Toronto Maple Leafs: What’s the Trade for John Gibson?

John Gibson seems to be talk of the town with the Toronto Maple Leafs of late, but what would any possible trade look like?

Of course, the Toronto Maple Leafs currently have a goaltender signed in Petr Mrazek and one we assume they want to keep around in Jack Campbell.

However, assuming that Campbell is allowed to leave because they can’t (or don’t want to) meet his salary demands, it feels unlikely Mrazek becomes number one.

That is where a deal for current Anaheim Ducks goalie John Gibson comes to the fore, especially with there having been rumoured interest for quite some time.

Toronto Maple Leafs Surely Can’t Afford John Gibson

The math  for affording John Gibson on the Toronto Maple Leafs roster is actually fairly simple. It requires essentially the subtraction of $5 million off the salary cap.

This being the case due to the $6.4 million annual cost of Gibson’s contract and simply allowing for the $1.4 million difference there to be utilized for him.

When you look at the roster; that sort of money could instantly be found by dealing Jake Muzzin back to California, assuming he was willing to go.

Alternatively Alex Kerfoot earns $3.5 million and Petr Mrazek earns $3.8 million. That duo’s cap hits alone would cover the Gibson contract, albeit leaving the Leafs to rely on Erik Kallgren as their number two.  You aren’t getting Gibson for these guys, but they clearly represent the easiest path to clearing cap space.

Possibly the craziest thought would be sending William Nylander to Anaheim, which might actually see the Leafs pocket a bonus piece or two in return; after all a straight one-to-one deal there leans way too favourably towards the Ducks.  The Leafs, however, are unlikely to move a predictably strong forward for the unpredictability of a goalie.  At the very least, it would run counter to their previously established philosophy.

It would certainly take a bold move to trade an 80-point guy but if John Gibson was able to find his form for the Toronto Maple Leafs, he could legitimately be a game-changer. Still, it’s a very very bold risk to take!

Perhaps the biggest thought when it comes to thinking trades for Gibson should be the fact that he still has five years under contract. This factor could certainly make him more expensive to acquire, but you might also argue for a discount on trade piece due to that term.

To take such a significant hit (especially on a goalie) off the Ducks’ books is surely, in some way of speaking, a benefit to them. Perhaps Kyle Dubas might argue a lower starting price.

Whatever way you swing a trade scenario, it certainly isn’t a cheap deal to make for the Toronto Maple Leafs.  And even if there was, would they want to make it? Is there any proof that a $6.4 million Gibson is that much better than a (likely) $4 million Campbell.

This past season, it’s certainly clear that Campbell outperformed Gibson, albeit being the fourth-best team in the league.

Ruminating over all the trade scenarios, it’s fair to suggest that there may be something a little more to these rumours, but regardless it still feels a little too pie-in-the-sky right about now.