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Leafs: Storylines to Watch Heading Into the Draft and Offseason Part 1

By David Morassutti

Jun 26, 2015; Sunrise, FL, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Mark Hunter announces Mitchell Marner (not pictured) as the number four overall pick to the Toronto Maple Leafs as commissioner Gary Bettman looks on in the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 26, 2015; Sunrise, FL, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Mark Hunter announces Mitchell Marner (not pictured) as the number four overall pick to the Toronto Maple Leafs as commissioner Gary Bettman looks on in the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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Leafs
May 13, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Ben Bishop (30) takes to the ice against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the first period in game one of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the CONSOL Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

Will they trade for a goalie?

The one position the Leafs will need to address if they want to be a contender is their goaltending, with this year’s playoffs proving that. In fairness to Toronto, there were rumours they wanted to acquire Matt Murray from Pittsburgh as a part of the Kessel trade, but the Penguins would not move him.

Trying to trade for a goalie is not tough to do, but trading for the right goalie is. The Leafs traded for Jonathan Bernier from the Los Angeles Kings, hoping he would provide them with the needed boost to get them to the next level.

Leafs
Feb 25, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Jonathan Bernier (45) during the anthem prior to agame against the Carolina Hurricanes at the Air Canada Centre. Toronto defeated Carolina 3-1. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /

Bernier did well in his first season with the Leafs, posting a 26-19-7 record with a .923 save percentage and a 2.68 GAA. However, the past two seasons have been a struggle, as his save percentage fell below .915 and his GAA was over 2.80.

Both Garret Sparks and Antoine Bibeau had less than desirable performances in the AHL playoffs and the Leafs need to decide what their future will look like in net. If they want to find that upgrade in net, it will have to come through a trade or patience through drafting and developing.

The potential expansion draft helps the Leafs in this case, because many teams will most likely protect one goalie, but potentially have to deal another one instead of losing them for nothing. Teams like the Anaheim Ducks, Pittsburgh Penguins and the Tampa Bay Lightning have to make some tough choices and the Leafs could take advantage of that.

The Ducks will have to choose between Frederik Andersen or John Gibson, the Penguins in Marc-Andre Fleury or Matt Murray and the Lightning with Ben Bishop or Andrey Vasilevsky. It is unlikely the Leafs go after Fleury with his injuries and contract, but Andersen and Bishop seem like good options.

It would be more realistic to go after Andersen, because he is a RFA and the Ducks signed Gibson to a three-year extension, meaning he is likely to leave. The Leafs could get Andersen at a reasonable cost and at the age of 26, he still has a lot of hockey ahead of him.

Andersen has proven he can play as a number one and was exceptional in the playoffs, with a .947 save percentage and 1.41 GAA. It is uncertain what the Ducks could want in return, but goalies generally do not fetch a hefty price on the trade market.

The Leafs have an excess of draft picks and prospects the Ducks could need. It would be tough to expect the Leafs to give up anything substantial though, especially with Anaheim in position to lose Andersen for nothing in a potential expansion draft.

Next: Is Tyson Barrie a trade target?

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