How Will the Toronto Maple Leafs Goaltending Look After Free Agency?

Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Jack Campbell had a historical season.

In his first season in the starting role, Campbell posted career bests in both SV% (.921) and GAA (2.15). In the playoffs, Campbell then would surpass those numbers in playoffs with a .934 SV% and a 1.81 GAA, not even to mention his NHL record of wins to start off an NHL season (11).

Campbell’s performance came as a pleasant surprise to most, and at a cap hit of $1.65 million for another season, no one is complaining. However, with the chance at a departure of Frederik Andersen in free agency later this month, the Leafs are left with a big decision to make.

Andersen is one of the top UFA Goalies this offseason and with the opportunity for a big payday elsewhere, it’s hopeful by some that the 31-year-old will return to the Leafs.

The Leafs will be looking to spend money previously spent on Andersen elsewhere, namely UFA Zach Hyman, while at the same time rather finding a cheaper 1B option in goal.

In addition to the possible departure, there isn’t any young Marlie chomping at the bit to come up into the NHL quite yet. Prospects Joseph Woll and Ian Scott still have a long way to come. So where do we look for the Leafs and their 1B option? Free Agency.

The Toronto Maple Leafs and Their UFA Goaltending Options

A good middle ground to spend on a 1B option in free agency would be around someone in the $2-3 million range. If that ended up being the case, having to spend only $3-4 million on a steady goaltending duo would be paradise when you consider that teams like Vegas spend a combined $12 million on their duo of Fluery and Lehner.

So if we focus on that range of $2-3 million who are the realistic options? David Rittich, Jonathan Bernier, James Reimer, Laurent Brossoit, Jaroslav Halak, and Chris Driedger are just a few who I think could fall in that sweet spot of a 1B for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Now yes, there are a few familiar names on that list. David Rittich did in fact finish the season as a Leaf but only for four total games. And needless to say in the four games, Big Save Dave, was not much of a Big Save Dave for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Does that rule him out as an option? Certainly not. David Rittich is a more than competent goalie and could serve as a very useful backup in the case that the Leafs resigned him. (stats naturalstattrick.com).

Toronto Maple Leafs Familiar Faces

Next up, familiar faces Johnathan Bernier and James Reimer. It was no more than 5 seasons ago that the two of them shared the net for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

In his years since leaving the Six, 32-year-old Bernier, has served as a strong starting option in goal for a very subpar Detroit Red Wings team. Every year Detroit has put a borderline NHL-caliber defensive group in front of Bernier and consistently he has still put up save percentages north of .904 every year, with his most recent year being the best at .914% with 24 games played.

Now as I move on to the next familiar name of 33-year-old James Reimer, I want everyone to omit Boston 2013 from their brain. It’s happened, it’s over, and James Reimer is a darn good goalie.

Since being traded from Toronto in 2016, Reimer has bounced around the league. With stints in San Jose, Florida, and most recently, Carolina, Reimer has made a name for himself as the more than capable 1B. It’s the role he’s served everywhere he’s gone since Toronto.

Not to mention in only one year since Toronto, has Reimer posted a sub .906 SV%. Not too bad for someone who a lot of people labeled a sieve during his time here.

There are lots of fond memories (as well as some not so fond ones) from the Reimer/Bernier era in Toronto, and on a short term deal, as their age gets up there and their careers come to an end, I would love to see the opportunity for one of these two more than competent goalies come back to Toronto to redeem themselves.

The Bang for Your Buck

Now the Reimer/Bernier options are more storybook than anything. If I was looking straight at stats and what I think the Leafs can get the most out of for their money, I would have to go for one of these two, Jaroslav Halak or Laurent Brossoit.

Behind Tuukka Rask, the Bruins are looking to groom the next one to take the crease in youngster Jeremy Swayman. With that being the case, as much as the Bruins and their fans love him, Halak will be on his way out this offseason.

3 years in Boston turned out great for Halak with two out of three years posting north of.919 save percentages in 31+ games, certainly raising his stock among the league. Halak filled in for Rask as a 1B option on numerous occasions without letting the team miss a beat. That’s exactly what the Leafs would need in the case that Jack Campbell goes down with an injury.

Towards the end of his career, Halak is looking to capture that coveted cup and how much better could it work out for both the Leafs and Halak with a deal at 1 year – $2 million. A cheap, viable option for the Leafs and a half-decent chance at the cup for Halak.

Now for the other option I mentioned, Laurent Brossoit. He’s a real interesting option. At 28-years-old, Brossoit seems ready to move on from behind the shadow of Hellebyuck into some version of a starting role.

Brossoit has spent the last 3 seasons as the backup in Winnipeg, with his most recent coming along with success. Brossoit put up a .918 SV% and a 2.42 GAA.

I believe that at 28 years old Brossoit has the potential to turn into a starting goalie and if that means he needs to take the net away from Jack Campbell, I’d be okay with that.

Give him a short term deal, one or two years around $2.5 million, see what he does, see if he can take that next step in the net and prove himself. If he can, great, then he’s our new starter, and if not then he can serve as a very capable 1B backup behind Jack Campbell.