There is no question that the Toronto Maple Leafs are the team in most need of a goaltender across the league. With Joseph Woll injured and Ilya Samsonov waived, Martin Jones is starting. He started the season as the third string goalie. Dennis Hildeby will back up for now, but at just 22 years old, that isn’t a strong support system in net, no matter how hard the Maple Leafs play.
Jones has provided some solid goaltending, but he is 4-3-0. He has a .915 save percentage (SV%), but has also lost three of his past four. Samsonov was unplayable and deserved to be sent down. Ideally, the Maple Leafs would have Jones as their third string goalie once again heading into the playoffs. Woll is week-to-week, so there is no set timetable. This isn’t a question of if the Maple Leafs will add a netminder, it’s how soon can they pull something off.
As opposed to other teams, the Maple Leafs have some cap space to add since John Klingberg’s cap hit got erased when he landed on the LTIR. While defence could also use some help, I think goaltending is the most important and most of the cap space should be available to be used here. Elliotte Friedman listed five teams that have goalies to sell in the Montreal Canadiens, Anaheim Ducks, Columbus Blue Jackets, San Jose Sharks, and Chicago Blackhawks. Let’s look at the top-three options Toronto can target to add in net.
Kaapo Kahkonen, San Jose Sharks
While some would argue that Mackenzie Blackwood is the better goalie option from the San Jose Sharks, he will also garner more attention and cost more to acquire. Though the second year on his deal would be nice, the Maple Leafs might want another reset in net. Kaapo Kahkonen is underrated as he’s playing on the worst team in the league. He faces a ton of shots and the talk around San Jose is that he has actually had a good season.
Despite a 5-10-1 record, Kahkonen has a .902 SV% on the season. Over half of his starts have been quality starts, and he has the potential to play 40+ games in a season. His cap hit is $2.75 million AAV and he is a UFA at the end of the season. There would be potential there to re-sign him if he performs in Toronto, but another benefit is that the Sharks could retain some money even though the Maple Leafs may not require them to. Running with Jones and Kahkonen could work until Woll gets back for sure. That would give Toronto two viable options. Maybe Samsonov could even be sent the other way so that the Sharks have a goalie to run with for the remainder of the season if Blackwood is also to be moved.
Spencer Martin, Columbus Blue Jackets
The Columbus Blue Jackets have nearly as much need to move a goaltender as the Maple Leafs do to acquire one. While the Maple Leafs aren’t likely to commit to Elvis Merzlikins for the multiple years remaining on his deal, they very well could look at Spencer Martin. He started last year for a while for the Vancouver Canucks while Thatcher Demko was injured. After not making the team in Vancouver this season, the Blue Jackets picked him up and he has played well in his role for them.
Merzlikins is day-to-day with an illness, but should be back in no time. Daniil Tarasov, who the Blue Jackets are more invested in as the backup to Merzlikins, is also back from injury. The team definitely doesn’t want to hold three goalies on their roster with all of the talent elsewhere they have. Martin is very cheap at $762,500 AAV. He is more capable of stopping pucks than Samsonov right now, and would leave a good amount of room for a larger acquisition elsewhere.
Jake Allen, Montreal Canadiens
It may be tougher for the Maple Leafs to pull off a trade with the Montreal Canadiens, but that doesn’t mean a trade won’t happen. Brad Treliving is familiar with the Canadiens from his time with the Calgary Flames. They have made deals, and I think another one benefiting both sides can be pulled off. The Canadiens won’t hold their place in the standings for long and will sink to the bottom. They have been looking to trade a goalie this entire season and their chance is here.
Jake Allen is the most likely choice. Since Sam Montembeault was re-signed and Cayden Primeau is up-and-coming, Allen would be the target from the Canadiens by the Maple Leafs. He has experience to play alongside Woll when he returns, and is capable of playing well for stretches and playing a lot if needed. He does have another year and the Canadiens would likely have to retain some money unless they just take Samsonov back and keep him in the AHL for the remainder of his contract.
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I like the options the Maple Leafs have, and if they’re the quickest to the punch, which they need to be, there will be fewer teams to compete with. A move needs to happen very soon or they will find themselves in a bad spot.
