Goalie trouble in Toronto: Here are some available netminders that may be able to help
Goaltending has quickly gone from a strength to a weakness for the Leafs and it now goes beyond the Leafs having bad defense. Jack Campbell has fallen off immensely from the All-Star year he was having, while Petr Mrazek has been inconsistent at best this season. If the Leafs are going to make any noise in the playoffs, they may need to make a change between the pipes. These are some potential options if they were to do so.
1 - MARC-ANDRE FLEURY (CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS)
Marc-Andre Fleury is the best goalie on the trade market as of February 27th. The reigning Vezina Trophy winner is having a good season with a weak Blackhawks team. In 38 games he has a .912 save percentage and for a while he was keeping the Blackhawks in the playoff hunt. He has experience playing in tandems and has a highly decorated resume that includes three Stanley Cups.
The Leafs have already shown interest in Blackhawks - Brandon Hagel and Calvin de Haan. Perhaps Fleury could be a part of a blockbuster deal that sends him to Toronto.
2 - SEMYON VARLAMOV (NEW YORK ISLANDERS)
Kyle Dubas and Lou Lamoriello are no strangers to each other. The two worked together in Toronto but have since gone separate ways. Varlamov has two seasons left on his contract making 5 million dollars. It's clear that Ilya Sorokin is the goalie of the future on Long Island and Varlamov has found himself on the outside looking in. Varlamov has gone to back-to-back conference finals' with the Islanders and could maybe be the goalie that finally gets the Leafs past the first round. His cap hit is fairly reasonable and affordable and with a .914 save percentage this season, Varlamov could be the answer in net for the Leafs.
3 - JAMES REIMER (SAN JOSE SHARKS)
A familiar face to Leaf Nation, James Reimer is having an excellent season for the Sharks. Adin Hill is the goalie of the future in San Jose but this year, he and Reimer have been playing as a tandem. Hill has struggled this season but the Sharks are a rebuilding team. Perhaps if they want to recoup some assets they could sell high on Reimer - who has another year after this one making 2.25 million dollars through next season at the deadline.
In 32 games this season, Reimer has a .918 save percentage and like Fleury has helped keep a weaker team competitive. A reunion between the Leafs and Reimer would not only please a lot of Leaf Nation but it would make the Leafs a better team between the pipes.
4 - BRADEN HOLTBY (DALLAS STARS)
Another goalie with a Stanley Cup under his belt, Braden Holtby has revived his career after being bought out by the Canucks last season. He may not be the goalie that he was in Washington but he has a respectable .912 save percentage in 23 games this season. Jake Oettinger is the starter in Dallas and will be for many years to come. The club has had Anton Khudobin playing in the AHL for much of the season and could call him up to take over in Holtby's absence. The Stars are two points back of the second wildcard spot in the Western Conference. If they fall out of the playoffs - don't be surprised if the Stars try and move the pending unrestricted free agent and the Leafs would definitely be a fit.
5 - MATT MURRAY (OTTAWA SENATORS)
There's nothing Kyle Dubas loves doing more than trading for a former Soo Greyhound. It's been an up and down season for Matt Murray. He had an awful start to the season that lead to him being sent to the AHL but since being recalled, Murray has bumped his save percentage up to a .920 despite playing for the Sens.
Murray has a contract and track record in recent years that makes it hard to move him but he's still young for a goalie and at 27-years-old his career is turning around in the right direction. He makes $6.25 million against the cap until 2024 but the actual money owed to him is 7 and 8 million dollars each over the next two years. Perhaps Melnyk won't want to pay more money than the cap hit and he considers moving Murray.
He's still relatively young and backstopped the Penguins to back-to-back Stanley Cups as a rookie. If Ottawa is willing to retain salary, there could be a fit in Toronto for Matt Murray.
The Leafs' goaltending situation is dire at the moment. Even if they acquire a veteran goalie to help turn things around and form an improved tandem, they still need one of their own goalies to snap out of it for the playoffs and if Campbell or Mrazek don't provide the Leafs with such, it might be another early exit for the Buds.
