The Toronto Maple Leafs are highly likely to trade for a goalie ahead of next week's NHL Entry Draft.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are not bringing back Ilya Samsonov who was an absolute disaster last season and lost his job in the playoffs to Joseph Woll (though, due to mismanagement, he somehow was the team's starting goalie in the playoffs even though they put him on waivers in January).
Despite all the management errors over the years, Brad Treliving not getting a goalie, and instead sticking with Ilya Samsonov, has to be one of, if not the biggest mistake of the Brendan Shanahan Era.
The Leafs will be getting a goalie this summer, as Samsonov is done and Joseph Woll is not nearly reliable enough due to his injury history, and has only played about 40 total NHL games.
One goalie they won't be getting, however, is Jacob Markstrom because he has been traded to the New Jersey Devils.
1 Goalie Option Off the Table for Toronto Maple Leafs: Jacob Markstrom Traded
The Leafs were linked to Markstrom because he is an excellent goalie who has been great in two of the last three seasons. He was one of the premier goalies thought to be available, and his current contract was signed by the Leafs current GM.
Fortunately (I think, anyways) the Devils have acquired him and saved the Leafs the trouble.
Believe Calgary’s Jakob Markstrom is being traded to New Jersey.
— Travis Yost (@travisyost) June 19, 2024
In my opinion, the Leafs should be after a younger goalie than Markstrom who is 34. The two years left at $6 million are also scary.
This trade impacts the Leafs in three ways.
1. It sets the market for a goalie.
The Flames are retaining one-third of Markstrom's salary, and getting back a top-ten protected first-round pick, and defenseman Kevin Bahl to the New Jersey Devils for Markstrom. This according to Elliotte Friedman.
You can expect the Leafs to pay a similar price if they want Jusse Saros, the only other big-game goalie thought to be available.
Also, what the Devils pay should be more than the Leafs will have to pay for their other options, who I assume are Jordan Binnington and John Gibson.
2. They can't get Markstrom
This is self explanitory.
3. It might make MacKenzie Weegar available.
By trading their goalie, the Flames signal a full rebuild is in the cards. Weegar is signed until 2031 and he is 30 year old right now.
If the Flames have to trade him, his contract might make him cheap, and this would be a very good way to acquire a top pairing defenseman on the cheap.