Insider says the Leafs could be preparing to swap Campbell's rights for a young Eastern Conference goaltender
Leafs. Goalies. We all know that that's the primary focus this summer. Thankfully, there's only two weeks remaining until free agency opens up, so we'll soon have our answer. But, could we see a scenario in which the Leafs move Jack Campbell's negotiating rights much sooner? DFO's Frank Seravalli says we could.
Per Seravalli, the Leafs could find themselves in a unique position where they're able to work with a team who is looking to move out their current goaltender for Campbell's rights, though I'd imagine that only makes sense if Campbell was amenable to signing an extension with his new team.
In terms of who they may end up at the bargaining table with, the New Jersey Devils are rumoured to be a team with an enormous amount of interest in Campbell. They've also reportedly soured on current numero uno MacKenzie Blackwood. Seravalli believes the Leafs could do a deal with the Devils centered around Campbell's rights for Blackwood, who is slated to earn $2.8M next season. Blackwood will be heading into 2022-23 as a pending RFA with arbitration rights next summer.
«Do they work out some kind of trade where it could be the rights to Jack Campbell in exchange for Mackenzie Blackwood, I could see that happening»
There could be and likely would be other pieces involved in that deal, should it occur, but what those pieces are would be anyone's guess. Could the goalie swap be a part of a much bigger trade between two Eastern Conference rivals? That remains to be seen, but with just one week until Kyle Dubas and Tom Fitzgerald share the same draft floor, perhaps we could see something go down as soon as the draft.
