Scout says the Leafs will shore up the organization's goaltending department and trade for a goalie with term
The Leafs have a lot of questions that need answers this summer after another first round exit. The biggest question is probably what will the team do to address their situation in goal? One option is to re-up Jack Campbell. Another option is to sign someone else during free agency. However, there is a third option, which is to trade for a new starting goaltender. This is the route that one scout believes the Leafs will take.
Per Sammy Tirpak of Dobber Prospects, the plan could be for the Leafs to first focus on addressing their holes in the front office, bringing in a new goalie coach and shoring up the goaltending department before pursuing a proven starter who has some term remaining on the trade market.
This option is an intriguing one and it's also one that could allow the Leafs to remain flexible on the team's interim and long-term plans. In many cases, most of the league's elite goalies are those who have been drafted and developed. While there are certainly examples of goalies being acquired via trade and going on to have stellar careers (Tuukka Rask, anyone?), there are many more examples of the draft and develop model paying dividends, so I'd imagine that that's the long-term goal. The Leafs have a number of intriguing goalie prospects already in the system, such as college free agent Dryden McKay and former 2017 3rd round pick (DET) Keith Petruzzelli. Perhaps the goal will be to develop one or both of these netminders into the next number one in Toronto. At 24 and 23 years old, respectively, it's certainly possible.
That said, if the Leafs' new goaltending department is involved in the process of acquiring a legitimate starting goaltender with term, they could re-write the book on how teams look at building their club. For the longest time, the idea was that building from the net out is the best model for success. If the Leafs can find success building from the front back, it could definitely lead to some teams re-thinking their strategies - especially since, as they say, "goalies are voodoo".
Just a shot in the dark here, but I think that with the Flyers embarking on a rebuild and GM Chuck Fletcher not naming Carter Hart as one of the team's untouchables, he could be a dark horse for the Buds in a trade. I can't see that happening without the Leafs including one of their top young goalie prospects AND one of their top defensive prospects, plus at least 1 first round pick and another prospect - but, if they can make it happen, Hart is a young goaltender with plenty of upside and some cost certainty who could be an absolute game-changer who is just in need of a change of scenery. He's a long shot, but that's who I'd like to see this team go after.
| POLL | ||
JUIN 17 | 820 ANSWERS Scout says the Leafs will shore up the organization's goaltending department and trade for a goalie with term Could the Leafs look at a young goaltender like Carter Hart as a possible solution? (The cost would be enormous) | ||
| I think Hart is the perfect choice | 253 | 30.9 % |
| There are better options than Hart | 252 | 30.7 % |
| Philly will never trade him | 184 | 22.4 % |
| The Leafs are re-signing Campbell | 131 | 16 % |
| List of polls | ||
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