5 former backups who became stars on new teams
The Carolina Hurricanes believe they've found their new starter in Scott Darling, agreeing to a four-year pact with the former Chicago Blackhawks backup.
It's not the first time a team has made a backup their go-to goaltender. In fact, several teams currently have a No. 1 who used to hold down secondary duties with another club. Here are five former backups who are embracing starting roles on new teams:
Robin Lehner
The Buffalo Sabres netminder blazed his trail with the Ottawa Senators before arriving in Western New York in 2015.
With the Senators, Lehner played second fiddle to Craig Anderson, but he's held down the top job since coming to Buffalo, appearing in 59 games this season and posting a .920 save percentage. Only four netminders who saw as many contests owned a better save rate.
Cam Talbot
Talbot's career started on Broadway before he took his show to Northern Alberta following a trade to the Edmonton Oilers in 2015. He played two seasons with the New York Rangers, where an injury to starter Henrik Lundqvist put the spotlight on him for 36 games in 2014-15.
He appeared in 73 games with the Oilers this season, posting a league-high 42 wins. That performance helped push Edmonton into the playoff picture for the first time since 2006.
Thomas Greiss
After backup stints in San Jose, Arizona, and Pittsburgh, Greiss has taken hold of the starter's job in Brooklyn.
Drafted by the Sharks in 2004, he spent his developmental years with the Bay Area club under the tutelage of Evgeni Nabokov. Now in New York, he's taken hold of the No. 1 role ahead of Jaroslav Halak, appearing in 51 games with the New York Islanders this season and posting a 26-18-5 record.
Martin Jones
Jones showed starter potential with the Los Angeles Kings, recording seven shutouts in 34 games, but his time in the crease was infrequent behind starter and former Conn Smythe winner Jonathan Quick.
The Kings gave Jones his own opportunity in 2015, dealing him to the Boston Bruins before he was quickly flipped to the Sharks. In San Jose, he has played 65 games in each of his two seasons, leading the Sharks to their first Stanley Cup Finals appearance in 2016.
Mike Smith
Drafted by the Dallas Stars, Smith played behind go-to netminder Marty Turco, to whom he credits his strong puck-handling skills. After his short time in Texas, he moved on to Tampa Bay, this time as the backup to veteran netminder Dwayne Roloson.
Four years later, the Arizona Coyotes rolled the dice on Smith after walking away from Ilya Bryzgalov. He delivered the franchise's first playoff series win in 25 years and led the club to the Western Conference Final - all in his first season in the desert.
(Photos courtesy: Action Images)