The Toronto Maple Leafs entered the off-season with one glaring need: A Goalie.
Since then, two of the best goalies have come off the market, and the Toronto Maple Leafs didn't get either of them.
Worst of all: they both came extremely cheap.
Last week, the Flames all but gave New Jersey one of the top starting goalies in the NHL in Jacob Markstrom.
Last night, the Boston Bruins, seemingly out of their minds, did much worse.
Trade Grades for 2 Toronto Maple Leafs Rivals + Another Goalie Gone
The Leafs better get off their collective buts, because they are having a brutal off-season so far. It began with a hilarious and embarrassing press conference, led to the scapegoating of Sheldon Keefe, while Mitch Marner was seemingly thrown to the wolves.
Since then, two of the five decent goalies thought to be available have dropped off the board. All that's left is Jusse Saros (the crown jewl of the NHL off-season), John Gibson and Jordan Binnington.
Yesterday the news broke that the Leafs are close to an extenstion with Joseph Woll, but that hardly fixes any of their problems and seems both risky and unnecessary.
As for the Trade grades:
Boston Bruins: F-
Any time the Bruins are humilated, I'm here for it. Yesterday they traded last year's Vezina trophy winner, and the guy who helped them to two-straight years of having the best goaltending in the sport.
Not only did they trade him for a worse goalie with a dumb contract, they also failed to receive any good assets. They recieved Mark Kastelic, which is, I guess, like getting socks for Christmas - but not good ones, just a cheap bag from Costco that says "we don't love you enough to get you anything cool, but we felt an obligation, so.....socks!"
The best part of the trade was the 25th pick in this Friday's upcoming NHL Entry Draft, but hilariously it was Boston's original pick.
I realize that Ulmark only has one year left on his deal, but that should be a selling point, not a detraction. This trade is epically stupid. hahahahahah Boston!!!
Ottawa A +++++++++
Anytime you pull of a low-risk high-reward maneuver, no matter what it is, you should feel happy, and that's exactly what this is for Ottawa.
The risk is low, the potential reward is the Stanley Cup. They are pretty much instantly a contender by getting Ullmark and they did it so cheaply it defies belief.
The rumour was Jacob Chychrun for Ullmark, which would have made sense, but the fact he's not included just makes this a write-off for the Bruins and a solid gold touchdown grandslam for the Ottawa Senators.
As for the Leafs, these low prices should aid them in the pursuit of a real goalie, but there aren't that many left.