Top 10 UFA Goalies the Toronto Maple Leafs Could Sign
#10 Harri Säteri – Arizona Coyotes
2021-22 Stats: .866 SV%, 4.23 GAA, 2-2-1
Age: 32
Last Contract: $750,000 AAV
Potential Next Season: Minor League Goalie
When the Toronto Maple Leafs were looking for some goaltending depth before the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs, they signed Harri Säteri to a one-year league minimum contract.
Unfortunately, he had to clear waivers before joining the team and was scooped up by the Arizona Coyotes.
Säteri won the gold medal with Finland at the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing as their starting goaltender. He was originally drafted by the San Jose Sharks in the 4th round (106 overall) in 2008.
He would make his first NHL appearance with the Florida Panthers in 2017-18 with a .911 save percentage and 2.92 goals against average going 4-4-0.
He didn’t have a great handful of games with the Coyotes last season, but can you blame him? It’s the Arizona Coyotes.
The Toronto Maple Leafs obviously have interest in Säteri, and there’s a very good chance that they’ll sign him again this offseason. If they intend to sent him to the Marlies though, he may once again be claimed on waivers.
#9 Jaroslav Halák – Vancouver Canucks
2021-22 Stats: .903 SV%, 2.94 GAA, 4-7-2
Age: 37
Last Contract: $3 million AAV
Potential Next Season: Back-up Goalie
Jaroslav Halák has been a dependable NHL back-up for a long time and could be a dependable back-up for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
His last couple contracts have come with bonuses for playing over 10 games, and the criteria was met to give him his $3 million AAV last season.
I could see him signing a one year deal next season with a $1.25 million base and $1.25 million bonus for a $2.5 million AAV.
I think he’s affordable for a goaltender of his caliber, but at his age, he’s likely a short term option. He could be a “bridge goaltender” for the Leafs until Joseph Woll or Erik Källgren are ready to take the back-up position full time.
The Toronto Maple Leafs would also need a starter that would take on the brunt of the schedule as Halák’s days as a tandem goaltender may be over.
#8 Braden Holtby – Dallas Stars
2021-22 Stats: .913 SV%, 2.78 GAA, 10-10-1
Age: 32
Last Contract: $2 million AAV
Potential Next Season: Back-up Goalie/Tandem Goaltender
Braden Holtby had a bit of a bounce back season with the Dallas Stars this year with some decent numbers.
He did suffer a lower-body injury though which kept him out of the last 26 games of the season.
Like Halák, he could be another reasonably priced back-up option. He’d be able to fill in for a decent amount of games in a back-up role and may even be able to support a younger goalie in a tandem.
He did suffer a lengthy injury last season, but it was the first major injury of his career, so there’s no reason to believe he won’t come back from it.
#7 Scott Wedgewood – Dallas Stars
2021-22 Stats: .910 SV%, 3.14 GAA, 13-15-6
Age: 29
Last Contract: $825,000
Potential Next Season: Back-up Goalie/Tandem Goaltender
Last season was a bit of a break-out season for Scott Wedgewood. He appeared in 37 games for the New Jersey Devils, Arizona Coyotes and Dallas Stars which is the most games he’s played in a season thus far in his career.
Up until now, he’s been a third string goalie trying to prove he can stick in the NHL, and he seemed to have proven himself last season.
The majority of his games were played on a terrible Coyotes team and he still managed a .911 save percentage in 28 games with Arizona.
With a better Dallas team, he managed a .913 save percentage in eight appearances, so I’d imagine he’d have even better numbers with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
With only 77 career games under his belt, he’s still relatively unproven, so his price tag shouldn’t increase too much as a free agent. He also hasn’t had any major injuries in his career.
He is relatively unproven but would still be an excellent candidate as a very inexpensive back-up in Toronto with the potential to take on a lot of games if the Toronto Maple Leafs starter goes down with an injury.
#6 Eric Comrie – Winnipeg Jets
2021-22 Stats: .920 SV%, 2.58 GAA, 10-5-1
Age: 26
Last Contract: $750,000 AAV
Potential Next Season: Back-Up Goalie/Tandem Goaltender
After bouncing around for a couple seasons from Winnipeg to Arizona to Detroit back to Winnipeg to New Jersey and then back to Winnipeg again, Eric Comrie finally solidified himself as an NHL back-up goaltender last season.
He reminds me of Ottawa Senators goaltender, Anton Forsberg. They were the two third string goaltenders that every team seemed to want whenever they were put on waivers to make room for a goaltender returning from injury. Forsberg seems to have finally found a home in Ottawa and Comrie should finally find a home with his next contract.
Chances are he’ll re-sign with the Winnipeg Jets, the team who drafted him in the 2nd round (59th overall) in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft as he has returned to Winnipeg twice, but he could be a great steal for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Comrie will be one of the youngest unrestricted free agents available as a 26 year old Group 6 UFA. The Leafs greatest free agent steal last offseason was also a 26 year old Group 6 UFA, Michael Bunting.
I’m not saying Eric Comrie is a better goaltender than Connor Hellebuyck, but Comrie had the better stats out of the two Winnipeg Jets goaltenders and that’s saying something.
Eric Comrie may be best suited as a back-up goalie next season, but he still has a lot of professional hockey left in him and should work his way into a tandem or even a starting role soon.
He played on a league minimum contract last season, so the Toronto Maple Leafs could scoop him up cheap before he matures into a solid starter.
#5 Casey DeSmith – Pittsburgh Penguins
2021-22 Stats: .914 SV%, 2.79 GAA, 11-6-5
Age: 30
Last Contract: $1.25 million AAV
Potential Next Season: Tandem Goaltender/Back-up Goaltender
Casey DeSmith has been one of the NHL’s best back-up goalies for the past few seasons.
He’s earned the right to contest for a starting position. He may be best suited for a role in a tandem next season where he’d get an opportunity to battle for a job as a starter.
DeSmith seems like a goaltender who hasn’t been given a chance to shine behind Tristan Jarry in Pittsburgh, and he might be looking to go to a team that will give him that opportunity. Whether or not that’s the Toronto Maple Leafs is another story.
As a career back-up, he will still be relatively inexpensive as a free agent and would definitely fit into the Toronto Maple Leafs budget.
The Leafs probably won’t be a team that would relying on him in a starting role, but they could give him a chance to push for one.
#4 Marc-André Fleury – Minnesota Wild
2021-22 Stats: .908 SV%, 2.90 GAA, 28-23-5
Age: 37
Last Contract: $7 million AAV
Potential Next Season: Starter/Tandem Goaltender
Marc-André Fleury is the most accomplished UFA goaltender available this offseason. He’s just one season removed from winning the Vezina and Jennings trophies in what was arguably his best NHL season so far.
With great accomplishments, usually comes big money. At his age though, he’ll likely drop down considerably from his last contract of $7 million AAV, but it’s hard to determine his market value.
A desperate team may be willing to overpay him, but he may take a cut to go to a contender, though he has won a few Cups already.
Fleury is still a capable starter and would likely prefer to go to a team looking for a reliable starter rather than a tandem.
If Jack Campbell doesn’t return to the Toronto Maple Leafs and Darcy Kuemper doesn’t return to the Colorado Avalanche, they may be the top two contenders looking for a starter of his caliber.
For either the Toronto Maple Leafs or Colorado Avalanche, Fleury’s services will depend on price. If he drops down to the $4 million range, I’m sure the Leafs will be very interested. Apparently, the Leafs were interested in him for a reduced price at the trade deadline but didn’t want to lose their first round pick.
#3 Ville Husso – St. Louis Blues
2021-22 Stats: .919 SV%, 2.56 GAA, 25-7-6
Age: 27
Last Contract: $750,000 AAV
Potential Next Season: Starter/Tandem Goaltender
Ville Husso hadn’t been given much of a chance to shine in St. Louis until this season where he had a superb performance in a tandem with Jordan Binnington.
Husso ended up playing a few more games than Binnington and had superior stats.
Husso’s performance last season proved he’s ready to take on the bulk of a season as a starter, but another year in a tandem wouldn’t hurt either. He’s still young for a starting goaltender and could be a star with the team he signs with for the next few years.
Ville Husso is the type of goalie the Toronto Maple Leafs could really use in a tandem right now. He has enough experience to show that he can be an NHL starter, but he doesn’t have enough experience to earn a big pay day yet.
If the Toronto Maple Leafs can also get a veteran goaltender to help Husso along, I’d be very excited to see him in a Leafs uniform.
#2 Jack Campbell – Toronto Maple Leafs
2021-22 Stats: .914 SV%, 2.64 GAA, 31-9-6
Age: 30
Last Contract: $1.65 million AAV
Potential Next Season: Starter
The Toronto Maple Leafs could still get a deal done with their All-Star goaltender, Jack Campbell. Campbell’s management team may be looking to procure more than the Leafs are willing to part with, but if no team is willing to spend $5 million AAV on the goaltender, they may circle back to the Leafs with their tails with their tails between their legs.
Jack Campbell wants to stay in Toronto and the Maple Leafs want to keep Jack Campbell, but the situation seems a lot like the Zach Hyman dilemma last summer.
The two sides seem too far apart, and it may be better for the Toronto Maple Leafs to find “the new Jack Campbell” instead of keeping the current Jack Campbell.
Last summer, the Toronto Maple Leafs let Hyman go, but found a suitable replacement in Michael Bunting. Hyman was a steal at $2.25 million AAV but not at $5.5 million AAV especially when Bunting is only $950,000 AAV.
The same goes for Jack Campbell. He’s a steal at $1.65 million AAV but not at $5 million AAV. At this point, the Toronto Maple Leafs are more likely to move on from Jack Campbell than sign him.
#1 Darcy Kuemper – Colorado Avalanche
2021-22 Stats: .921 SV%, 2.54 GAA, 37-12-4
Age: 32
Last Contract: $4.5 million AAV
Potential Next Season: Starter
Darcy Kuemper is scheduled to be the best UFA goaltender available this offseason, however, if the Toronto Maple Leafs aren’t willing to spend the money on Jack Campbell, they most likely will not be willing to spend the money on Darcy Kuemper.
Kuemper’s stock will continue to rise the further the Avalanche progress into the playoffs, and as the top available UFA goaltender, someone will be willing to overpay him, and it won’t be the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Darcy Kuemper’s last deal was a two-year deal and his first making more than $1.85 million per season. He’ll most likely go to the highest bidder, and I wouldn’t blame him.
He may not feel the need to stay in Colorado either since he’s only been there for a season.
Next. The Next Michael Bunting. dark
In my opinion, the Toronto Maple Leafs would be best to spend their goaltending budget on a younger goaltender with promise and an older goaltender that can still perform. My ideal choice would be a tandem of Marc-André Fleury and Ville Husso.
The Leafs spent nearly $5.5 million on Campbell/Mrázek last season, and they may be able to get Fleury/Husso for around the same price.