The Toronto Maple Leafs entered the NHL Draft in search of a goalie. They left Montreal still facing the same question. But unlike before the draft, the Maple Leafs now have a variety of options available.
GM Kyle Dubas did not hide his options when he spoke to reporters in the draft. That was after he was able to successfully remove Petr Mrazek’s $ 3.8 million maximum hit from the books.
“With the maximum space we have now, all options are available to us,” Dubas said.
Find the right option
The big question the Maple Leafs now face is what is their best option. With the opening of the free agency on Wednesday, they could go to market with their new found space. They have about $ 10.2 million available.
Could they review Jack Campbell’s situation? May be. They can register and see if an agreement can be reached. Still, it still seems like a complicated situation.
Campbell is unlikely to accept a hometown discount. Securing it would seem to require an AAV of at least $ 5 million. Yes, the Maple Leafs can afford it on the surface. But with other moves they have to make, that would be very tight again.
Kyle Dubas at the #NHL goalie market: “Good sense of where [it’s] a, where it goes and who is available, what the cost will be in a trade. We will discuss our own situation with Jack [Campbell] and if it gets to this point we will work … with the rest of the free agents “
If they could somehow agree to less than $ 5 million, then there’s a possibility. It seems more likely that the Oilers can give Campbell what he is looking for. But at least the Maple Leafs can re-register. It would have been almost impossible without first dealing with Mrazek.
What about the other free agent options? Ville Husso’s rights were ceded to the Detroit Red Wings. He then signed a new three-year deal with them for $ 4.75 million. So it’s off.
Then there is the situation of Darcy Kuemper. His performance in winning the Stanley Cup helped him get out of Colorado. It will be highly sought after with various interested teams.
Can the Maple Leafs present the best deal? If not, can they present themselves as the best situation to join? With the Washington Capitals among the teams with the most interest, there is no guarantee that Kuemper will finish with the Maple Leafs.
A trade in blockbusters
If the Maple Leafs go out in free agency, they can follow the trade route. This presents them with a unique opportunity to solve once and for all their goalkeeper problem not only this season but also in the foreseeable future.
At the end of the day, the Maple Leafs want to find the goalkeeper who will help them win the Stanley Cup. But who could be available in the trade to help them now and in the future?
A name stands out for the current situation of his team. This is Anaheim Ducks goalkeeper John Gibson.
The Maple Leafs should take a look at John Gibson’s acquisition. (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)
This is where we have to ask the question: can a highly successful deal be found that would bring Gibson to the Maple Leafs? We set the stage.
Could Gibson work in Toronto?
Gibson has five more seasons left in his deal worth a $ 6.4 million AAV. Assuming the full AAV would not be ideal if the money did not go the other way. Who would go to the Ducks that would make sense given its high selling price on any commercial package.
In terms of comparable money, William Nylander stands out. Nylander has two more seasons with $ 6.96 million. The Maple Leafs would need a lot to move from Nylander. It would also take a long time for the Ducks to move from Gibson. Would a one-for-one situation be enough? Our Maple Leafs contributor Alex Hobson believes the team should look at Gibson if the price is right.
Related: Maple Leafs should consider Gibson at the right price
Hobson also points out that there is a significant risk in acquiring Gibson citing his recent numbers. Having said that, he also believes the team should be able to compete in the East with Andrei Vasilevskiy and Igor Shesterkin.
This is what makes Gibson intriguing. That’s also why the Maple Leafs should consider changing a player like Nylander into a possible deal. The AAV is similar to the Maple Leafs who get some extra space for the first two years. They would have their network set for the next five years.
If trading with William Nylander meant securing your network for many years, the Maple Leafs have to think about it. (Jess Starr / The Hockey Writers)
Gibson would join a team much deeper in Toronto than in Anaheim. The numbers don’t lie. When he fought, it was bad. But when he’s right, he’s one of the best goalkeepers in the NHL.
As I’ve talked about in previous pieces, Nylander is a luxury when you already have the offensive firepower of the Maple Leafs. The missing key piece is on the network. That’s why it’s worth thinking about a highly successful trade centered around Gibson and Nylander. If trading with Nylander meant bringing the missing piece to the puzzle, you have to think hard about it.
It should be noted that Gibson has some of the cards with its modified list of 10 unchanged teams. It should indicate that it is okay for him to accept a change to the Maple Leafs.
From the Ducks side, they would have an elite offensive threat to join their young core Trevor Zegras and Mason McTavish. What could cause the Ducks doubts is what they would do on the net if Gibson changed. But would your contract last knowing that the pains of growth are still on the horizon? Also, would Nylander re-sign with the Ducks once the deal expires?
The Ducks could be a desirable destination given their young talent led by Trevor Zegras. (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)
Hobson believes the Maple Leafs would need another piece like Maxime Comtois to make it a fair deal. He believes Nylander’s exchange would need more on the comeback as he arrives from an 80-point season that was the peak of his career.
The bottom line
At the end of the day, a trade can work in the right situation. The Gibson / Nylander example shows how each player would benefit the new team while seeing the potential weaknesses of the deal.
However, if the Maple Leafs make a very successful exchange for a goalie who turns money in and out of money, he takes care of his need in goal even though they still have room to go to others. parts of the equipment. Signing a goalkeeper at the free agency puts you back against the cap again.
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That’s why the Maple Leafs should be considered a highly successful business. It would allow them to finish once and for all in the constant search for a goalkeeper.
But as Dubas said, all options are on the table. That decision could finally decide if the Maple Leafs finally get to where they want to go. This is drinking from the Lord Stanley Cup.
I’m a fully accredited writer covering the Columbus Blue Jackets, Cleveland Monsters and Erie Otters, as well as the Ontario Hockey League and the NHL Draft. The 2021-22 season will mark eight seasons with the Hockey Writers. I am also the site credential manager.