Editor In Leaf
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Free Agent Goaltenders the Toronto Maple Leafs Should Pursue

By Michael Da Ponte

MONTREAL, QC - FEBRUARY 08: Jack Campbell #36 of the Toronto Maple Leafs tends goal against the Montreal Canadiens during the second period at the Bell Centre on February 8, 2020 in Montreal, Canada. The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 2-1 in overtime. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC - FEBRUARY 08: Jack Campbell #36 of the Toronto Maple Leafs tends goal against the Montreal Canadiens during the second period at the Bell Centre on February 8, 2020 in Montreal, Canada. The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 2-1 in overtime. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /
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NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – FEBRUARY 23: Linus Ullmark #35 of the Buffalo Sabres . (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – FEBRUARY 23: Linus Ullmark #35 of the Buffalo Sabres . (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Linus Ullmark

Linus Ullmark has been toiling in mediocrity in Buffalo for the last six seasons and I have to imagine that he has had it with this franchise.  Ullmark has been with the Sabres for six seasons now, and in that time the team has not only been terrible, but failed to show any progress.

Though a team with Jack Eichel and Rasmus Dahlin will most likely eventually find a way to succeed, they may have to find a different goalie to do it with.

Ullmark is a UFA after this season, signing only a one year deal as an RFA last year for $2.6 million and walking himself to unrestricted free agency. ( salary info courtesy capfriendly.com ).

Ullmark clearly has no interest in staying in Buffalo and may even settle for a slightly smaller cap hit to be on a competitive team. His numbers this year on a terrible Buffalo team are not extraordinary but at a 2.51 GAA and .915 sv % they are actually better than Andersen’s.

Ullmark could be had for $2-3 million per season which would give the Toronto Maple Leafs an opportunity to fill out the rest of their roster with more than league minimum contracts. Zach Hyman is the obvious candidate to benefit from a cheaper goaltender being signed as the difference between a contract for Ullmark and Andersen is enough to sign Hyman to a multi year deal, although the Leafs have and will remain reluctant to sign players entering their 30s to long-term deals, it is something the fans want regardless.

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