Toronto Maple Leafs: 4 Storylines Missed with Season on Pause

TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 25: Ilya Mikheyev #65 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrates his goal with teammate Auston Matthews #34 against the San Jose Sharks during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on October 25, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Sharks 4-1. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 25: Ilya Mikheyev #65 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrates his goal with teammate Auston Matthews #34 against the San Jose Sharks during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on October 25, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Sharks 4-1. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
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OTTAWA, ON – FEBRUARY 15: Jack Campbell #36, Mitchell Marner (Photo by Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images)
OTTAWA, ON – FEBRUARY 15: Jack Campbell #36, Mitchell Marner (Photo by Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images)

The Goaltending Situation

When the Toronto Maple Leafs made the trade that brought in Jack Campbell from the Los Angeles Kings, it brought about a potential long-term solution to what was a thorn in the team’s side for years: the lack of a quality back-up goalie.

The subsequent games that followed brought about questions as to whether Campbell or Frederik Andersen deserved more starts down the stretch with both goalies having vastly different results.

It may have been ludicrous at times given that the team was in a playoff race, but it was one worth exploring as Andersen’s contract has a year remaining following this season.

Andersen’s numbers had been abnormally subpar compared to what he was able to do in his first three seasons in Toronto. Campbell, by contrast, was posting solid numbers and made a strong impression early on in his Leafs tenure.

Now it is true that Andersen typically improves down the stretch and he was starting to turn a corner in his last three games prior to play being stopped. However, there is no way to be sure that this pace was going to be sustainable given how wonky the year was for him.

Leafs fans were robbed of seeing what Andersen and Campbell would have done down the stretch and who knows which goalie would have come out on top.