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As a Leafs fan, I am all for moving Mzarek. But, I think he garners more than a 5th on the open market.
His contract is very good - health aside. And, the upcoming UFA goaltending market is razor thin this year. Campbell is far and away the best of the lot.
Keumper (if healthy), and a risky Holtby.......then the bottom really does fall out where you are looking at servicable backups that can play 20-25 games.
The Sabres will be hard pressed to attract much in the way of any UFA, never mind a "star" UFA (only Arizona will be more challenged).
Given those factors, and if the Leafs do put him on the market, I would say the Sabres, Oilers, Yotes amd Avs would be suitors, and here is why:
1. Campbell is sooooo unlikely to sign in Buffalo or Arizona unless it's a Bobrovsky/Price deal.... which is lunacy. Further, the Oilers won't be able.to afford him, and the Avs, who could, would do so leaving themselves in a very tight cap situation.....
2. Holtby is unlikely to sign in Arizona or Buffalo for the same reasons Campbell won't. Holtby should 100% be a target for the Oilers on a short term deal, say around $3 million per. He us having a season to justify it. Same for the Avs
3. Keumper could go back to Arizona..... maybe he goes to Buffalo, but again, he will have other options. He could go back to where it all began, depending on the contract demand (his track record suggests $4.5-5 million), his current season sees less than that. My money is on that he stays with the Avs.
So let's say Holtby becomes an Oiler (which he and Smith would be a solid tandem), and Keumper stays with the Avs.
The Avs would still be looking for a guy to shoulder 30-35 games imo, and Arizona and Buffalo are still looking for a piece of plywood. And if Holtby becomes and Oilers, suddenly Dallas in in the market.
In short, Mzarek if on the marker will be in demand on some level...... late 2nd or 3rd would be reasonable given the market factors.
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