The Toronto Maple Leafs’ general manager, Brad Treliving, has made headlines as he addresses recent trade developments, particularly regarding goaltender Jacob Markstrom. Despite their interest, the Leafs have missed out on acquiring Markstrom, who was traded from the Calgary Flames to the New Jersey Devils.
Sheldon Keefe, now coaching the Devils, will benefit from having Markstrom as his starting goalie. The Flames retained 31.25% of Markstrom’s salary, reducing his cap hit to $4.125 million from $6 million, a move that would have been favorable for the Leafs given their current goaltending situation.
Treliving, who originally signed Markstrom to a six-year contract in 2020 while with the Flames, had hoped for a reunion in Toronto. However, with the trade to the Devils finalized, Treliving is now exploring other goaltending options.
The Leafs’ goaltending woes were highlighted after their first-round exit from the Stanley Cup playoffs against the Boston Bruins on May 4. While the Bruins might trade their goalie Linus Ullmark, the Ottawa Senators are a more likely destination, given the recent playoff history between Boston and Toronto.
Treliving’s most significant potential move could involve acquiring Juuse Saros from the Nashville Predators. Saros, 29, has one year left on his contract with a $5 million cap hit before becoming an unrestricted free agent next summer. Bringing in Saros would provide stability and allow Joseph Woll to serve as a reliable backup, mitigating concerns about Woll’s injury history.
Speculation has included mock trades involving Mitch Marner, but Marner intends to complete his contract with Toronto, and new coach Craig Berube is eager to work with him. If Treliving can secure Saros without involving Marner, it would be a significant win for the Leafs.
Other goalies who might be on Treliving’s radar include John Gibson of the Anaheim Ducks, Elvis Merzlikins of the Columbus Blue Jackets, and Tristan Jarry of the Pittsburgh Penguins. However, Woll, if healthy, could be a preferable option.
One free agent linked to the Leafs is Laurent Brossoit from the Winnipeg Jets. Brossoit posted a .927 save percentage in 23 games last season and is expected to command a salary between $2 million and $2.5 million. While affordable, Treliving would still need to make additional moves to ensure depth.
Veteran goalies like Cam Talbot, Casey DeSmith, or Scott Wedgewood could also be considered to provide a safety net, similar to the role Martin Jones played last season.
Goaltending is just one of several issues Treliving must address in the coming weeks. Reshaping the blue line and filling the third-line center position are also priorities, with approximately $19 million available under the cap.
Meanwhile, Keefe, now with the Devils, can focus on other areas of his roster with Markstrom solidifying their goaltending. The upcoming clashes between the Leafs and Devils promise to be intriguing, given the recent trade developments and Treliving’s previous connection to Markstrom.
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