The Toronto Maple Leafs have been dealing with goalie issues for a while now.
The Toronto Maple Leafs attempted to alleviate some of these issues at the trade deadline, but the Arizona Coyotes snuck in a successful entry waiver claim on Harri Sateri, who they had attempted to sign.
While almost everyone is probably aware that Jack Campbell and Petr Mrazek have been injured, many may not realize that the whole organization is struggling with goaltending injuries. The problem on the NHL roster creates a ripple effect for the Toronto Marlies and in turn, the Newfoundland Growlers in the ECHL.
Neither of which are entirely immune to goaltending injury issues of their own. It might even be worth considering if training drills and techniques need adjustment to limit the workload on the team’s oft-injured goalies.
Toronto Maple Leafs Goalie Problems
With Petr Mrazek leaving the game with the Boston Bruins injured, the Toronto Maple Leafs have left without either of their true NHL options.
Jack Campbell, of course, was placed on injured reserve a few weeks back due to a lingering rib injury.
As a result of these injuries, Erik Kallgren has found himself playing a role in the NHL this season, which was definitely not an expectation at the start of the year.
In stepping up in relief for Mrazek versus Boston, he tallied his third win for the team in his sixth game. Not bad for someone that was sitting around fourth or fifth in the organizational depth chart not so long ago.
Joseph Woll also saw NHL action earlier this season and Toronto Maple Leafs fans might be wondering why he didn’t get the call-up over the completely untested Kallgren. He too is suffering from ongoing injury concerns.
So that’s the Maple Leafs number one and number two both currently injured, with Woll the de facto number three or Marlies’ number one based on his usage earlier this season.
Kallgren, at this point is number four in terms of organizational depth, but frankly is the Leafs’ number one heading into their game with the Winnipeg Jets. He’s going to be backed up by Michael Hutchinson, who was held out of a recent Marlies’ fixture in light of this, with the team not wanting to risk an injury to the organization’s fifth-choice, who will likely be the NHL backup on Thursday.
Moving down the list, there is also Ian Scott, though his professional career has been mired by injury after injury. The former CHL Goaltender of the Year has managed just 7 professional games in three seasons.
Carter Hutton’s name can also be found on the depth chart, though his loan to the Tucson Roadrunners doesn’t seem likely to be changed anytime soon. With all that said, these injuries and illnesses are useful, to some degree, for those wishing to stake their claim at a higher-level.
That is indeed the case with Keith Petruzzelli. The former Detroit Red Wings draft pick has really raised his standing with the Toronto Maple Leafs with some stellar performances with the Growlers and has shown he can step up to the AHL level.
Even he finds himself run down with an illness though.
This led to the Marlies adding Tavin Grant (who played in the WHL for the Prince George Cougars back in 2017) and Talor Joseph from Trinity Western University, with the latter winning his Marlies debut versus the Abbotsford Canucks.
The latest addition is Billy Christopoulos, who is being loaned to the Marlies from the ECHL’s Toldeo Walleye, with it seeming like Grant may have been a one-night only addition.
Call them desperation adds for the AHL side, but such is the issue with goaltending injuries within the whole organization right now.