Maple Leafs’ Goaltending Scenario Must Be Solved ASAP

There are quite a few challenges forward for the Toronto Maple Leafs’ new common supervisor (GM) Brad Treliving. The primary is discovering a approach to make Auston Matthews blissful and guarantee him that the staff is able to take the subsequent step in its growth. The second is deciding if Sheldon Keefe goes to be his head coach.



Subsequent in line has the be the goaltending scenario. At present, the staff’s roster consists of two goalies – Matt Murray and Joseph Woll. Ilya Samsonov’s current contract is ending and he’s a restricted free agent (RFA) with arbitration rights as of July 1. 

Joseph Woll Appears to Be a Lock for One of many Two Goalie Spots

Woll is a lock for one of many two spots on the roster. He actually performed his approach onto the staff along with his efficiency in each the common season and the playoffs. 

Joseph Woll Toronto Maple Leafs
Joseph Woll, Toronto Maple Leafs (Picture by Joel Auerbach/Getty Pictures)

One different issue at play with Woll is he’s not waiver exempt. If the Maple Leafs had been to aim to ship Woll to the staff’s American Hockey League’s (AHL) Toronto Marlies, he must clear waivers. With what he has proven thus far and at a salary-cap hit of simply $766,667, there’s no approach he would go unclaimed.

Each Matt Murray and Ilya Samsonov Pose Potential Issues

Each of the opposite two goalies pose potential issues for the group.  

Murray was the catastrophe many individuals predicted he can be the minute former Maple Leafs’ former GM Kyle Dubas acquired him. He may play effectively, however he simply wasn’t in a position to keep wholesome. It might be a large gamble to hope that he might even play a backup position subsequent season.   

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Getting Samsonov signed to a brand new deal can be the higher choice; nevertheless, with regards to his scenario there’s one phrase right here that scares the bejeebers out of groups – arbitration. The arbitration course of can get ugly. 

What occurs in these instances is that the participant and his agent current arguments to an unbiased arbitrator as to why the participant ought to receives a commission what they assume he ought to. That’s often a a lot greater quantity the staff feels he ought to get. In return, the staff argues why the participant ought to receives a commission a a lot lesser quantity. 


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If the arbitrator guidelines in favour of the participant, the staff has the selection of paying the participant that quantity or letting him stroll. Up to now, it’s common that relationships between the participant and the staff will bitter over the method of arbitration. It might be higher if the method might be averted altogether. 

Cash Is the Greatest Impediment to the Murray vs. Samsonov Dilemma

The largest impediment to the entire Murray vs. Samsonov drawback is cash. Extra particularly, it’s Murray’s contract. The Maple Leafs are on the hook for a cap hit of $4.69 million for Murray this upcoming season. To make issues worse, Murray is owed $8 million in precise pay.  

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Whereas buying and selling Murray and his contract will not be unattainable, will probably be extraordinarily tough to give you a taker, and would almost definitely price the staff so much in incentives to make the deal occur. Maple Leafs’ followers will keep in mind the staff having to connect a first-round draft choose to a commerce that divested themselves of the final yr of Patrick Marleau’s contract.

Any deal involving Murray would undoubtedly have to incorporate wage retention. Almost certainly the Maple Leafs must pony up the utmost 50 % allowed, if no more. It may also contain the addition of one other staff into the method and the lack of extra belongings.

Matt Murray Toronto Maple Leafs
Matt Murray, Toronto Maple Leafs (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)

Another choice can be shopping for Murray out. In response to Capfriendly.com, the fee to do this can be $687,500 in cap house for the 2023-24 season, and one other $2 million in cap house for the 2024-25 season. In the event that they determine to go that route, the buyout window occurs within the final two weeks of June. That call must be made quickly. 

The best choice for the Maple Leafs can be if Murray was deemed bodily unable to play subsequent season. In that case, his entire contract might be positioned on long-term injured reserve. The brink for that appears to be fairly low, however Murray must conform to it. 

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In a perfect world, the Maple Leafs might discover a approach to take away Murray’s cap hit from the roster and use that cash to pay Samsonov. The worst-case situation can be the Maple Leafs not discovering a approach to take away Murray’s cap hit. There can be no approach they might afford to have each Murray and Samsonov’s contracts on the books. 

What If the Maple Leafs Determined to Half Methods with Each Goalies?

If the Maple Leafs had been to determine, for no matter motive, to half methods with each Samsonov and Murray, there are few high quality goalies on the market who could be obtainable. Those which can be might get scooped up rapidly.

Ilya Samsonov Toronto Maple Leafs
Ilya Samsonov, Toronto Maple Leafs (Steve Russell/Toronto Star through Getty Pictures)

There are numerous the explanation why the Maple Leafs must get the goaltending scenario discovered and discovered rapidly. Probably this dilemma has already been a subject of debate inside the new administration staff of the Maple Leafs. Followers will doubtless know rapidly what the choice will probably be. We are able to’t think about a plan will not be already in place. 

[Note: I want to thank long-time Maple Leafs’ fan Stan Smith for collaborating with me on this post. Stan’s Facebook profile can be found here.]



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