Toronto Maple Leafs Going With Complete Goaltending Overhaul

The Toronto Maple Leafs have one goaltender entering unrestricted free agency and another making $3.8 million that they now wish to move. As if that was not enough, the team is not renewing the contract for their goalie coach Steve Briere.

Briere’s contract expires on June 30th, and so does his seven years with the organization. Hockey insider Chris Johnston has reported that Toronto Maple Leafs General Manager Kyle Dubas plans on doing a full analysis of the hockey department. Dubas will be doing this while also looking for Briere’s replacement.

Looking back at Briere’s time with the team, there are some positives, such as Frederik Andersen and Jack Campbell making it onto NHL All-Star teams. There are also some negatives, such as Toronto not finishing higher than 15th in save percentage amongst all NHL teams in the last three seasons. Goaltenders under his watch also seemed to suffer their fair share of injuries.

Toronto shouldn’t have trouble finding a new goalie coach. The problem will be finding the right one. The troubling part is the team doesn’t even know who their goaltenders will be for the 2022-23 season. Some Goaltenders like to work with certain types of goalie coaches. So the signing of a new goalie coach might not happen until Dubas solves his goaltending situation.

Toronto Maple Leafs Must Trade Petr Mrazek

Kyle Dubas needs to find a way to get rid of Petr Mrazek and his entire $3.8 million salary-cap hit. He might need to include a prospect in the trade to make it happen. Depending on which team Dubas trades with will determine which prospect gets included.
(Salary cap info from: capfriendly.com)

According to Jonas Siegel of The Athletic, The Chicago Blackhawks have an interest in Mrazek. Could a deal between these two teams happen? It is possible as Chicago currently has no NHL goaltender under contract for next season.

To save as much cap space as possible, Dubas might only want a draft pick in return. A possible return could be the Edmonton Oilers’ third-round pick which is one of three picks Chicago has in the third round. Dubas might even try to get his own third-round pick back from Chicago.

If Dubas actually gets an asset back for Mrazek, instead of having to pay someone to take him, it will border on miraculous.

Toronto Maple Leafs Will Likely Lose Jack Campbell

If Jack Campbell and his agents refuse to budge from their asking price of $5 million, then Campbell has played his last game with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Dubas would be open to re-signing Campbell, but it would have to be on a much cheaper deal. There is still time to negotiate before free agency starts on July 13th. Dubas could be looking for two goaltenders this off-season.

Plenty of teams will be calling Campbell’s agent when free agency starts, and some will be willing to pay the asking price. It will be interesting to see how Dubas addresses his team’s biggest need this off-season.