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At Least the Toronto Maple Leafs Know How Badly They Need a Star Goalie

The Toronto Maple Leafs made an equal offer to the Flames for Jacob Markstrom

By James Tanner

Apr 16, 2024; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Calgary Flames goalie Jacob Markstrom (25) makes a save on Vancouver Canucks forward Dakota Joshua (81) in the third period at Rogers Arena. Canucks won 4 -1. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 16, 2024; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Calgary Flames goalie Jacob Markstrom (25) makes a save on Vancouver Canucks forward Dakota Joshua (81) in the third period at Rogers Arena. Canucks won 4 -1. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports / Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports
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When the news was announced that the Calgary Flames had traded Jacob Markstsrom to the New Jersey Devils for such a lame package, it was unclear why the Toronto Maple Leafs didn't just beat it.

Now it appears that the Toronto Maple Leafs did, in fact, give the Flames a comparable offer, but that some left over animosity between Brad Treliving and his former staff made the Flames hesitant to make a trade with the Leafs.

If I was a Flames fan, I'd be livid right now. Craig Conroy is already a bad enough GM, but to learn he took an ingerior package due to a grudge is pretty embarassing, if true.

But as if the news of how cheap the goalie market is wasn't already great news for the Leafs, the fact that they were in on a star goalie, and thus actually recognize that they can't go the tandem route that is seemingly being sold to us by NHL Insiders via the agent of Laurent Brossoit.

The Toronto Maple Leafs Appear to Understand Their Needs

I wasn't sure. With all the talk of Brossoit and (*barfs*) Cam Talbot I was legitamately concerned that the Leafs were content with Woll + a back-up.

Of course we all love Joseph Woll, but he's only played 39 career NHL games and has a sucesptability to injuries that makes him unsuitable as a starter, especially during the Auston Matthews Prime Years.

I'm glad the Leafs didn't get Markstrom, because I think there are at least two better options - Linus Ullmark and especially Jusse Saros - but the fact that they tried to get him shows that they understand the importance of having a top ten goalie.

There is some risk in trading for a goalie, but I am increasingly convinved that in the parity filled NHL that the best way to win and stay above the fray is to go about making a series of risk high-reward plays.

The safe bet is to recognize that goalies in the NHL are volatile and unpredictable and to put your money and spend your assets on more predictable parts of your roster.

However, if you actually hit on a goalie and you get a season or two where you have the best goalie, or one of the best goalies, than your odds of winning go up astronomically.

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If the Leafs had of had more success earlier in the Matthes/Marner Era, they could afford the luxury of seeing what they have in Joseph Woll. Unfortunately they don't, but it's reassuring to realize that they at least realize that.

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