The Toronto Maple Leafs need a new goalie.
Jack Campell is a great story – he was a former first round bust who found new life with the T oronto Maple Leafs, and matched Carey Price and Andre Vasilevskiy save for save, in back to back years in the playoffs.
I love great stories, and I’m a huge fan of Jack Campbell. The reason I love Campbell is because he is such a great person in a league where players usually don’t have any personality. There really hasn’t been anyone in Toronto Sports to cheer for just because they were a nice guy with a great origin story since Jays’ Shortstop John McDonald.
But great stories won’t win you the Stanley Cup.
Jack Campbell could easily have led the Leafs to glory, and if he had of, I’d be extremely happy to bring him back. In fact, losing in the first round is really the only situation where I think I’d say it’s better to get rid of him.
The reason is this: Psychology.
The Toronto Maple Leafs – as currently conceived- have one last shot at making it out of the first round. But that means that next spring, the temperature is going to be insane. The Leafs First Round Series in 2023 is going to have extremely high stakes, I think having a new goalie, someone who isn’t tainted by the stink of recent failure, could do wonders for the Leafs team psyche.
If there was ever a team that needed a Set It and Forget It type of Goalie, it’s the 2022-23 Toronto Maple Leafs.
I am and will likely always remain a fan of Jack Campbell, but for the Leafs, it’s time to move on.