Option 3: Trades
The last option for most teams when they fail to find a goaltender through other means is just to up and trade for one. The Leafs already being pretty knowledgeable on this option after acquiring Andersen back in 2016.
There is a number of goaltenders that may be on the market over the next few years. Those of the likes of the Penguins as well as the New York Rangers and their goaltenders have had rumours swirling around for quite some time now.
The Penguins do not want to lose another goaltender to an expansion draft as they did with Fleury back in 2017, so Jim Rutherford and the Penguins will more than likely explore moving one of their goaltenders; those being 26-year-old Matt Murray as well as 25-year-old Tristan Jarry. Both on the right side of 30, have now been NHL proven. Murray with two Stanley Cup rings, and Jarry with an NHL season with a SV% just north of .920%.
The penguins will certainly explore trading one of the two and with Matt Murray being the favourite to go, it is an option for the Leafs to also explore. At the expense of a couple picks and some of their key offensive chips, the Leafs may be able to pick up Murray or Jarry for a reasonable price.
This was the original thought when it was rumoured early Tuesday morning that Toronto and Pittsburgh were in talks for a Kasperi Kapanen trade, but that trade saw the main piece being sent back being a first-round pick. However never close a door fully; the Leafs can still pursue this option.
The Rangers on the other hand also have a number of goalies to deal with. Since veteran goaltender, Henrik Lundqvist will likely be retiring after this season or the next, the Rangers will have to make a decision to go with one of two 24-year-olds. Those being Alexander Georgiev, and Igor Shesterkin. Both goalies had respectable numbers this season with Georgiev posting a .910 SV% and then Shesterkin posting a spectacular .932% (though only with a small sample size of 12 games).
Shesterkin seems to be the obvious choice for New York to go with but stranger things have happened. The only thing that is almost for certain is that the Rangers will not keep both around as a starting tandem.
Now the interesting part is where the Leafs may be able to come into things. The Leafs have Jack Campbell signed until 2022 and if the Rangers are looking to unload one of their starters for a proven backup and other pieces, the Leafs may just be their moneymaker in a trade with Campbell and other pieces.
The Carolina Hurricanes are one team that reportedly already has had a high level of interest in the former Jennings Trophy winner (via Elliotte Freedman – 31 Thoughts). Andersen was originally selected by the Hurricanes in the 2010 draft.
Andersen elected not to sign with the club and then re-enter the draft. He was then selected by the Ducks in the third round of 2012. The Toronto Maple Leafs are not too keen to trade him away right now unless it is with the intention of getting an upgrade in net. This would mean a look at the upcoming free agent netminders this offseason, like Braden Holtby, and Jacob Markstrom just to name a few. Take a look at the free-agent options for the Leafs in the next portion.