The Toronto Maple Leafs Have To Solve Goaltending Issues

The Toronto Maple Leafs are in Sweden for the NHL Global Series where they will play their next two games against the Detroit Red Wings on Friday, and the Minnesota Wild on Sunday.

Because the Toronto Maple Leafs will be traveling out of the country into Europe, the NHL has allowed teams to each bring in a third goaltender onto their roster, a move that could become a blessing in disguise for the Leafs.

With the team’s goaltending situation being very up-and-down, the Leafs currently holding veteran goaltender Martin Jones as the team’s third option, a player many feared the team would lose on waivers prior to the start of the season.

Supposed starting goalie Ilya Samsonov has been brutal to say the least, allowing 3.79 GAA in just eight starts, being pulled twice, and winning just two of the contests.

Joseph Woll, the team’s projected backup coming into the year has been a bright spot, winning five of his nine starts. Prior to the season, many wondered if Martin Jones’ strong play in the preseason would push him to a spot on the roster but unfortunately, NHL teams can only carry two goalies at a time.

Although he’s been very shaky with the Toronto Marlies, this weekend could be a good chance to give Jones a shot in between the pipes with the big club thanks to the games being in Sweden. The discovery of another viable option at goalie could bring a lot of value to a Toronto Maple Leafs team that still has plenty of work to do if they want to challenge for a Stanley Cup in 2024.

NHL Global Series Games Give Toronto Maple Leafs Chance To Solve Goaltending Issues

Could Jones come in and look awful and cost the team a win?

Sure and for this Maple Leafs team, wins could be more valuable than past seasons, but what about the other side of the argument?

Jones come in and looks stellar, setting him up to be the teams backup and the idea of moving off Samsonov, who’s on a 1-year $3.55 million deal could be an avenue for the team to find some money during a cap crunch.

Or it could be as simple as the team moves Jones after a good performance and acquires a draft pick for a player who’s buried in the Marlies, a draft pick that can be used to acquire a player to help this team in 2023-24.

Although it does seem extremely strange for the NHL to send teams to Sweden for games in an attempt to grow the game when Sweden is a strong hockey country, the Toronto Maple Leafs might have been given a blessing in disguise by the strange move.

If nothing else, it’s going to be a fun experience for several Swedish born players on the Leafs, including William Nylander who’s off to an incredible start to the season with 15 straight games with a point.