5. Corey Crawford
Now in his 14th season in the NHL, Corey Crawford has been around the block. Crawford has won three Stanley Cups in his career, all with the Chicago Blackhawks.
The Blackhawks sit 11th in the Western conference and will likely miss the playoffs for a third straight year. This could make them motivated sellers at the trade deadline.
Crawford’s .914 SV% over the past three seasons is above average and his playoff experience and leadership will be coveted by teams looking for help at the goaltending position.
Crawford’s cap hit is hefty at $6M, expiring at the end of this season, which means that Cody Ceci’s $4.5M would likely have to be exchanged in a potential trade with the Blackhawks. The Blackhawks would likely need to retain a portion of Crawford’s contract to keep the Leafs under the cap as well.
While the Leafs will certainly be tempted to acquire Crawford’s experience for a playoff run, they would be wise to assess the value that the 35-year-old Crawford provides going forward, rather than the value he has produced in the past.