The Toronto Maple Leafs might be getting future Hall of Famer Sergei Bobrovsky in the twilight of his career, but that doesn't mean the Russian goaltender doesn't have a bit left in the tank. Just a year removed from the second of back-to-back Stanley Cups, John Chayka and the Leafs hope Bobrovsky can give them maximum value for at least the three years of his contract.
Bobrovsky has been a bit of a late bloomer after a questionable start to the 10-year contract he previously signed with the Florida Panthers. However, he has steadily risen to seventh all-time in wins, sitting three behind Henrik Lundqvist for sixth. While he should pass that mark in short order, his rise to fifth will be more important in Toronto, as he'll need just 28 wins to tie Leafs legend Ed Belfour for fifth.
Bobrovsky already passed Terry Sawchuk and Curtis Joseph this past season, which shows just how important a signing this was for the Maple Leafs, regardless of age. It's been a long time since Toronto had a marquee goaltender the likes of Bobrovsky, and if he can find that 2024 and 2025 Stanley Cup form, he could lift Toronto to new levels.
How high can Sergei Bobrovsky climb in a Maple Leafs sweater?
Bobrovsky had 96 wins over the past three seasons in Florida, an average of 32 wins per season. The Panthers were a juggernaut for two of those years, so the Maple Leafs would have to show a little bit more to start the season before we get to that point with them. Nevertheless, Bobrovsky should start at least 50 games and have a chance to win 26-28 of them with what the Leafs have in front of him.
28 wins per season over his three-year contract would bring him to a total of 540, 11 behind Patrick Roy for third all-time. If the Maple Leafs are even better than we expect, there is no reason why he couldn't add 3-4 more wins per season to the 28 and hit that mark. Passing Roy in the final days of his three-year Toronto contract would be quite the story for the veteran on his way out, if this is the final three years of his career.
A final year after this contract ends could potentially get him past Marc-Andre Fleury into second all-time, and with his longevity and commitment to his health, it's possible. However, the Maple Leafs and their fans prioritize adding one more Stanley Cup to his collection instead of another notch on the all-time wins list.
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