Will the Toronto Maple Leafs Lose a Goalie?
The recent signing of proven NHL goaltender Martin Jones was a smart depth signing by the Leafs. It gives them a third goalie that they can rely on.
Most NHL teams now use goaltending tandems to get them through the season. It is a rarity for a number one goalie to play sixty-plus games.
The nature of the position makes it likely that there will be tweaks of muscles or net collisions that result in injury. This makes it all the more important to have depth.
The question is, how long will this depth last?
The signing of Jones was a prudent move by the Leafs, but the team is likely to carry only two goaltenders to start the regular season.
Promising homegrown goalie Joseph Woll is no longer eligible to be sent to the AHL affiliate Toronto Marlies without being exposed to waivers.
Woll is younger than Jones, with a higher ceiling, and carries RFA status looking ahead to the 2024-2025 season. That makes him a safe bet to partner with the returning Ilya Samsonov.
Should all three goalies come out of the preseason healthy, the Leafs will have to expose Jones to waivers, unless they choose to carry three goalies on the roster.
Jones would probably get picked up by another team. He has a low salary for a proven, dependable net presence.
The best-case scenario for the Leafs would see all three goalies stay healthy and they slip Jones through the waiver wire before the season starts.
Then, they hope Samsonov and Woll handle the goaltending duties throughout the year with Jones on standby with the Marlies.
If the Leafs have to make numerous goalie transactions throughout the season due to injury, the more likely it is Jones gets lost through a waiver claim.