I see there being three paths for the Leafs this season in goal (I have presented the one I would attempt if I were in charge).
Option 1- Try to obtain a top-5 or 10 starter from another team. Obviously extremely difficult. You need to find a team that isn't contending that would be wiling to let you overpay for that goalie. Nashville and Winnipeg are potential options here, but they seem unlikely to be willing to do that. Maybe you can get Kuemper as a UFA. This is a tough option because other teams generally want to keep really good goalies.
Option B- Run it back. Sign Campbell, and figure out what to do with Mrazek. Then you need to add another goalie (probably two) and you're in the same spot as last year, hopefully new guy can play better than Mrazek did, no guarantee and Campbell can give you more consistency.
Both of those options are either unlikely to happen or unlikely to produce success. I would prefer option C.
Option C- Try to find older, established veteran goalie at a reasonable number who can start and has some proven playoff success as a 1A. Then look for a younger guy who is trapped behind an established (or superior) starter and has some potential to blossom as a 1B.
Here are the options I would consider:
1A- Fleury, Varlamov (at a reduced rate somehow), Holtby, and Reimer is probably the list.
1B- Husso, Kahkonen, Georgiev, Stolarz, Korpisalo, Ingram, Vitacek, Samsonov.
Would love some feedback on what you think are some good goaltending options for the Leafs. I realize any move I make, as a Leafs fan, every other fanbase will scream that it's not enough and the value is all wrong. That may be true, but since none of us have any idea what that value is, let's focus on the theory behind the moves instead of picking at small details.
Note here that I have bought Mrazek out. While not an ideal solution I didn't want to argue about him anymore, so I took this road. It's one potential road open to the Leafs although I think it's more likely they trade him.
I also have no idea what they will do with their D core, so I left it as is, but certainly you can make a move there to free up needed salary cap space (having so little is a terrible idea). I just don't know which 6 of 7 they would prefer and I'm not sure they do either.
I am not going to argue about the value here. What is MORE likely is this trade uses a third team like Arizona to retain salary, meaning the Isles would get less. Yes I realize NYI isn't going to retain.
NYR has lots of UFA's and probably don't need to spend on Georgiev considering how good Shesterkin is. I can't imagine his market is much bigger than this.
Either way if the Isles get less I highly doubt it's only going to be a 4th. I'm pretty confident a team like NJ for example would take Varly at full freight for at least a 2nd round pick.
Varlamov at 50% retained ATLEAST gets a 2nd if not more
Please read the description. I doubt the Isles are the ones doing the retention but it's impossible to do a three team trade on here with salary retention.
McDavid, Connor
$250,000)
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