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Toronto Maple Leafs Roundtable: Goalies the Leafs Should Trade For

By Wilbert Timmermans

TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 5: Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Michael Hutchinson #30 returns to the dressing room after the second period against the Montreal Canadiens at the Scotiabank Arena on October 5, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 5: Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Michael Hutchinson #30 returns to the dressing room after the second period against the Montreal Canadiens at the Scotiabank Arena on October 5, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON - NOVEMBER 07: Toronto Maple Leafs Goalie Michael Hutchinson (30) in warmups prior to the regular season NHL game between the Vegas Golden Knights and Toronto Maple Leafs on November 7, 2019 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON. (Photo by Gerry Angus/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - NOVEMBER 07: Toronto Maple Leafs Goalie Michael Hutchinson (30) in warmups prior to the regular season NHL game between the Vegas Golden Knights and Toronto Maple Leafs on November 7, 2019 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON. (Photo by Gerry Angus/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

My Take

Ideally, the Toronto Maple Leafs get back Curtis McElhinney. He’s been arguably the best back-up goaltender they’ve had for the past decades. Unfortunately, divisional rival Tampa Bay has him signed.

Letting him go to make room for Sparks and Kaskisuo, who both had stellar seasons with the Marlies, is probably the biggest mistake by Kyle Dubas after the Marner contract.

Considering what’s available, the Toronto Maple Leafs best option is sticking with Hutchinson, only because I don’t feel a better option is available (for a reasonable price). Hutchinson was brought in last season and played a decent game for Toronto then. He’s been good in the past and he’s too young (29) to already be regressing that much.

Based on his track record in the past, it’s worth waiting until the actual trade deadline to see how his game will develop under Sheldon Keefe. It will be interesting to see whether Keefe plays Hutchinson more often in the first games of a back-to-back, it could really help him to get his, clearly broken, confidence back.

Should there be a decent goalie available by the time the trade deadline nears for a reasonable price, Dubas should aggressively pursue it. Hutchinson has cleared waivers already this season, giving Toronto untill the summer to evaluate their situation without giving up on Hutchinson.

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