The Leafs have a lot of boxes that need checking, but which will be priority number one?
With the NHL playoffs officially done, the attention of hockey fans now turns to offseason trades, rumours, the draft and free agency and Maple Leafs fans are no exception. Kyle Dubas is under pressure to improve the team this summer as fans recover from another first-round disappointment. Whether from depth player movement or some bigger trades, Dubas is guaranteed to make changes. But what will his priority be?
The Leafs were the league's 4th best team in the regular season, but with a decent amount of roster turnover coming, Dubas and company have to assess what their top priority is. Is it finding a capable top 6 winger for John Tavares and William Nylander? Is it dealing with the log jam on the left side of the blueline? Both issues will need to be addressed, but I think everyone knows that the priority in this case will be to sort out the situation between the pipes.
Goaltending is a huge concern among Leafs fans currently, as in just a matter of weeks, Jack Campbell will be a UFA, potentially leaving Toronto without a starting goaltender. With free agency looking like a strong option for Campbell, Toronto may struggle to match the asking price he desires. However, it may be a focus of Dubas to sign Campbell somehow, especially as trading Petr Mrázek will also pose a challenge which must be overcome. Jack might be interested in free agency, but he loves being a Leaf, so a deal is certainly still a strong possibility.
Many Leafs fans are looking externally for Toronto's next starting goalie, with John Gibson and Ville Husso being just a couple of names circling the rumour mill currently. However, Kyle Dubas may decide re-signing Soup is the best option. Most goalies on the market right now have a high price tag, as does Jack. Since Campbell loves playing for the Leafs, and despite his injury issues and some bumps along the road, he has secured many a victory for Toronto this season. Often, great goalies are grown rather than bought, meaning giving Soup the opportunity to develop on the Leafs might be Dubas' best bet. As long as it's at a good price for both sides, Campbell would be a good option for the Leafs goaltending next season.
The solution is a tricky one, but if there's one thing Kyle Dubas is an expert at, it's solving problems. There's a lot to do this offseason, but goaltending is at top of the priority list.
