Toronto Maple Leafs 2024 Trade Deadline Targets: Goaltenders

The first installment of the Toronto Maple Leafs 2024 Trade Deadline Targets is going to start from the net out, I will be focusing on three goaltenders that the Leafs should target should they choose to acquire a goaltender.

Last week, I wrote about the Toronto Maple Leafs deadline needs and although I wasn't sure that they should trade for a netminder, it is best to cover all the bases and take a look regardless.

This position might be the most vital for any team, it can sink or swim your season and with the many struggles that Toronto has had between the pipes in 2023-24 and before, the option of trading for a goaltender should not be taken off the table.

Currently, the Leafs goaltending picture is a little bit uncertain.

Toronto Maple Leafs 2024 Trade Deadline Targets: Goaltenders

Joseph Woll is set to return anytime soon and it's hard to guess where his play will be down the stretch, especially with a high ankle sprain and being off for nearly three months. Although, the early signs are positive as he stopped 36 of 37 shots with the Toronto Marlies on a conditioning stint, it would be tough to place a major workload on him so soon after a serious injury.

The other half of the Maple Leafs goalie duo is Ilya Samsonov, who despite being arguably the worst goaltender for the first half of the season, has turned his play around over the past month or so.

It's no surprise that the confidence in him is shaky heading into the playoffs and regardless of his recent play, it could be enough to warrant a fresh face.

Beyond those two, there are not many options internally to turn to if things go south. Martin Jones stepped up admirably in the face of Woll's injury and Samsonov's poor play but has shown his limitations, only posting an above .900 save percentage in two out of his last eight starts.

Beyond him there are only question marks with Dennis Hildeby, Vyacheslav Peksa, and Keith Petruzzelli having zero NHL games of experience between them.

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. 

Jacob Markstrom

Markstrom has been a great starting netminder for years.

At 33 years old, he is entering the twilight of his NHL career and of course, there are risks with acquiring him.

First, he makes $6 million for two more seasons after this. As much as this could be a blessing if he keeps up his play, the large price tag and extra years make the prospect of acquiring the veteran netminder potentially worrisome.

Last year he struggled tremendously, sporting a .892 SV% through 59 games as well as a quality start percentage well below .500 with a .448%, the lowest he has hit in nearly a decade.

This up-and-down play is nothing new to Markstrom who has seen his this largely throughout his career but much more noticeably the past four or five seasons.

If the Leafs do trade for Markstrom, there would almost certainly have to be retention in order to make the risks associated with his acquisition palatable.

Despite the risks, he is one of the top goalies available and could be a difference maker if acquired. On the bright side, he would likely be much cheaper than Saros. There is also familiarity with Leafs brass as Treliving acquired him in his time with Calgary, making him seem like the likeliest candidate if he does decide to trade for a netminder.