Two goaltenders hit the waiver wire; could possibly help the Maple Leafs if they are claimed
Another day passes and another day goes by where the Toronto Maple Leafs have yet to make a final decision on some of the roster cuts who will require waivers before being sent to the Marlies. The waiver wire has been a happening spot for the league this week, primarily yesterday at around 2:00 p.m. when more than 40 players landed on the waiver wire.
There are a few teams looking to add a goaltender - Tampa Bay Lightning being one of them - and Toronto's Martin Jones is a tantalizing piece for any team looking for a veteran, looking for stability, and in need of depth to start the season.
Chris Johnston tweeted out the recent waiver purge and it didn't include the Leafs' Martin Jones, Felix Sandstrom of the Philadelphia Flyers, or Cayden Primeau of the Montreal Canadiens, but did include Chris Driedger (Seattle Kraken) and Calvin Pickard (Edmonton Oilers).
Driedger spent parts of 2 seasons with the Florida Panthers where he compiled a 21-8-4 record with a .931 SV% and a 2.07 G.A.A. He was selected by the Seattle Kraken but stumbled out of the block with injuries and inconsistent play. He spent most of last year on the mend with a torn ACL but did appear in 14 games for the Coachella Valley Firebirds of the AHL. His stint with the Panthers was scintillating, he has provided great numbers in the AHL and ECHL, but has one year remaining with a cap hit of 3.5 million.
Maybe not as intriguing as Jones or Driedger, Pickard is a journeyman of sorts as he has spent time with the Colorado Avalanche, Toronto Maple Leafs, Philadelphia Flyers, Arizona Coyotes, and the Detroit Red Wings since 2014-15.
His NHL numbers leave a lot to be desired as he has compiled a 35-54-10 record, 3.03 G.A.A, and a .903 SV%. He is a far superior AHL netminder but did provide solid numbers for the Avalanche in 2014-15, 2015-16, and 2016-17. He was signed by the Oilers this summer on a two-year, two-way contract worth a measly 762,500$ and could be a solid option for any team looking for a very cheap veteran goaltender.
Jones carries a lot more cache than either goaltender but it will be interesting to see if either one gets scooped up. If they both clear waivers then it is very likely that teams are waiting on the Maple Leafs to make a decision on Jones. With injuries always being a possibility, it is almost imperative that the Leafs hold onto the veteran goaltender, some way, some how.
| POLL | ||
7 OCTOBRE | 127 ANSWERS Two goaltenders hit the waiver wire; could possibly help the Maple Leafs if they are claimed Will Dreidger get claimed off of waivers on Sunday? | ||
| Yes | 80 | 63 % |
| No | 47 | 37 % |
| List of polls | ||
