Looking past this season, the Toronto Maple Leafs don’t have many long-term answers at goaltender.
Jack Campbell is a pending UFA, the Petr Mrazek contract is Kyle Dubas’ worst signing as GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Erik Kallgren isn’t a number one goalie and the goaltenders on the Toronto Marlies not named Joseph Woll are… uninspiring.
Woll recently signed a three year extension with the Leafs that lasts through the 2024-2025 season. He hasn’t played since St. Patrick’s Day and is still rehabbing his shoulder. There is still no timeline for his return.
If Jack Campbell departs in free agency, something needs to be done about the goaltending situation in Toronto for the future. Ideally, Jack Campbell will re-sign with the Leafs on a deal that is similar to what Dallas Stars goalie Anton Khudobin signed which was a three year deal for 10 million dollars. Even then, it couldn’t hurt to bring new blood into the organization.
Toronto Maple Leafs and Dryden McKay
The 24-year-old Illinois native just won the Hobey Baker Award as the best player in college hockey and is the first goalie since Ryan Miller to do so. McKay led the Minnesota State Mavericks to two Frozen Four appearances and a National Championship game to end his college career.
McKay is well-journeyed. He played two seasons in the NAHL and three in the USHL before landing with Minnesota State. McKay went undrafted, so he will get to choose where he plays, unlike another fellow college hockey player that Leaf fans know all too well.
He went 38-5 with a .931 SV% in his senior year. Though those stats do look encouraging, remember, Minnesota State plays in a weaker conference than, say, the NCHC’s Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs. The Mavericks play in the CCHA with other smaller schools.
The only other CCHA team to make the final rankings was Michigan Tech at no. 14.
So how did McKay do against stronger competition in his senior year?
He shutout no. 1 Massachusetts, he shutout no. 2 St. Cloud State, he shutout Minnesota Duluth and he shut out Notre Dame to earn a trip to the Frozen Four. He’s done good against the stronger teams in Division 1 Hockey. In the Frozen Four, he held the no. 5 Gophers to one goal on 16 shots.
McKay definitely isn’t a can’t-miss prospect. However, The Leafs need new blood in the goaltender room. Even if Dubas does manage to re-sign Jack Campbell, Jack Campbell is 30-years-old with injury history. The Leafs need more viable options should Campbell leave, get hurt or simply need a break.
Now for Joseph Woll.
He hasn’t earned anything. His presence on the Marlies and performance when he was called up earlier this year doesn’t mean the Leafs shouldn’t look at adding McKay. His contract isn’t a one way deal until the 2023-2024 season. Even then, its for less than 1 million dollars in AAV.
We’ve seen what the Leafs net looks like without Jack Campbell and Jack Campbell when he’s off. Neither of which are very pretty and the Leafs don’t currently have a long-term option to fill the starting goaltender role.
So yes, I am a fan of adding a goalie from outside the organization, and Dryden Mckay looks like he could be a solid 2 to Jack Campbell’s 1 if Campbell re-signs.