Maple Leafs goalie trade set to come as early as next week

The Toronto Maple Leafs head into an end of the week consecutive against the Columbus Blue Coats and Carolina Typhoons and in the event that things don’t go as expected, GM Brad Treliving might have no real option except to make a goalie exchange.

Martin Jones looked exceptionally standard against the Ottawa Legislators on Wednesday night, allowing in three objectives on 29 shots and has to some degree return to earth after a hot beginning in Toronto. Ilya Samsonov’s striving the most terrible of his vocation, in the event that the misfortunes keep on stacking up this end of the week and with Joseph Woll still essentially a month away, there might be no decision except for to make an exchange.

The Eastern Meeting season finisher race is somewhat close. The Leafs sit in third in the Atlantic heading into the end of the week, but the Tampa Cove Lightning are only one point back and there’s five groups right now out of the season finisher picture who are only four-or-five focuses back of Toronto. The intensity is on, no doubt.

Treliving Has Been Settling on Decisions

Hockey insider Elliotte Friedman affirmed a couple of days prior that the Leafs GM has ‘plunged his toes’ in the goalie market and these discussions could undoubtedly escalate in the following week. Treliving will undoubtedly be keeping a close eye on the situation in order to make an executive decision regarding how to right the ship until Woll returns, as Samsonov is expected to start Friday against Columbus and Jones against the Canes in Toronto.

The NHL’s goalie market makes them premium names to consider this season, some seeming to be OK for the Leafs than others. John Gibson in Anaheim is too unsafe due to his agreement. He’s endorsed through the 2026-27 season at $6.4 million and is certainly not a possible objective. Marc-Andre Fleury in Minnesota seems OK as he’s a demonstrated veteran who has an enlivened resume of progress, but the Wild are as yet pushing for a season finisher spot and probable wouldn’t make the arrangement at this time. Treliving will not have the option to stand by.

Another Montreal goalie who may be transferred this season is Jake Allen. He has been signed for $3.85 million AAV through the 2024–25 season and has made 12 appearances this season with a respectable.904 save percentage. The Canadiens, be that as it may, are only five calls attention to back of the Leafs and four places of the season finisher picture so assisting Toronto is logical not in the cards right now.

Daniel Vladar in Calgary checks out as an objective, in view of timing and accessibility, yet in addition due to commonality. At 6-foot-5, he would provide the Leafs with a “huge” new look in the crease, as Treliving knows him very well. He’s endorsed at a sensible $2.2 million next season and with Woll endorsed at just $766,667, would give Toronto a truly reasonable couple pushing ahead. The unproven aspect of Vladar’s game is the risk. Up until this point this season, Vladar’s .886 SV.% is nothing to think of home about, but in his last two beginnings he’s been exceptionally sharp, halting 61 of 65 shots, including a noteworthy success over the Lightning. Calgary is looking to make additional trades and wants top prospect Dustin Wolf to play more in the NHL. Moving Vladar over the untradeable Jakob Markstrom seems OK for GM Craig Conroy.

Different goalies who could be accessible on the exchange market remember Carter Hart for Philly, Karel Vejmelka in Arizona and Chris Driedger in Seattle. It will all come down to finances and Treliving’s ability to navigate the salary cap, just like everything else in Toronto. Samsonov battling, making $3.5 million positively convolutes everything.

The Maple Leafs GM attempted to exchange for Vincent Desharnais out of Edmonton prior to moving Sam Lafferty to Vancouver. He’s attempted to obtain both Chris Tanev and Nikita Zadorov in Calgary which missed the mark, and presently he’s dunking his toes in the goalie exchange market. In the event that the Leafs lose the two games this impending end of the week, search for Treliving to go from plunging toes to cannonballs, as he’ll have no real option except to hop in.