3 Goalies the Toronto Maple Leafs Should Trade For

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The Toronto Maple Leafs biggest need right now is to solidify their goaltending situation, and if they can’t do it by signing a free agent, they might need to do it with a trade.

The Toronto Maple Leafs had some of the worst goaltending stats in the NHL last season. They managed to finish fourth overall in the standings. Imagine what they could’ve done with even league average goaltending.

Jack Campbell is a pending UFA and Petr Mrazek hasn’t worked out at all, so the Toronto Maple Leafs might have two new goalies on their roster when the puck drops to beginning next season.

The Leafs will most likely look to sign a free agent goaltender or two if they can’t sign Campbell and move Mrazek, but if they can’t acquire one “for free,” they’ll probably trade for one.

Joseph Woll or Erik Kallgren could end up in the Leafs backup position next season, but another season with the Toronto Marlies might be best.

Here are three goaltenders rumoured to be on the move that the Toronto Maple Leafs may be interested in:

(some info from CapFriendly)

Mar 6, 2020; Anaheim, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks goaltender John Gibson (36) makes a save against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first period at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

#3 John Gibson

Team: Anaheim Ducks
Age: 28
SV%: .904
GAA: 3.19
Cap Hit: $6.4 Million (5 Years Left)
Contract: 10 Team No Trade List

I’m hearing more talk about John Gibson getting traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs than any other goalie. Apparently, the Ducks want to move him, but is he really the right fit for Leafs?

Gibson had a great start to last season but faltered later on much like Jack Campbell did but even more so. I’m not sure if the Ducks are prepared to hand the reins over to Anthony Stolarz, but Stolarz has been putting up better numbers than Gibson since he joined the Ducks a few seasons ago.

John Gibson was an elite goaltender, but his stats over the past three seasons have been mediocre. The Anaheim Ducks have also been mediocre, so maybe Gibson would elevate his game with a stronger team.

Anaheim has lots of cap space, so Gibson’s $6.4 million cap hit isn’t much of an issue for them, but it might be for the Toronto Maple Leafs. I can’t see them giving up assets to acquire Gibson for that price instead of paying less to re-sign Jack Campbell.

Perhaps Petr Mrazek goes to the Ducks in this deal, or the Ducks retain some salary. I just don’t see how this deal gets done, but it is a popular rumour right now.

Feb 26, 2022; Los Angeles, California, USA; New York Islanders goaltender Semyon Varlamov (40) makes a save in the second period against the Los Angeles Kings at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

#2 Semyon Varlamov

Team: New York Islanders
Age: 34
SV%: .911
GAA: 2.91
Cap Hit: $5 Million (1 Year Left)
Contract: 16 Team No Trade List

With Ilya Sorokin emerging as one of the NHL’s top goaltenders, Semyon Varlamov may get moved out of Long Island.

There appears to be changes coming to the New York Islanders starting with the firing of head coach, Barry Trotz, and their next move may involve Varlamov.

Again, the Toronto Maple Leafs could probably re-sign Jack Campbell for the same price as Varlamov’s $5 million contract. Varlamov is four years older than Campbell and his contract expires after next season, but Varlamov has been a consistent NHL goaltender for a few years now and hasn’t had many injury issues since he had hip surgery in 2017.

I don’t think it’s in the Toronto Maple Leafs goaltending budget to keep Campbell and take Varlamov and if it comes down to it, they’d probably rather have Campbell.

PHILADELPHIA, PA – JANUARY 19: James Reimer #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs in action against the Philadelphia Flyers at Wells Fargo Center on January 19, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

#1 James Reimer – A Return to the Toronto Maple Leafs?

Team: San Jose Sharks
Age: 34
SV%: .911
GAA: 2.90
Cap Hit: $2.25 Million (1 Year Left)
Contract: 5 Team No Trade List

How cool would it be to see “Optimus-Reim” back with the Toronto Maple Leafs! With the San Jose Sharks acquiring 25 year-old, Kaapo Kähkönen, from the Minnesota Wild at the trade deadline and having Adin Hill as backup, there is a good chance Reimer could be on the move.

Reimer comes with an affordable salary that would definitely fit the Toronto Maple Leafs budget even if they do re-sign Jack Campbell or bring in another free agent goalie.

Some may say that Reimer may not want to return to Toronto and the Leafs may be on his 5-team no-trade list because his wife received around 300 death treats on Twitter while Reimer was with the Toronto Maple Leafs back in 2013.

Reimer did stay with the Leafs until 2016 though and hopefully the trauma has subsided after 10 years away from Toronto.

Next. 10 UFA Goalies the Leafs Might Sign. dark

The most likely scenario is that the Toronto Maple Leafs will sign a UFA goaltender or two without giving up assets. Joseph Woll or Erik Kallgren could also end up in a backup role next season, but if the Toronto Maple Leafs trade for a goaltender, I’m hoping for the return of James Reimer.

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