When the Toronto Maple Leafs brought in John Chayka and Mats Sundin to oversee the front office, many wondered what the Leafs' direction would be. Were they going to add pieces to the roster and try to make another push? Or were they going to move pieces, try to rebuild the roster and give the organization a fresh start? It was a question not only fans were wondering, but one that Chayka was going to have to answer.
But with the signing of Sergei Bobrovsky to a three-year deal with an average annual value of seven million, we got a clear sign of what they think of this team. They believe that the Cup window for this team is open and are going to do whatever it takes to get this team over the hump. But how does the Bobrovsky signing support this sentiment, and is this enough for the Leafs to make it back to the playoffs?
John Chayka believes the Leafs have the core to win a Cup
For years, Bobrovsky has been the backbone of the Panthers dynasty. Over his seven seasons in Sunrise, he registered a .903 save percentage and a 2.80 goals-against average. He also led them to three Stanley Cup Final appearances and back-to-back championships. It's clear that Bobrovsky has the ability to put a team on his back and lead them to a deep playoff run. He knows what it takes to win and can bring that mindset to the Leafs.
Goalie was one of the biggest problems the Leafs had last season. Joseph Woll, Anthony Stolarz, and Dennis Hildeby all appeared in over 20 games, and only Hildeby registered a save percentage over .900 and a goals-against average under three. He was also the one who appeared in the fewest games for the Leafs. The Leafs had to find stability in net this offseason, and Bobrovsky gives them that. He is someone they can rely on for over 45 starts and solid numbers.
If your focus is on the future and re-tooling the roster to win a few seasons from now, you do not sign Bobrovsky. While he is still an above-average goaltender, his time in the league appears to be numbered. He will be 38 in September and will be in his 40s by the end of this deal. This could very likely be the last contract that he signs. Why would you bring in an aging goalie if you were not trying to win next season? It would be a very poor use of resources.
Chayka believes that Bobrovsky has enough in the tank to be the goalie that the Leafs have been missing for years. He alone can help return the Leafs to the playoff team it was just a couple of seasons ago. A few more supporting pieces, and we could be seeing a team that is ready to make some noise in the Eastern Conference. A team that has fixed the problems that plagued them last season and is ready to begin a new chapter.
Whether this is the right move remains to be seen. However, Leafs fans now have a clear idea of what direction Chayka is taking the organization.
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