Maple Leafs Miss Out on Golden Opportunity to Add Goaltender Without Giving Up Anything

With goaltender Matt Murray taking full blame for a 5-2 loss to the Washington Capitals, it seems as though Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving missed out on an opportunity to add some insurance in net.

The absence of Anthony Stolarz, who hasn't played since Dec. 10 has increased the workload of Joseph Woll and Matt Murray.

Now, the Leafs' hot goaltending has cooled off significantly, and are a combined 5-4 since Stolarz underwent his surgical procedure.

That's why passing on the opportunity to pick up goaltender Cayden Primeau, who was placed on waivers by the Montreal Canadiens, is a bit of a head-scratcher.

Primeau, who has played 55 games in the NHL, officially cleared waivers on Sunday and has been sent to the Laval Rocket of the AHL.

The chances of Primeau coming in and being a savior in net for the Maple Leafs while Stolarz continues to recuperate were definitely low. The 25-year-old certainly showed potential at points with the Canadiens, but was unable to be solid enough to cement a spot behind Samuel Montembeault.

However, considering that Murray is exempt from waivers for at least another 8 games and could have been sent to the AHL with zero risk of the Maple Leafs and Treliving losing anything, why not take the chance?

Habs head coach Martin St. Louis told reporters that the idea behind sending Primeau to the AHL was to give him a chance to build himself back up.

Toronto could have given him a similar opportunity in the NHL before deciding whether to send him down, or place him back on the waiver wire.