There is good news, bad news and possibly even worse news in Toronto when it comes to goaltender Joseph Woll. The bad news is that he is out again with an injury. The good news is that head coach Craig Berube suggested it was a minor lower-body injury: “He’ll be around another week. Hopefully. … We don’t expect it to be too long.” The potentially worse news is that this is just one piece of evidence indicating the Maple Leafs can’t trust Woll to stay healthy.
Even if Woll returns in a week, how comfortable can the Maple Leafs feel with him as the starter? When he’s healthy and going, he’s great. However, there have been few starts. It’s a growing problem and should be a concern for the organization if they can work themselves back into the playoff mix.
The Maple Leafs may be forced to look at trade options and contact teams that may have goaltenders available.
Cam Talbot (Detroit)
Detroit is currently outside of a wild card spot and could end up as a seller. That could mean selling a netminder, and Cam Talbot’s numbers (3.01 GAA, .884 SV%) aren’t great, but neither are the Red Wings’. He has been reliable in recent seasons and is on an expiring contract of just $2.5 million. This is a player that requires no commitment.
Sam Montembeault (Montreal)
It seems unlikely that the Montreal Canadiens will do business with the Maple Leafs, but stranger things have happened. Perhaps a change of goalkeepers could help both teams.
Team Canada has been keeping an eye on Sam Montembeault, but he is struggling: .861 SV% and 3.61 GAA. Montreal is desperate for clarity on its long-term goal – a trade could be attractive. His $3.15 million cap hit fits quite well with Toronto’s current spending on goaltending.
Kevin Lankinen (Vancouver)
Nothing in Vancouver seems stable, and Kevin Lankinen’s poor season (3.45 GAA, .881 SV%) reflects that. The risk? His contract is for $4.5 million through 2030. This means Toronto is moving on from either Stolarz or Woll and admitting the tandem wasn’t the right mix. The advantage is that if Lankinen recovers, you have secured a capable tandem partner for the long term.
Elvis Merzlikins (Columbus)
If Columbus believes Jet Greaves is their future, Elvis Merzlikins could be available. His recent numbers aren’t great, and he still has $5.4 million in debt for two years, but that probably makes him the trade that requires virtually no return.
Stuart Skinner (Edmonton)
The Edmonton Oilers are thinking about upgrading to the goalie position, and they have been linked to names like Tristan Jarry, Juuse Saros, Jordan Binnington and others. Someone has to go, and if Edmonton finds the actual upgrade they’re looking for, their starter in Stuart Skinner may be available.
Would this actually move the needle for Toronto?
If Toronto were to cut one of their current netminders, maybe even both, and bring in someone like Talbot and Montembeault, how would they do with Dennis Hildeby? It could be the kind of shakeup the team needs — and the money could work if one of the other teams agrees to take on one of the Leafs’ two injured netminders.
The Maple Leafs will lean heavily on Hildeby and hope Woll returns and can stay in the lineup. Both are real question marks for the future this season.
Next: Jarry-to-Oilers rumors never added up – at least not now
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