LeBrun: Bringing in upper echelon goalie is "pretty big priority" for Leafs.

[Michel Beauchamp]

I know its unlikely that they'll hand over the reins to Woll only, but as crazy as it sounds I think they should do it. Woll may only have a few NHL games under his belt, but he's turning 26 before the season starts and he looks to be pretty mature and seemingly ready to take on a bigger role. Sucks that he got injured last season for a long period of time because he was playing pretty well before his injury and that could've been his audition for next season for the number one job.

The bolded seems to be a leitmotiv with him...

 

[DJJones]

If they can convince John to waive his NTC. Tavares, 1st and 2nd for Kadri and Markstrom

Sign me the f*** up

Kadri has overplayed his contract so far but you take that deal. We're not going to use his few good years left anyhow.

 

[KevinRedkey]

Because he's 6'7; 22 years old, and was probably the 6th or 7th best goailie in the AHL last year, despite being a rookie to North American ice.

People view Yaroslav Askarov as a future elite goaltender, and they may very well be right on that, but Hildeby was basically as good as he was this year, with less experience.

Obviously still a long way to go for both goaltenders, but there's a lot of things to like about Hildeby's game.

To be clear, I wasn't dunking on him. He certainly has potential, but very few goalies at his age are anything more than a crapshoot. Time will tell obviously.

Thanks for explaining it though. I appreciate it.

 

[seanlinden]

To be clear, I wasn't dunking on him. He certainly has potential, but very few goalies at his age are anything more than a crapshoot. Time will tell obviously.

Thanks for explaining it though. I appreciate it.

Yeah, completely agree on them being a crapshoot.

Where the complication comes in... the Leafs have 2 guys that there's lots reasons to be excited about (even if they are a crapshoot).

Lets say you go out and sign Saros to a 6 year deal at $8m per, it's really 7 years from now.

Joseph Woll is already in the league. If you bet on him today, you can probably get him to a 3 year deal at $2.5m; so now you've got him for 4 years.

Let's say Woll pans out as a high quality #1... you'll now be kicking yourself for locking in Saros for $8m, when Woll, who could be better, woudl have been able to be had at a fraction of that. Good luck trying to trade Saros after he loses the starting job with 5 or 6 years remaining on an $8m deal.

This is why term is so important for whomever they acquire in goal. 2 years is perfect because that's basically Woll's "put up or shut up" period, and with Hildeby, you'd hope for him to maybe be the backup by the end of year 2.

Lets say the answer is Markstrom (who would be my pick)... you get reasonably priced goaltending for this year with a Markstrom/Woll tandem. Even if Woll wins the job from Markstrom next year, you'd probably want a Markstrom-level backup the following year just in case Woll is a 1-year wonder. If Woll can't win the job from Markstrom, then next year you've got Hildeby hopefully challenging for Woll's spot in the tandem.

3 years is workable, as even if you need to dump the guy, getting rid of a goalie with 1 year remaining is not a big deal... but anything too far beyond that and you're basically closing the door on the youth who can vastly outperform their contracts.

 

[lanceuppercut75]

That being said there is no way in hell they can run with Woll and another rookie as the tandem, like zero chance. Woll has proven nothing and is injury prone and that logic is similar to nuck fans saying trade Demko because Silovs won five playoff games, it's crazy talk.

Woll has earned his chance to be a starter, but we need somebody better than a pure backup to challenge him and tandem with him for a year and see if Woll can truly earn the starting role.

- Woll (already signed and very cheap)
- Nedeljkovic or Hart ( 1 year contract $2.5m cap hit maximum)

EDIT - to be clear, another reason for this is we need options for the playoffs if Woll isn't cutting it. Having Woll AND Nedeljkovic/Hart AND Hildeby as playoff goalie options is much better than Woll and backup and Hildeby. Also much better than just bringing up Hildeby now and signing nobody (giving you Woll and Hildeby and... Petruzzelli? as options). It's not JUST about developing our young goalies, it's about making sure we aren't shooting ourselves in the foot in terms of goaltending killing us in the playoffs.

There's also the option of trading Nedeljkovic/Hart (expiring contract) and a draft pick or prospect for a rental playoff goalie at the deadline, if we think we're really in trouble with our tandem underperforming.

Then starting from next summer...

Woll became a starter in 24/25 =
- Woll gets a big-ish raise
- sign a 1 year backup goalie
- Hildeby is injury callup, then year after becomes backup
26/27 goalies = Woll + Hildeby

Woll was okay but not great in 24/25 =
- Woll gets a small-ish raise
- use some of Tavares cap money to sign or trade for a stud goalie
- trade Woll or Hildeby summer 2026, or, keep both and let them fight for backup spot
- whichever one is worse goes on waivers and is our #3 unless claimed on waivers
26/27 goalies = Stud #1 goalie + (Woll or Hildeby)

Woll was bad in 24/25 =
- Woll gets a cheap contract for 1 or 2 years
- use Tavares cap to bring in stud goalie
- Woll is backup, stays as placeholder or traded + new backup comes
- New #1 goalie is our "now", Hildeby backup Oct 2026 and our "future"
26/27 goalies = Stud #1 goalie + Hildeby

 

[Voight]

Do I look nervous?

I like Binnington's mental toughness. Recalling 2019, he got blown out a couple of times in the playoffs and followed those up with one goal games. This past season he was very solid but didn't have that team defence that limited the opponent to 3 or 4 good scoring chances like they did in 2019.

Toronto could do a lot worse.

As much as people wanna use the hes a lunatic narrative, hes also from the Toronto area and would probably relish playing for the Maple Leafs.

 

[Bizz]

Hard to find upper echelon anything when you have 60% of your cap space tied up in 4 players.

 

[Gordian Knot]

Markstrom is their man.

He wants to compete now, Flames can't, they are tirefire team closer to good lottery pick than playoffs and there isn't quick fix for that.

Flames would do great if they trade Markstrom for Tavares 20 % retained plus Toronto 1st.

Toronto goalie and Tavares issue is solved. Check

Markstrom gets to team which can win if they solve cap issue with JT and upgrade D and goalie. Markstrom + Woll would be solid tandem. Check.

Calgary needs rebuild and they have cheap owner, after July 1st when JT signing bonus is paid his salary is 910 000 USD and after retaining 20 % it is around 720000. Owner saves lots of money when they go to tank mode.
Calgary would need to flip JT to contender (3C role) in trade deadline with 50 % retention and get 2nd round pick for that. Check

JT gets his chance to get a Cup and not being spitted at in Toronto when he is the scape coat of their miserable playoff success. Check

As Oilers fan I hate both teams but that works for both.

 

[lanceuppercut75]

Markstrom is their man.

He wants to compete now, Flames can't, they are tirefire team closer to good lottery pick than playoffs and there isn't quick fix for that.

Flames would do great if they trade Markstrom for Tavares 20 % retained plus Toronto 1st.

Toronto goalie and Tavares issue is solved. Check

Markstrom gets to team which can win if they solve cap issue with JT and upgrade D and goalie. Markstrom + Woll would be solid tandem. Check.

Calgary needs rebuild and they have cheap owner, after July 1st when JT signing bonus is paid his salary is 910 000 USD and after retaining 20 % it is around 720000. Owner saves lots of money when they go to tank mode.
Calgary would need to flip JT to contender (3C role) in trade deadline with 50 % retention and get 2nd round pick for that. Check

JT gets his chance to get a Cup and not being spitted at in Toronto when he is the scape coat of their miserable playoff success. Check

As Oilers fan I hate both teams but that works for both.

Tavares won't waive. Toronto adding would be Toronto adding Markstrom's full hit, or perhaps one of Kampf, Jarnkrok, Liljegren would be going the other way, along with I guess a good pick or prospect, and maybe a second lesser pick/prospect.

We have the cap to just add Markstrom and not send cap back out, but that means our plan to upgrade the D has to be only half-done this summer and re-explored next summer.

 

[Gordian Knot]

Tavares won't waive. Toronto adding would be Toronto adding Markstrom's full hit, or perhaps one of Kampf, Jarnkrok, Liljegren would be going the other way, along with I guess a good pick or prospect, and maybe a second lesser pick/prospect.

We have the cap to just add Markstrom and not send cap back out, but that means our plan to upgrade the D has to be only half-done this summer and re-explored next summer.

When it is his final year of that contract I wouldn't be so sure he isn't waiving.

Like said, he most likely doesn't want to be remembered as a guy whos cap hit was the reason Toronto wasn't able to go over the hill and on the other hand, he wants to have shot at the Cup as well on his own and chanches are better if there is third team (Flames) eating some cap, but getting something back for their future.

He could go to some powerhouse team like Col, Dal, Fla etc. at TDL

 

[General Fanager]

If they can convince John to waive his NTC. Tavares, 1st and 2nd for Kadri and Markstrom

Not getting into the value but those 2 guys are exactly what Toronto needs. The problem is they would need more moves and 2 massive deals in 1 summer is hard to pull off with all the issues these days. Also I dont see Tavares waiving for Calgary..

I think they should go after Vejmelka and have him and Woll go 50/50 ish and see who takes over at playoff time. He is also a much cheaper option and leaves cap room to completely revamp the defense....

 

[Sniperberg]

Imagine if Toronto had a no-name goalie on their team

 

[HockeyVirus]

Why are so many Leafs fans concerned with blocking Hildeby?

Leafs for once actually have a decent pipeline of young goaltenders who look NHL bound. Woll just broke in, Hildebeast had an outstanding season in the AHL but is too raw and needs a few more years. They have Akhtiamov who has been amazing in Russia and plans to come over.

That is 3 goalies under 25 who likely are at least NHL backups but have potential for more. Woll especially if he finds his health we think is a true starter. In that case, one of these other goalie prospects will provide a cheap ELC backup for us in a few years and we don't want to be bogged down with a boat anchor.

The ideal goalie for us really is someone like Saros but if he had 2 years of term.

 

[Fatass]

Leafs for once actually have a decent pipeline of young goaltenders who look NHL bound. Woll just broke in, Hildebeast had an outstanding season in the AHL but is too raw and needs a few more years. They have Akhtiamov who has been amazing in Russia and plans to come over.

That is 3 goalies under 25 who likely are at least NHL backups but have potential for more. Woll especially if he finds his health we think is a true starter. In that case, one of these other goalie prospects will provide a cheap ELC backup for us in a few years and we don't want to be bogged down with a boat anchor.

The ideal goalie for us really is someone like Saros but if he had 2 years of term.

Markstrom would be ideal. Cost will be high though.

 

[seanlinden]

Markstrom would be ideal. Cost will be high though.

I would agree with you that Markstrom is the ideal target. Saros is of little to no interest because he's obviously not going to sign a 1-year deal and the Leafs have a decent crop of goaltending upside.

That being said, I question how high the cost should be.

Jake Allen was traded for a 3rd round pick at the deadline with a year of term and 50% retention.

Darcy Kuemper was traded for a 1st, 3rd, and Conor Timmins; with the 3rd being conditional upon Colorado winnign the cup. He was 31 at the time.

Marc Andre Fleury was famously tradede for that irrelevant prospect... which we'll ignore, but then subsequently traded at the deadline for a 2nd.

Those are all the recent goalie deals that I can think of... somebody please feel free to add.

You look at the situation Markstrom is in... he's 34 years old. He's been to the playoffs twice in his career. He presumably wants a chance to win. His contract is such that even if Calgary retains 50%, he's probably too expensive to be a good team's backup or even 1B. He's got a full NMC, so probably isn't willing to go to Columbus or San Jose or another non-contender...

So where are the realistic destinations for him?

- New Jersey, maybe some retention required.

- Boston IF they trade Ullmark, and Calgary retains close to 50%.

- Nashville if they trade Saros.

- Toronto, maybe some retention required.

- Los Angeles, again maybe some retention required.

- Maybe Detroit, but I'm not sure he would see them as a contender.

You then look at some of the names out there... Gibson, Talbot, Samsonov, Vejmelka, Kakhonen, Driedger, Nedeljkovic. There's quite a few options for these teams.

 

[HockeyVirus]

Markstrom would be ideal. Cost will be high though.

Not paying a "high" price (whatever that means) for Markstrom. My guess is it would be for our first or something, but usually when people say that they come back and ask for Cowan or Knies or something ridiculous

 

[Fatass]

Not paying a "high" price (whatever that means) for Markstrom. My guess is it would be for our first or something, but usually when people say that they come back and ask for Cowan or Knies or something ridiculous

Markstrom will Likely be a first and a B prospect. Or a second/third and an A prospect. Not too sure who the Leafs’ top prospects are, but one of those if the pick isn’t a first. Doubtful the Flames want a roster player like Knies.

 

[HockeyVirus]

Markstrom will Likely be a first and a B prospect. Or a second/third and an A prospect. Not too sure who the Leafs’ top prospects are, but one of those if the pick isn’t a first. Doubtful the Flames want a roster player like Knies.

That's good because Knies is completely untouchable unless we are getting a #1 dman back. A young top 6 power forward who shows up in the playoffs is basically our #1 need.

Cowan is our top prospect but again, worth more than 23 OA to us. We could do some other interesting prospects, but the Leafs lack much for draft picks.

 

[Fatass]

That's good because Knies is completely untouchable unless we are getting a #1 dman back. A young top 6 power forward who shows up in the playoffs is basically our #1 need.

Cowan is our top prospect but again, worth more than 23 OA to us. We could do some other interesting prospects, but the Leafs lack much for draft picks.

Heard of Knies. He’s okay but the Flames need high picks so they can draft high end players. Never heard of Cowan.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Heard of Knies. He’s okay but the Flames need high picks so they can draft high end players. Never heard of Cowan.

Ya Knies is definitely not getting a #1 D, lol, must be hyperbole.

 

[Burnie97]

Knies is a great player... great in the playoffs this year. He's not being traded.

Cowan... you haven't heard of???
Currently in the Mem cup and going to the finals. Just won ohl mvp and ohl playoffs mvp. Yeah he's pretty good.

Yes, Leafs need a goalie!

 

[Captain97]

How does someone include the rights to Edmunson in a trade and actually think that has value???

I mean the Habs paid a 5th for it like 5 years ago. So it's probably worth a 7th now

 

[Michel Beauchamp]

That is 3 goalies under 25 who likely are at least NHL backups but have potential for more. Woll especially if he finds his health we think is a true starter.

That's a pretty big "if" based on his past.

 

[finnishflash13]

Markstrom would be ideal. Cost will be high though.

do toronto fans seriously think they are going to get a Cup caliber goalie that is not at a high cost? hahaha

 

[Fatass]

Knies is a great player... great in the playoffs this year. He's not being traded.

Cowan... you haven't heard of???
Currently in the Mem cup and going to the finals. Just won ohl mvp and ohl playoffs mvp. Yeah he's pretty good.

Yes, Leafs need a goalie!

Then that Cowan kid is likely included in any trade for an elite starter, like Markstrom.