Editor In Leaf
Fansided

Toronto Maple Leafs: Re-Examining The Backup Goalie Situation

By Andrew Boehmer

Feb 7, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Ben Smith (18) celebrates their victory with goalie Curtis McElhinney (35) against the Dallas Stars at Air Canada Centre. The Maple Leafs beat the Stars 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 7, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Ben Smith (18) celebrates their victory with goalie Curtis McElhinney (35) against the Dallas Stars at Air Canada Centre. The Maple Leafs beat the Stars 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

When the Toronto Maple Leafs acquired Frederik Andersen in a trade that saw the Leafs send a 1st round pick (30th overall via Pittsburgh Penguins) in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, and a 2nd round pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft the other way, they were hoping they found their starting goalie.

He was immediately signed to a 5-year contract extension and most were certain that the Toronto Maple Leafs made the right move. This was something the team arguably hadn’t had since Ed Belfour’s departure from the club at the end of the 2005-06 season.

With a somewhat turbulent start to his tenure with the Leafs, some questioned the acquisition of the Danish netminder, but after Andersen settled in, everyone knew he was the guy for the job.

The real question coming into the season wasn’t if Andersen would prevail as the starting goalie, but rather, who would be his backup? Let’s explore the Leafs backup goaltending situation this season.

Jhonas Enroth

Enroth signed as a free agent to a one-year contract with the Leafs, initially answering the question as to who would back up Andersen. If only this were a cinderella story for him, and we all know that it’s not.

He didn’t come close to the simplest of expectations laid out in front of him, which were to merely give Andersen some relief on some nights and hopefully grab a point or two in the process. He went winless in his six appearances while dawning the blue and white, only starting in goal four of those games.

As Andersen began to gain traction and really show Leafs management that he was capable of being the elite goalie they so desperately needed, Enroth was waived and ultimately sent down to the Toronto Marlies of the AHL.

He would see three games with the Leafs AHL affiliate, only starting in one of those games. He was eventually traded to the Anaheim Ducks, where Jonathan Bernier was also traded, for a 7th round pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, thus ending his time in Toronto.

Antoine Bibeau

Dec 29, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Antoine Bibeau (30) makes a save against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the second period at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
(Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports) /

Bibeau is one of the Leafs more prominent goaltending prospects, with the capability of being an NHL goaltender. He has the pieces, it’s just a matter of putting them together. He has seen time outside of the Marlies this season, speaking of his two-game tenure with the Leafs. Obviously, Bibeau wasn’t the solution to the Leafs backup goaltending woes but he was there when they needed him.

In his two-game stint with the Leafs backing up Andersen, Bibeau won one and lost one, posting 1.99 goals against average and a save percentage of .927, far better than that of his counterpart, Jhonas Enroth. Like I said, he wasn’t the long-term solution as management firmly believes in the rebuilding process, which allows players such as Bibeau to develop.

Curtis McElhinney

Feb 15, 2017; Columbus, OH, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Curtis McElhinney (35) reaches for the puck against the Columbus Blue Jackets in the second period at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
(Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports) /

McElhinney was waived by the Columbus Blue Jackets on January 9, 2017, after a rough go with the club. He was picked up by the Leafs the following day with the hope that he would be a decent backup for Andersen for the remainder of the season, and so far, he has been.

McElhinney has played in six games for the Leafs, winning three and losing three. His goals against average is 2.08 and his save percentage is .938, which is gladly received as much needed relief for Andersen. McElhinney is coming off a 4-0 shutout performance against the Carolina Hurricanes this past Sunday.

It’s hard to guess if he is the solution the Leafs need in terms of a backup goaltending in the future. He is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, meaning that the Leafs could sign him or he would enter the free agency market. My guess is that McElhinney might like to stay in Toronto with the way the team is trending, but the Leafs might want a more long-term solution.

Long-Term

It’s an interesting time for any team to be looking to fill a hole on their roster for multiple reasons. The first that comes to mind is the looming NHL Trade Deadline and second is that the Vegas Golden Knights will be joining the league at the beginning of the 2017-18 season. It’s always quite fickle around the NHL Trade Deadline and when you add a new team to the mix, it’s anybody’s guess what will happen, speaking specifically of the Expansion Draft.

The Leafs would be wise to play the waiting game in regards to their backup goalie situation. Maybe someone will be available in the offseason that could be the answer they’re looking for. Who knows, maybe McElhinney will prove he’s worth a contract extension.

Home/Analysis