Toronto Maple Leafs 2024 Trade Deadline Targets: Goaltenders

Juuse Saros

Does this need any explanation?

There are only a handful of goaltenders that are truly elite in the NHL year-over-year and Saros is consistently one of them.

Despite being small for a modern day netminder, Saros has gathered Vezina votes like they’re going out of style in recent years.

Tack on that he only makes $5 million and has another year left on his contract after this, he is one of only a few players I would beg the Leafs to move heaven and earth to acquire.

In four of the past five seasons he has posted a 60% or greater quality start percentage (QS%) and has never finished a season with a negative goals saved above average (GSAA) or expected (GSAx).

To accompany this, he has never had a save percentage below .914% and has been top-10 in Vezina trophy voting each of the past three seasons.

Make no mistake, the price will be enormous. There are very few comparables for a potential Saros trade because goaltenders of his calibre rarely hit the trade market, especially not when they are well established.

Typically, goaltenders of his caliber are moved before they breakout. The closest I could find was the Frederik Andersen trade from the Anaheim Ducks to the Leafs, costing a first and second round picks. Needless to say, if Toronto could acquire Saros, it would immediately push them into legit cup contention for the next two seasons.