4 Goalies the Toronto Maple Leafs Could Trade For
The Toronto Maple Leafs are finding themselves in the middle of a goaltending controversy, but not the type they expected to start the season.
Jack Campbell represented the Toronto Maple Leafs during the NHL All-Star Game and had been in the Vezina conversation and Team USA Olympic talks during the first few months of the season but has since been ice cold.
Petr Mrazek was brought in during the offseason to form a tandem with Campbell and challenge for the starting role going into the playoffs, but has had a season plagued by injury and a dismal .895 save percentage and 3.07 goals against average over 13 games.
Trade rumours around acquiring another goaltender had been heating up, but are now fully on fire after the duo let an astounding 7 goals get passed them during the Toronto Maple Leafs epic 10-7 victory over the Detroit Red Wings.
Top 4 Goalie Trade Targets for the Toronto Maple Leafs
Here are four goaltenders that I believe can help the Toronto Maple Leafs right now with their playoff push. These goalies are all on teams sitting on the outside of the playoff picture and will most likely be sellers at the deadline.
I’ve ranked them based on how I feel they would fit in with the Toronto Maple Leafs in my person opinion. Here it is! My top 4 goaltender trade targets to help the Toronto Maple Leafs:
Semyon Varlamov to the Toronto Maple Leafs
Team: New York Islanders
Age: 33
SV%: .914
GAA: 2.67
Cap Hit: $5 Million until 2023
Contract: 16 Team No Trade List
The New York Islanders have been sitting on the goaltending tandem of both Semyon Varlamov and Ilya Sorokin for a couple season and now may be the perfect time to trade one of them.
Varlamov was brought into New York as the starter, but Sorokin seems to have taken the top spot this season after a phenomenal rookie season last year.
Either one would look great in a Toronto Maple Leafs uniform, but the Islanders are more likely to move Varlamov since Sorokin in younger, cheaper, has more term and has put up slightly better stats this season.
The New York Islanders are way out of the playoff picture and with Varlamov’s age and only one year left on his contract, the time to trade him is now.
Semyon Varlamov has looked way better than Mrazek this season and could take the number one job from Jack Campbell if Campbell struggles to return to form.
He’s a proven playoff performer with 60 games of playoff experience including back-to-back trips to the Conference Finals only losing two close battles in series against the eventual Stanley Cup Champions, the Tampa Bay Lightning.
I would’ve put him higher on this list if it wasn’t for the remaining year on his $5 million contract. It could work, but the Leafs would have to do some work to make him fit both this season and next season especially if they intend to offer Jack Campbell an extension.
To bring in Semyon Varlamov, the Toronto Maple Leafs would have to move a goaltender in another deal. Most likely Petr Mrazek, but it could be Jack Campbell if he continues to slump and they don’t intend on renewing his contract.
Anton Forsberg to the Toronto Maple Leafs
Team: Ottawa Senators
Age: 29
SV%: .917
GAA: 2.79
Cap Hit: $900k until 2022 (UFA)
If the Toronto Maple Leafs decide to select from the goaltending value menu before the trade deadline, they may choose to feast upon Anton Forsberg’s very affordable $900,000 contract.
Forsberg was a very hot commodity last season after being claimed off waivers three times. It seemed like everyone wanted him to be their third-string goaltender.
He’s finally gotten a chance to settle down again as a back-up in Ottawa this season, and in 24 games, he has put up better stats than Jack Campbell despite playing with a very bad Senators team.
Ottawa will probably take very little for Forsberg since he’ll be a UFA and Ottawa has the reemerging Matt Murray and promising prospect Filip Gustavsson available.
The Toronto Maple Leafs could easily fit Forsberg onto their roster and keep both Campbell and Mrazek if they choose to do so.
James Reimer Back with the Toronto Maple Leafs
Team: San Jose Sharks
Age: 33
SV%: .916
GAA: 2.84
Cap Hit: $2.25 Million until 2023
Contract: 5 Team No Trade List
Imagine James “Optimus-Reim” Reimer back with the Toronto Maple Leafs. After his incredible play that seemed to go unappreciated when he entered the league with some bad Leafs teams, it would be amazing to see him giving his all in the Leafs net when it counts.
James Reimer has put up very good numbers for his entire career and this season his stats are slightly below Jack Campbell’s but a lot better than Mrazek’s. He’s also a bargain at just $2.25 million until 2023, and a fair bit cheaper than Mrazek at $3.8 million until 2024.
If the Leafs choose to acquire Reimer and move Mrazek, they’d be adding the type of goaltender that could push Campbell for the top spot that they were hoping for when they brought Mrazek in to start the season.
Some people have mentioned that Reimer may not want to return to Toronto after his now wife, April Reimer, was attacked with around 300 Twitter death threats in 2013 while James was a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
However, James Reimer did remain with the Leafs until 2016 and hopefully the awful memories have subsided nine years later. He does have a five team no trade list in his contract, and I’d hope the Toronto Maple Leafs aren’t on that list.
Marc-Andre Fleury to the Toronto Maple Leafs
Team: Chicago Blackhawks
Age: 37
SV%: .911
GAA: 2.83
Cap Hit: $7 Million until 2022 (UFA)
Contract: 10 Team No Trade List
Last season’s Vezina Trophy winner will certainly be on the move before this season’s NHL Trade Deadline. What would it take to get him into a Toronto Maple Leafs jersey?
It didn’t take much for Chicago to get him from Vegas (just 2018 5th round ECHLer Mikael Hakkarainen), but he may be more valuable on an expiring contract. There are sure to be a few teams looking to add Marc-Andre Fleury to their rosters before the playoffs, so the price may be high.
Fleury’s $7 million contract may seem like a lot to swallow, but Chicago could retain 50% salary to bring it down to $3.5 million, and if the Leafs are willing to give up on Mrazek’s $3.8 million cap hit, they could actually save space for more transactions.
Adding a Vezina trophy winner with three Stanley Cup rings would be a huge addition for this season’s playoffs. With Fleury and Jack Campbell both being UFA’s it could leave the Leafs with nothing in net next season, but even without Fleury, they could be left with only Mrazek.
It may be worth it to bring in a goaltender of Marc-Andre Fleury’s caliber for a Stanley Cup run even if it means dismantling the Toronto Maple Leafs goaltending core and replacing it in the offseason.
Teams like the Colorado Avalanche and Carolina Hurricanes did it last offseason, and they are two of the top teams again this season. On the other hand, Toronto could still re-sign either Campbell or Fleury (or both) before the start of next season.
At 37 years old, Fleury’s next contract should be more affordable and short term. If Campbell continues to slump, his next contract shouldn’t be too hard to swallow either.
Next. 5 Forward Trade Targets for the Leafs. dark
As fun as adding Fleury would be, the Toronto Maple Leafs are not likely to trade for another goaltender before the NHL Trade Deadline. Jack Campbell was one of the best goalies in the NHL before this two month slump, and I think everyone is hoping he can return to form.
The NHL Trade Deadline is March 21st, 2022 at 3pm est.