Looking at the Entire Toronto Maple Leafs Goalie Depth Chart

The Maple Leafs enter the 2019-20 season with yet another perplexing situation in goal.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have one of the best starters in the game, but after that, it’s a bit of a question mark.

Although the potential losses in goal are certainly less high stakes, the need for a step-up backup candidate has never been greater.

The Leafs would do well to limit the number of games that Andersen starts this year, and they could use a back-up who gets the job done when called up.

Garrett Sparks failed in his task and has since left the organization (in the bizarre requisition of David Clarkson).

Today I take a look at the Toronto Maple Leafs goaltending depth in order to try and establish who could contend for the backup spot, and who may lay claim to the title of Goalie of the Future.

2018-19 Stats (NHL, via Hockey Reference)

• 7 Games Played
• 1 Win
• 184 Shots Against/158 Saves
• .859 Save Percentage
• 4.27 Goals Against Average
• 0 Shutouts

Simply put, Michal Neuvirth was terrible last season.

The Czech netminder is no stranger to poor play or struggle, as he fell to multiple lower body injuries this past year, and has a reputation for being ‘injury prone’.

Brought in on a PTO, Neuvirth seems to be following Tyler Ennis’ path of signing cheap to take advantage of the Maple Leafs’ medical staff.

That being said, Neuvirth’s age (31 years old), and poor play don’t exactly inspire confidence when it comes to the backup position.

Personally, I like Neuvirth, and hope that the can recover, but it doesn’t exactly seem likely to happen at this point. I expect the Leafs to pursue another backup option come preseason.

2018-19 Stats (NHL, via Hockey Reference)

• 9 Games Played
• 3 Wins
• 239 Shots Against/212 Saves
• .887 Save percentage
• 3.27 Goals Against Average
• 1 Shutout

Hutchinson, much like Neuvirth, was terrible last year. His four-game stint in Florida was legitimately horrible, as he recorded .839 SV% and a 4.17 GAA.

However, once he came to the Leafs, Hutchinson improved drastically, recording a .914 SV% and a 2.64 GAA and one shutout.

That being said, I would’t just hand Hutchinson the backup spot, as his last season above a .910 SV% was 2014-15 (.914 SV% in 38 GP), which was his rookie year. (Hockey Reference)

I like Hutchinson as a third goalie, who can come up and play a couple NHL games here and there and then go down and hold the fort in the AHL, but I’d be concerned if he ends up being the backup.

2018-19 Stats (AHL, via theahl.com)

• 30 Games Played
• 12 Wins
• 795 Shots Against/712 Saves
• .896 Save Percentage
• 3.07 Goals Against Average
• 4 Shutouts

Kaskisuo was not exactly good either, and at 25 years-old, this is about what we can expect from the Finnish goaltender.

I really don’t see or expect much from Kaskisuo, but the AHL mainstay probably shouldn’t start the season in the Leafs organization, as the Leafs have upcoming prospects ready to turn pro in goal.

At this point, Kaskisuo doesn’t appear to have much of an NHL future, but who knows? Stranger things have happened.

2018-19 Stats (NCAA-HE, via Sportsforecaster.com)

• 37 Games Played
• 13 Wins
• 1091 Shots Against/1003 Saves
• .919 Save Percentage
• 2.41 Goals Against Average
• 3 Shutouts

One of the Toronto Maple Leafs best prospects, Joseph Woll, looks primed and ready for AHL time.

The 21 year-old netminder posted fantastic numbers for a losing Boston College squad, and will look to build on his previous NCAA success as he begins his professional career in the Leafs organization.

This 2016 quote, from Jason Banks of Dobber Prospects, provides a good idea of what the Leafs have in Woll.

“Woll possesses a large, projectable frame…that works well with his quick footwork. He has the same high end potential that top goalie draftees Carter Hart and Filip Gustavsson have…has been playing against some of the best talents…It has been noted that he is a very adaptable goaltender and a quick, excited learner which are excellent character traits to have for a higher end talent.”

So, the Toronto Maple Leafs have a large, adaptable, and extremely skilled goaltender in Woll.

I would expect Woll to swoop in and take the backup position as soon as the 2020-21 season.

2018-19 Stats (WHL, via Sportsforecaster.com)

• 49 Games Played
• 38 Wins
• 1312 Shots Against/1223 Saves
• .932 Save Percentage
• 1.83 Goals Against Average
• 8 Shutouts

After completing one of the best seasons in WHL history, Ian Scott looks to make a successful transition to professional hockey.

Another scouting report, this time from the Sports Forecaster crew, details what made Scott so successful.

“[Scott has] an outstanding frame (6-3), with plenty of [room for growth]. His rebound control is already rather advanced. [He is] solid in all facets of the goaltending position and rarely [gets in his own way].”

Despite having better stats than Woll, Scott played against significantly worse competition and was an overage goalie at 20 years old, which is why I have Scott lower on the depth chart than Woll.

That being said, if Kaskisuo is moved, I would expect both to see AHL time.

2018-19 Stats (QMJHL, via Sportsforecaster.com)

• 40 Games Played
• 12 Wins
• 1238 Shots Against/142 Goals Against
• .885 Save Percentage
• 4.10 Goals Against Average
• 0 Shutouts

A 7th round pick in the 2018 entry draft, Bouthillier hopes to emerge as a starter in the QMJHL for the first time in his career.

Now on his third team in the league, Bouthillier needs to play well and put up some really good numbers to turn his career around at this point.

Bouthillier has never put up a save percentage greater than an .890 which is more than concerning.

Personally, I don’t see much of an NHL future with Bouthillier at this point.

And that the conclusion of the review of the Toronto Maple Leafs goaltending depth.  As we have seen, the Leafs have a great starter, two solid goalie prospects, and a some solid two potentially half-decent back-up options.