NHL insider reveals what the Maple Leafs' plan is for Martin Jones
With the regular season only days away from kicking off, NHL rosters need to be finalized in short order and the Toronto Maple Leafs have a decision on their hands in regards to their goaltending.
Ilya Samsonov is their starter to kick off the season. That, we know. Joseph Woll has earned himself a spot as the backup with his play last year, but they're still left with Martin Jones as the 3rd string goalie, who will need to clear waivers in order to be sent down to the Marlies. As a team that is cap strapped, the Leafs might not have any other option but to place him on waivers and hope he doesn't get claimed.
Darren Dreger visited TSN 1050's First Up on Friday morning and discussed, at length, what he thinks will likely happen with Jones:
"I think Marty Jones goes on waivers right before the start of the regular season and Toronto really doesn't have a choice, do they? Martin Jones has been a good story for the Maple Leafs as well and you can see the stability that he provides. I'm a firm believer that it's going to be Samsonov and Joe Woll, although yes, it's pre-season games, there's no reason to inject any sort of negativity or controversy, but Samsonov needs to be better than he was last night. He was just off.
The three goalie rotation is far from perfect but when you're a cap team like the Toronto Maple Leafs it's a luxury that you can't afford, so the question is, do we think that Martin Jones is going to get claimed off waivers? I'm reminded that Toronto picked him up, was it in August? So it's not like there was this enormous market for him, but he's a nice piece to have given his experience and what he can provide, I think it's unlikely that he clears waivers. He might - we're going to find out."
Dreger was then asked about a team like Tampa Bay and how they could be looking for goaltenders on the waiver wire with Andrei Vasilevskiy out long term. He was very clear in that the Leafs are not the only team in this position:
"Go around the National Hockey League and there's a number of teams that have that, same thing applies in Montreal. You got Allen, you got Montembeault - Cayden Primeau needs waivers - he's not clearing if they put him on waivers, so there's probably 7 or 8 scenarios where Tampa Bay could take a look or any other club that thinks that goalie on waivers can help them."
As Dreger mentioned, Montreal might have to go that route and a team like the Philadelphia Flyers will likely do the same with Felix Sandstrom, and there will be a few others that could be more appealing than Jones.
The Maple Leafs would like to hold onto the veteran for his experience, his stability, and in case of injury. It's a wait-and-see approach but with so many teams trying to get compliant before the season starts, there's a chance - albeit a small one - that Jones goes unclaimed, however as Dreger stated, it seems unlikely.
| POLL | ||
OCTOBRE 7 | 208 ANSWERS NHL insider reveals what the Maple Leafs' plan is for Martin Jones Will Jones be claimed off of waivers when he is finally waived? | ||
| No | 41 | 19.7 % |
| Yes | 167 | 80.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
