3 Goalies the Toronto Maple Leafs Should Trade For
#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.
#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.
#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.