Maple Leafs evaluating goaltending market — The Fourth Period
The Toronto Maple Leafs appear to be exploring their goaltending options and GM John Chayka is reportedly evaluating the market to see if there is an opportunity to upgrade that position.
Last week, the Maple Leafs traded goalie Joseph Woll in a deal with the Philadelphia Flyers that saw Toronto acquire pending restricted free agent netminder Samuel Ersson.
With Anthony Stolarz and Dennis Hildeby already on the roster, it seems as though the Leafs are looking for an upgrade in net, with speculation starting to mount over potential links to St. Louis Blues goalie Jordan Binnington and Florida Panthers and soon-to-be unrestricted free agent backstop Sergei Bobrovsky.
Binnington, 32, is entering the final year of his contract and comes with a $6 million cap hit. Bobrovsky, 38, is believed to be asking Florida for a five-to-six-year extension worth in between $5 million and $6 million per season.
The Winnipeg Jets are taking calls on superstar goalie Connor Hellebuyck, while Elvis Merzlikins of the Columbus Blue Jackets, Jacob Markstrom of the New Jersey Devils, Sam Montembeault of the Montreal Canadiens and Adin Hill of the Vegas Golden Knights are among the goalies currently available for trade.
Chayka has around $20 million in salary cap space to work with this off-season, and he continues to engage in trade talks with teams involving the likes of defencemen Morgan Rielly, Jake McCabe and Brandon Carlo.
It is unclear if the Leafs are trying to move Stolarz, who will see his four-year, $15 million contract extension kick in July 1. He also owns a 16-team no-trade list as part of his deal.
The Leafs are already in the market for a mid-six centre, a top-six winger and another defenceman, and could look to take a big swing for a new starting goalie.
