Eric Comrie
Current Team: Winnipeg Jets
Age: 26
2021-22 Stats: 10-5-1, 2.58 GAA, .920 SV%
Current Salary: $750,000
Projected Salary: $2 Million
Role: Back-up/Tandem Goalie
Toronto’s biggest need is in net and Eric Comrie could be their number one guy in the very near future. He had the second best save percentage and goals against average last season of any pending UFA goaltender to play in at least 10 games. The goalie barely ahead of him was Darcy Kuemper.
Eric Comrie would be wise to take an offer from the Toronto Maple Leafs. He’d have the opportunity to compete for the starting job on an contender with the Leafs, and after Darcy Kuemper and Jack Campbell are signed, there may not be any other contenders looking for a goalie.
One stat that people have mentioned in regards to Matt Murray is Goals Saved Above Expected. When you look at GSX per 60 for goalies who played at least 10 games last season, Matt Murray was ranked 18th in the NHL, Jack Campbell was was 37th, Petr Mrazek was 68th, Erik Kallgren was 60th and Eric Comrie was 2nd behind only Igor Shesterkin.
Comrie is still young for a regular NHL goaltender, and his stats last season are very similar to the stats that won Jack Campbell the starting job in Toronto two seasons ago. Instead of signing Jack Campbell, the Leafs should sign the cheaper “next Jack Campbell” and that could very well be Eric Comrie.
As a Group 6 UFA, Eric Comrie could also become the next Michael Bunting who was also signed as a Group 6 UFA and became “the next Zach Hyman.” Group 6 UFA’s are generally a bit younger than standard UFA’s and can usually be signed for less since their NHL sample sizes are smaller.
If the Toronto Maple Leafs miss out on signing Comrie, they could sign a veteran back-up like Jaroslav Halák for less. They could also go with Joseph Woll and/or Erik Kallgren to start the season and reassess at the trade deadline.
The other option for the Toronto Maple Leafs would be to make a trade to acquire an affordable goaltender. James Reimer at $2.25 million seems legit, but only if they can’t get Eric Comrie.
With the changes I’ve made the new Leafs roster would look something like this: