Some of the potential options available to the Leafs in goal in 2022-23
The Toronto Maple Leafs entered the 2021-22 season with a lot of questions in goal. After all, Jack Campbell had never been a true number one prior to this season and the 1B that the Leafs brought in last summer in Petr Mrazek was an oft-injured tandem goalie.
Both Campbell and Mrazek struggled through significant injuries this season, but thankfully the Leafs were able to put together a strong campaign, going 54-21-7, setting franchise records for both wins and points (115), and they did it while receiving below average goaltending.
Now, with Campbell due a new deal and Mrazek seemingly on the outs, the Leafs have limited options available to them. Those options are; find a new starter, upgrade their tandem or replace both Campbell and Mrazek altogether. Here are some starter, tandem and stopgap options.
Trade for a starting goaltender:
With the options limited in the free agent market, the Leafs are likely going to have to trade for what they need. Enter John Gibson. This past week, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman revealed on the 32 Thoughts podcast that the stars could finally be aligning for a Gibson to Toronto deal, though the cost would be significant.
Another option could be Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Carter Hart. After a disastrous season, Hart could be on the move, and if he does indeed hit the trade market, Leafs GM Kyle Dubas should be putting in a call to Flyers GM Chuck Fletcher. As you'll recall, Fletcher listed his "untouchables" earlier this year, and Hart was not one of them.
Upgrade the current tandem:
Whether the Leafs decide to re-sign Jack Campbell or not, they'll need a better tandem next season. While Campbell wasn't to blame for the first round loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, he certainly didn't do himself or his team any favours with his play during the regular season. The Leafs are certainly not going to roll with Mrazek as their #1, but maybe he still makes sense as a number two with the right tandem partner.
Braden Holtby is solid tandem option that should be relatively inexpensive. He has plenty of playoff experience and a Stanley Cup ring to show for his efforts. He may not be a true number one anymore, but he's still a capable tandem goalie that might work will Jack Campbell, but that would hinge on moving out Mrazek's $3.8M deal for two more years.
As for an option to pair with Mrazek, should the Leafs decide to go that route, I'd imagine someone like Marc-Andre Fleury would make the most sense, as he is still capable of shouldering a larger workload. Whether or not he'd want to sign in Toronto is another story entirely. Darcy Kuemper could also be an option for the Leafs, but if he wins a Stanley Cup with the Avs, or makes the Finals, I'd imagine they'll almost certainly bring him back
Stopgap option:
If the Leafs are looking for a stopgap to buy themselves some time to figure out a more permanent solution, they could pass the reigns over to Erik Kallgren. The 25-year-old looked solid early on in his rookie season, but was less than stellar down the stretch. That said, with an improved focus on defensive play, Kallgren should be able to get the job done for a few weeks until the Leafs can come up with something better. This is not the most desirable option among the bunch, but it may be the best one available. As an alternative, the Leafs could offer Mikko Koskinen a 1-year "prove it" deal to get his career back on track.
| POLL | ||
MAI 25 | 303 ANSWERS Some of the potential options available to the Leafs in goal in 2022-23 What situation should Toronto do for their goaltending position next season? | ||
| New starter | 110 | 36.3 % |
| Upgrade the tandem | 122 | 40.3 % |
| Give the net to Kallgren | 41 | 13.5 % |
| Other | 30 | 9.9 % |
| List of polls | ||
