Maple Leafs, Canucks Both Showed Interest In Bringing In Antti Raanta

It appears as though veteran goaltender Antti Raanta won't be playing in the NHL this season despite interest from multiple teams. He had a rough go in Carolina last season from putting up bad numbers in the NHL to being sent down to the AHL.

In whatever role he's been in, Raanta has been a very good goalie in the NHL for the last decade with the Chicago Blackhawks, New York Rangers, Arizona Coyotes, and Carolina Hurricanes. He has a record of 139-80-29 with a 2.48 GAA, .915 SV%, and 20 shutouts. Last season he put up a 2.99 GAA and .872 SV% while having as many really bad starts (SV% of .85 or worse) as quality starts with just eight.

Raanta also only had a .873 SV% in the AHL for the Chicago Wolves in eight games. What set him apart from the other Hurricanes' goalies is that the team was very good and his numbers weren't compared to Pyotr Kochetkov, Frederik Andersen, and Spencer Martin.

Despite all of that, the Toronto Maple Leafs reportedly had interest in him and the Vancouver Canucks reached out to him to offer the veteran a PTO since the goaltending situation in Vancouver isn't good right now. Both of those teams and any other that may have reached out would have used him as insurance in net and not as one of the top two options.

What Raanta was looking for this season didn't come in the NHL, but the 35-year-old isn't likely done with hockey just yet. He is looking to continue playing in Switzerland, Germany, or Czechia and it would be a lot easier to play in a role he wants in any of those leagues. With this decision, his playing days in the NHL or AHL are complete.