Toronto Maple Leafs: Trading For A Young Goalie

The Toronto Maple Leafs are scouring the earth for young talent and they aren’t afraid to go the trade route to get it.

The Vancouver Canucks have a piece that the Toronto Maple Leafs are missing: a top tier goaltending prospect.

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That position has been largely ignored since Shanahan took over the organization and I have my doubts about it being because the current pool is so outstanding. I think it was put on the back-burner simply because the entire cupboard was bare.

That’s where the Vancouver Canucks come in.

Jim Benning is making some head-scratching decisions out West and the Toronto Maple Leafs should get in on the action. Who is the goaltending prospect they have that Toronto needs? Thatcher Demko.

It’s a crazy thought, I know, but crazy is right up Jim Benning’s alley.

Demko has increased his save percentage in each season since starting in the USHL with the Omaha Lancers.

He was a highly touted prospect when he was drafted and continues to get better. Here’s what Future Considerations had to say about Demko in 2013.

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“Demko is a butterfly-style stopper with the ideal pro size. He makes himself big in net even when he drops down to his knees and has outstanding lower coverage in the butterfly with leg coverage going almost post-to-post. He moves well laterally and out to challenge shooters fluidly.” (Future Considerations)

Even if Thatcher Demko can’t be pried from the grips of Jim Benning, there are other young options out there that may be available for the right deal. Everyone has a price and the truth is no one outside of a teams front office really knows what that team may, or may not, be willing to do.

The Anaheim Ducks have a young Frederik Andersen that’s played well for them, but they also have John Gibson ready to take over on a moments notice. Could a hefty offer get Gibson away from the Ducks? The price would likely be similar, but a little more, to acquiring Demko, so it’s not a light-hearted offer.

Montreal has Zach Fucale sitting in Carey Price’s shadow for the next decade so there might be a reasonable chancing of taking him away – though the Canadiens may not want to send him to their biggest rival. The price of Fucale would be significantly less than Demko or Gibson, though, which makes it an interesting option.

What about Malcolm Subban in Boston? He, like Fucale, is likely stuck behind a prominent starter for the next 7-10 years. Again, cost would be much less than Demko/Gibson and similar to Fucale.

There are young netminders out there, some potential more available than others, and the Toronto Maple Leafs should be putting out feelers.

The Toronto Maple Leafs goaltending pool isn’t golden right now and that needs to be addressed. Is Bibeau, Gibson or Sparks the long-term solution for the happy years of the future? I’m not so sure, but I know I’d put the four goaltenders previously mentioned well above them.

Toronto has pieces to move and holes to fill – future goaltending is one of them.

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