starting goaltender next season or their playoff drought will extend another year.

There's the possibility Vancouver Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo could be traded to the Leafs since Cory Schneider appears to be taking over in Vancouver as the No. 1 goaltender.

Luongo said he would waive his no-movement clause if the team wanted to deal him, and it's been reported by TSN that Toronto is a team he would accept a deal to.

Luongo would be a huge upgrade over James Reimer and Jonas Gustavsson, who the Leafs used this season. Gustavsson is an unrestricted free agent, and would be a capable backup on most teams.

Leafs general manager Brian Burke will likely look to improve his goaltending in a major way this offseason, but no one really knows what the end product will be since there are so many possibilities.

Columbus Blue Jackets

The team with the most need at the goaltending position might be the Columbus Blue Jackets, which is a franchise that has rarely had good goaltending throughout its brief time as an NHL team.

Unrestricted free agents like Tomas Vokoun could be enticing for the Blue Jackets, but it's more likely the franchise looks for a young player the team can build around.

Jonathan Bernier of the Los Angeles Kings is one player who would be a nice fit with the Blue Jackets. The Kings will have to sign him and starter Jonathan Quick to new contracts very soon, and if there's one goalie that L.A. will give the big money to, it's certainly Quick.

The Blue Jackets have no idea who their goalie will be next season, but if they want to win, will need to bring in a player from outside the organization either through trade or free agency.

Tampa Bay Lightning

Veteran goaltender Dwayne Roloson had an awful season for the Tampa Bay Lightning, and in the end, their poor goaltending as a team prevented them from making a playoff berth after they made the Eastern Conference finals last year.

Roloson is an unrestricted free agent and it's hard to see him coming back to Tampa.

GM Steve Yzerman has multiple first-round picks to use in trades or when trying to lure RFAs from other teams.

Sportsnet reported Roberto Luongo has put the Lightning on his wish list of teams he would accept a trade to. Given Luongo's massive contract, the Lightning would probably have to send a high-priced player, probably a forward, back to Vancouver.

The Lightning are one good goaltender away from being an elite team because of their offensive prowess and good young defensive corps.

Luongo would be a massive upgrade for them, but then again, nearly every goalie would be an upgrade over Roloson's play last season.

Florida Panthers

The Florida Panthers have three goaltenders who could see the ice next season: Jose Theodore, Scott Clemmensen and elite prospect Jacob Markstrom.

Markstrom has superstar potential, and after playing a few games at the NHL level this season, it's time to see what he can do as the starter.

The Panthers won't rush him into the job, though, especially when Theodore and Clemmensen led the team to a surprise playoff berth this year. Clemmensen is an unrestricted free agent this summer, and I cannot see him returning to south Florida.

Florida has three guys for the position, but probably won't know who's going to start for a while.

Honorable Mentions

Here are two other teams who might not have an idea who their goalie will be next season.

New Jersey Devils: Martin Brodeur is an unrestricted free agent this summer and just turned 40, but he's still playing at a high level and is currently three wins away from another Stanley Cup Final appearance.

If he retires, the Devils will have several players in the organization who could fight for the starting job.

Chicago Blackhawks: Without enough salary-cap space to sign a top-tier goalie, the only way the Blackhawks could make a significant upgrade in net would be through trade.

Patrick Kane and Patrick Sharp are two forwards with high trade value.