One important problem the Toronto Maple Leafs want to handle as they construct a roster that addresses their 2024-25 season’s wants is their goaltending state of affairs. With current rumors the group is trying to lengthen younger goalie Joseph Woll, the place does the staff land of their seek for one other? Will they search a veteran goalie who can break up time with Woll? What precisely are the Maple Leafs in search of?
The staff shall be attempting to find a goaltender this offseason, aiming to bolster its depth and presumably discover somebody to problem Woll for the beginning function. Because the free-agent market opens up, the Maple Leafs should steer properly round potential pitfalls. Some goalies match the staff’s wants much better than others.
Associated: Maple Leafs’ Greatest Free Agent Goalie Choices
Because the staff seeks to fill the areas on its roster, right here’s a breakdown of a number of unrestricted free brokers (UFAs) and why they may not match Toronto’s wants. Whereas they could be stable goalies someplace, we don’t suppose they slot in Toronto.
7 Goalies the Maple Leafs Ought to Keep away from
The Maple Leafs ought to keep away from these seven goalies. They don’t match the staff’s wants for the next causes.
Kaapo Kahkonen (Final With the New Jersey Devils)
At 28 years outdated, Kahkonen has struggled to determine himself as a dependable NHL goaltender. His save proportion (SV%) of .899 and goals-against common (GAA) of three.33 over 139 NHL video games point out inconsistency and below-average efficiency. With a historical past of bouncing between totally different NHL groups as a backup, Kahkonen doesn’t undertaking to be the transformative determine the Maple Leafs want in purpose.
Kevin Lankinen (Final With the Nashville Predators)
Whereas Lankinen has proven flashes of potential, significantly within the American Hockey League (AHL), his NHL stats (.905 SV% and three.07 GAA in 112 video games) counsel he hasn’t but confirmed himself able to shouldering a beginning function within the NHL. Given Toronto’s aggressive aspirations, Lankinen’s monitor document doesn’t encourage confidence that he’s a big improve over present choices.
Eric Comrie (Final With the Buffalo Sabres)
Regardless of intensive expertise within the AHL, apart from one stable season with the Winnipeg Jets in 2021-22, Comrie has struggled to make an influence within the NHL. With simply 57 NHL video games performed over eight seasons and a profession SV% of .893, he has but to exhibit the consistency or means to problem Woll for the beginning job. At 29, Comrie’s potential to develop right into a dependable NHL starter seems restricted.
Associated: Maple Leafs’ Forgotten Ones: Jeff Finger
Laurent Brossoit (Final With the Winnipeg Jets)
Brossoit has been getting plenty of noise and chatter about being on the Maple Leafs let’s go-get record however he’s not going the man for Toronto. Whereas Brossoit had a powerful season with the Jets, his general NHL profession as a backup goalie has been inconsistent. His profession SV% of .911 and GAA of two.64 counsel he performs adequately in restricted appearances. Nonetheless, he hasn’t confirmed he’s in a position to maintain high-level play over a full season. His efficiency within the playoffs, with a .890 SV% and three.13 GAA, additional underscores considerations about his means to excel beneath strain. The staff may signal him, however he wouldn’t be our first selection.
Antti Raanta (Final With the Carolina Hurricanes)
Raanta, at 35, has had a decent NHL profession as a backup. Nonetheless, he’s struggled with accidents and declining efficiency in current seasons. His .915 SV% and a pair of.48 GAA over 277 NHL video games are stable. Nonetheless, his age and damage historical past ought to trigger the staff to query his sturdiness and skill to deal with a big workload, components important for a staff just like the Maple Leafs. He was stable in the course of the playoffs when he got here in to cowl for Frederik Andersen, however his best-before date is probably going previous.
Associated: Frederik Andersen’s Unforgivable Sin In accordance To Maple Leafs Followers
James Reimer (Final With the Detroit Purple Wings)
Whereas Reimer is intriguing due to his five-plus seasons with the Maple Leafs to start his NHL profession and wealth of NHL expertise, his current efficiency and age (36) make him a less-than-ideal candidate to problem Woll for the beginning function. His profession SV% of .910 and GAA of two.83 are respectable. Though he’s been a journeyman backup goalie who’s made a pleasant profession within the NHL, Reimer’s potential influence as a starter for the Maple Leafs is restricted at this stage of his profession.
Scott Wedgewood (Final With the Dallas Stars)
One other career-backup goalie, Wedgewood has proven common efficiency metrics (.906 SV% and a pair of.98 GAA in 130 NHL video games) and restricted means to deal with a beginning function. With only one season exceeding 36 video games performed in his 11-season profession, Wedgewood lacks the consistency and monitor document essential to be a viable possibility for Toronto’s goaltending wants.
The Backside Line for the Maple Leafs Goalie Wants
Because the Maple Leafs consider their choices within the UFA goalie market, it’s clear that Kahkonen, Lankinen, Comrie, Brossoit, Raanta, Reimer, and Wedgewood every current vital dangers or limitations that make them less-than-ideal decisions for Toronto’s goaltending wants.
Associated: Rating the Maple Leafs’ Greatest Goalies Since 1990
Whether or not as a consequence of inconsistent efficiency, restricted NHL expertise, age-related considerations, or damage historical past, in our view these goalies don’t present the steadiness or competitors essential to elevate the Maple Leafs’ goaltending state of affairs. As a substitute, the staff ought to give attention to figuring out a goaltender who can reliably work with Woll and contribute to the staff’s success within the upcoming season.
[Note: I want to thank long-time Maple Leafs fan Stan Smith for collaborating with me on this post. Stan’s Facebook profile can be found here.]
