There is no doubt that the Toronto Maple Leafs are calling other teams on their goalkeepers right now.
Jack Campbell is about to hit the open market, while the signing of the 2021 low season, Petr Mrazek, was terrible last season. The only question is whether they need a goalkeeper or two; they might be looking for both a beginner and an alternative. While the free agent market would allow them to acquire a player without giving up assets, the trade route usually leads to less successful options.
I recently saw the free agent goalie market here, and since Scott Wedgewood already signed up, there are now only eight options available that posted a savings percentage in excess of .900 last season. Even if the Leafs like a certain free agent, all it takes is for a team to make a great offer to get them out of consideration. The trade route seems likely, especially if they end up acquiring two goalkeepers instead of one.
This article will go over almost all the possible options to find the best option.
Let’s dive.
The goalkeepers of the Anaheim Ducks
Photo: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
John Gibson ($ 5 x $ 6.4 million)
Statistics 2021-2022: 56 GP,, 904 sv%, -5,5 GSAx.
Two previous seasons: 86 GP, .904 sv%, -13.6 GSAx.
During the first three seasons of Auston Matthews’ career, Gibson led the league in terms of GSAx by a wide margin. He has been out for three consecutive seasons since then, but is still only 28 years old, so there is a chance he will regain his former form. The big question here: what part of its $ 6.4 million maximum success is Anaheim willing to retain?
He’s had some pretty terrible teams up front, but Anthony Stolarz has certainly had no trouble putting good numbers on the Ducks this season. Ultimately, acquiring Gibson would be a type of high-risk, high-reward move. If he recovers, you could have one of the best goalkeepers in the league at a bargain price. If you don’t, you have five years of a disastrous contract.
It would not change for Gibson unless there is a significant salary withholding. If a team like the Oilers takes him for a million dollars per retention season, the Ducks will probably move him. If not, I think they keep it and let it rebuild some value. I think it’s a long way from ending up in Toronto. If you make a savings percentage of less than .900 for the fourth consecutive season, it will cost you a lot to get out of the last four years of your deal.
Anthony Stolarz ($ 1 x $ 0.95 million)
Statistics 2021-2022: 28 GP,, 917 sv%, 3.83 GSAx.
Two previous seasons: 9 GP, .928 sv%, 3.03 GSAx.
The Leafs are in the market for a good young goalkeeper with a bargain contract. Purchasing one would allow them to spend more in other areas (including another goalkeeper). The Ducks have plenty of space for hats and an expensive goalkeeper at Gibson. While they may think about expanding Stolarz and keeping him as part of their future, it’s worth noting that he’s only six months younger than Gibson.
The Ducks are not in a position to fully capitalize on Stolarz’s bargaining contract. They are still in rebuild mode and are miles from the salary cap. They could always change it as a rental on the deadline, but if they get a good offer now, why would they wait? In theory, they could exchange Stolarz for future assets now, sign someone else and turn them over by the deadline to get even more assets.
The 6’6 olar Stolarz was Marner’s goalkeeper in his early years in London. He was one of the best AHL goalkeepers in 2019-20 and played very well in his eight-game NHL game in 2020-21. Assuming they exchange a goalkeeper, the Ducks are in an ideal position to take on Mrazek’s contract. Leafs could send selections and prospects in return. Stolarz has been one of my main targets for some time.
Goalkeepers of Sant Josep
Photo: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports
Adin Hill (1 x $ 2.175 billion)
Statistics 2021-2022: 25 GP,, 906 sv%, -6.6 GSAx.
Two previous seasons: 32 GP, .915 sv%, -0.5 GSAx.
James Reimer ($ 1 x $ 2.25 million)
Statistics 2021-2022: 48 GP,, 911 sv%, 4.8 GSAx.
Two previous seasons: 47 GP, .910 sv%, 4.2 GSAx.
Kaapo Kahkonen (RFA)
Statistics 2021-2022: 37 GP,, 912 sv%, 2.4 GSAx.
Two previous seasons: 29 GP, .904 sv%, -19.5 GSAx.
The Sharks have three NHL goalkeepers in Hill, Reimer and Kaapo Kahkonen. Surely someone is moving. The 25-year-old Kahkonen is the youngest of the three, and since they just changed him on the deadline, it looks like one from Hill or Reimer will move to another location. Neither player is good enough to be ranked as a clear No. 1 starter in a contender, but both are capable 1B options that can provide some stability.
Hill was changed before last year’s expansion draft along with a seventh-round pick for prospect Joseph Korenar and a second-round pick. He struggled with an injury to his lower body and only played in 25 games with the Sharks; besides, he was rather mediocre when he played. It hasn’t been proven yet: this year’s 25 games were the pinnacle of his career. Hill makes 6’6 ″, so if you like your massive goalkeepers, he could be your man.
Reimer signed a two-year contract last offseason and ended up impressing while earning most of his playing time with the Sharks. His numbers from his two previous seasons in Carolina are almost identical to his numbers with San Jose. Since both Reimer and Hill have only one year left for free agency, expect them to grab the best deal available.
Kahkonen was acquired on the deadline for a few months from the services of Jacob Middleton and a fifth-round selection. He struggled a lot as a rookie, but this season he achieved respectable numbers between San Jose and Minnesota. I think he’s the one who’s least likely to move out of the three, but the Sharks didn’t give up a lot for him, so I guess it’s possible the Leafs could get him for a bigger offer.
The Sharks have some good underrated strikers (I’m the president of the Rudolph Balcers fan club), so I wonder if there’s a more important deal with Alex Kerfoot or Ondrej Kase that makes sense. Many rebuilding teams won’t want to give up assets for a “1B” type year and many contenders already have their two goalkeepers for next year. Teams like Colorado and Edmonton have a good “1B” option, but they’re probably looking for a headline more than Hill or Reimer. If the Leafs move Mrazek, those two are big bets to be his replacement.
Calgary Flames goalkeepers
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Dan Vladar (1 x 0.75 million dollars, expired FRG)
Statistics 2021-2022: 23 GP,, 906 sv%, -3.6 GSAx.
Two previous seasons: 5 GP.
Vladar is a 6.5 ″ goalkeeper who will turn 25 in August. Jakob Markstrom was a Vezina finalist this season, but will not reach free agency until 2026, so that is clearly the number one option. While it will take a good deal to acquire it, the Flames could firmly consider any move to help their team in other areas. If the Leafs think it could be the next Jack Campbell, they can certainly put together a strong offer that the Flames would consider.
I am convinced that Vladar was better than his numbers suggest this season. Having watched all the goals he allowed, he seemed to get more of his reason for perfect shots and bad rebounds. He has published good numbers at the AHL level in the past.
The big question: do the Leafs see him as a good young goalkeeper who is about to have a great season? If so, acquiring it and its maximum success of $ 750,000 would allow them to spend more in other areas. However, if they see him as one more support, they probably won’t offer enough for Calgary to separate from him.
The Flames are ready for the future with both Jakob Markstrom and best prospect Dustin Wolf, so Vladar is likely to be dispensable. It will be a restricted free agent next season, so if it works well, it could be a long-term option instead of a one-year lease.
Dustin Wolf (2 x 0.813 million dollars, expired FRG)
Statistics 2021-2022 (AHL): 47 GP,, 924 sv%.
Wolf just turned 21 in April and has yet to play any NHL games. Still, he is one of the best potential goalkeepers in the league and the Flames already have Markstrom and Vladar. For a Flames team looking to fight over the coming seasons, it would be one of their best commercials.
Its percentage of savings per season in the WHL: .928, .936, .935, .940. He achieved a .924 savings percentage in 47 games as an AHL rookie this season and followed with a .929 in 13 playoff games. He’s only 6’0 ″ and maybe his success won’t translate to the NHL level, but so far he’s been very impressive. Undoubtedly, the Leafs could use a legitimate goalkeeper of the future instead of an interim option.
Carolina Hurricanes goalkeepers
Photo: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
Antti Raanta (1 x 2 million dollars)
Statistics 2021-2022: 28 GP,, 912 sv%, 7.8 GSAx.
Two previous seasons: 45 GP, .917 sv%, 4.2 GSAx.
Raanta comes off a strong season, especially when we add his .922 savings percentage in 13 playoff games. His entire career has been incredibly underrated; ranks sixth in save percentage since entering the league just behind Ben Bishop, Jusse Saros, Corey Crawford, Andrei Vasilevskiy and Tuukka Rask. If we look at GSAx per game, he has been the best NHL goalie during this stretch among 64 qualified goalkeepers with 5,000 shooting attempts against him. However, Frederik Andersen was Vezina’s candidate this season and Pyotr Kochetkov seems ready for the NHL.
Raanta’s biggest problem has been staying healthy, as he only played 12 games in both the 2018-19 and 2020-21 seasons. He’s still only 33 and managed to play in 41 games between the regular season and this year’s playoffs, so maybe those worries are behind him.
It’s unclear whether Ethan Bear or Tony DeAngelo will return to the Hurricanes next season, which could mean they could have an interest in Justin Holl. Vincent Trocheck, Nino Niederreiter and Max Domi are outstanding free agents, so they could also have an interest in Alex Kerfoot. You will want to have a good …