Mar 18, 2013; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo (1) during the second period against the Minnesota Wild at Rogers Arena. The Minnesota Wild won 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports

In wake of news that the Leafs have been talking with the Miikka Kiprusoff camp, it’s being reported Mike Gillis has reached out to Dave Nonis in regards to Roberto Luongo.

To say the well of interest has run dry for the Canuck netminder, would be a serious understatement.

With Ottawa’s number one goalie Craig Anderson set to return any day now, Ben Bishop’s name has been tossed around in trade rumours. The asking price for Bishop would seem to be lower than Luongo’s in both assets and salary cap hit. However, Bishop is a restricted free agent at the end of this season, which may have teams wary of dealing for his services on the trade market.

On the other hand, teams in search of a top-notch goaltender will likely opt for waiting it out until free agency opens up this summer.

Mike Smith out of Phoenix would be the biggest name on the list and should lead the field with his phenomenal performance last year.

With that being said, Toronto is more than likely the only team still interested in actually trading anything for Luongo’s high price tag. Vancouver General Manager Mike Gillis is feeling the pressure and, especially since the need for a centre has been filled with the Derek Roy acquisition, thinks realistic negotiations can take place with Leafs GM Dave Nonis.

With the goalie market on the verge of opening up, the hopes of moving Luongo in exchange for really valuable assets is becoming wishful thinking. With the Leafs talking to Kiprusoff, expect the price for Luongo to drop significantly.

Oddly enough, the money situation isn’t the issue for Toronto. Kiprusoff’s salary is only $1.5 million for next season, yet his cap hit will be north of $5 million. The only real difference in dollars between Luongo and Kiprusoff would appear to be the contract length.

Feb 12, 2013; Vancouver, British Columbia, CANADA; Vancouver Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo (1) makes a save against the Minnesota Wild during the first period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports

The price for Luongo will only go down throughout the day. A possible package, as reported by ESPN Insider Pierre LeBrun, could include Clarke MacArthur, who has become less of an impact for the blue and white this season.

MacArthur is a great character guy in the locker room, as is Luongo. He could be the key to the possible deal and would make sense for Toronto.

However, the acquisition of Luongo would likely mean the end of James Reimer and Ben Scrivens in Toronto. They’ve proven to be NHL-caliber goaltenders and would look for the first exit sign, being in their mid-to-late 20′s.

Roberto Luongo would probably make the Leafs more of a contender than Miikka Kiprusoff would, but the question for Leafs management has to remain, do they believe in Reimer-Scrivens? If they do, they probably don’t trade for Luongo. If they don’t, a trade for Luongo makes a lot of sense.

Despite all the risks and rewards Toronto will have to weigh in regards to a Luongo deal, the pressure has now switched to Gillis and the Canucks to get something for their gold-medal goaltender.

The end result? Nonis has a history with Luongo during his stint in Vancouver and the price may simply get too low to refuse.

So do the Leafs make a deal for Luongo or Kiprusoff by the end of the day?

The more likely scenario would be Toronto keeping the current group together and seeing what they can do in the post-season.

This may be the best option because Nonis really doesn’t know what he really has in his team. The impressive season should make him curious as to what they’re capable of doing in a playoff run, then make adjustments accordingly.

If a deal is to be made for either goaltender, the Leafs will wait to see the best price for Luongo, which will come in the last minutes before the deadline.

Toronto has virtually no pressure to make a deal. For both Vnacouver and Calgary, there are no realistic trade possibilities with any other team. This gives Toronto the ultimate veto in whether either goaltender moves.

Stay tuned.

Jan 23, 2013; Vancouver, British Columbia, CANADA; Calgary Flames goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff (34) during the third period against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena. The Vancouver Canucks won 3-2 in a shootout. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports

With the twenty-four hour clock set to tick on the 2013 trade deadline, the Leafs find themselves in a buyer’s chair for the first time in nearly a decade.

Despite Toronto’s sudden success this season, goaltending still remains the elephant in the room. By no means am I saying the goaltending is a major concern or that the James Reimer-Ben Scrivens duo hasn’t been adequate, but to most, they haven’t blown anyone away.

The tandem has been good all year with minimal slip-ups, especially in a year riddled with struggling top-tier goaltenders. The main concern now becomes, can Reimer/Scrivens lead the Buds in a successful playoff run?

With the Stanley Cup Playoffs now a reality, Leafs management needs to weigh the pros and cons of bringing in a veteran netminder. Do they opt to trade for a middle-aged Roberto Luongo to take the reins for a five-to-eight-year span, or do they bring in Miikka Kiprusoff for a couple of years?

More importantly, do they make a trade at all?

There are a number of things to consider in the ultimate decision to make a deal or not.

First, consider the age of your current goaltenders. Reimer just turned 25 and Scrivens will be 27 in September. This becomes a factor in determining which goalie to trade for, if a trade must be made.

For the current tandem, who have proven to be adequate NHL goalies, trading for Luongo would effectively spell the end of each of their stints in Toronto. Luongo’s contract is one that would cover the duration of their prime years. This means if you get Luongo, you’d better be sure about it and commit to the long-term implications. The first of which being Reimer and Scrivens wanting out.

Trading for Kiprusoff, on the other hand, wouldn’t hurt the current tandem. “Kipper” has already said publicly he was considering retirement after this season. Reports also emerged yesterday that the Leafs have been granted permission to speak with him, likely about a one-year contract extension in the event the Leafs trade for him.

Mar 20, 2013; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender James Reimer (34) and goaltender Ben Scrivens (30) skate off the ice after a win over Tampa Bay Lightning at the Air Canada Centre. Toronto defeated Tampa Bay 4-2. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

This all means if Kiprusoff ends up coming to Toronto, that it would be for the short-term. This wouldn’t mean the end of Reimer/Scrivens in Toronto but would rather give them a chance to learn from an elite veteran goaltender. Nevermind his 2013 statistics as they are a more-less a display of how poor a team the Flames are.

But there’s a lot more to the decision than just “who” or “if.”

Many analysts have noted this season to be a “bonus” year and that the Leafs simply need to make the playoffs. Reimer and Scrivens are certainly capable of that. It’s also a good point because in no way is the window of opportunity closing for Toronto, so why make a deal now?

That’s a question management will be going back-and-forth on until the deadline Wednesday. Do they consider themselves a legitimate Cup threat with Kiprusoff? Does he get them over that hump?

Two things are working against the justification of trading for Kipper.

Firstly, the staggeringly horrific numbers he’s put up this year. An .868 save percentage and a 3.64 goals-against average isn’t impressive, to say the least. As stated, take those numbers with a grain of salt and note how badly the Flames have played. At the same time, the lingering question now remains, has Miikka Kiprusoff lost it?

Secondly, going with the last point, is the price right? Is Kipper worth the x-amount of draft picks it’s going to cost Toronto? At the end of the day, Dave Nonis and the crew need to to determine where they stand with the team. Contender with Kiprusoff? Or still just a 5th-to-8th seed in the Standings with the Cup as wishful thinking. To most, talking about a Stanley Cup in Toronto is laughable. But that’s exactly what the discussion is in Toronto’s war room.

Unless management can convince themselves he makes them a serious contender, a deal for Kiprusoff likely won’t happen. On the other hand, the Leafs have arguably the best development program in the league and have a line of prospects, which could possibly make a Kiprusoff gamble justified.

Whatever side of the fence you’re on, know that the playoff result will become the reason for the one side to prove their point. If the Leafs pass on Kipper and go deep, it’ll be a good call, although the Kiprusoff side will then claim a Cup could have been won. If the Leafs do make the trade, the pressure of a deep playoff run is immediately there.

So if Nonis does elect to pull the trigger on the deal, give him props, because he’s taking on the pressure of Leafs Nation; pressure he wouldn’t have had without making the deal.

Heroes are born during the playoffs. Patrick Roy became a hero in the 1986 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Not to say a Leaf will become a legend if they make the playoffs this year, but I think it’s time to explore the other extreme.

Instead of wondering whether Reimer-Scrivens will choke come playoff time, maybe it’s time to wonder whether they’ll become a future force through a successful Stanley Cup campaign.