Toronto Maple Leafs: 3 trades Kyle Dubas should look to make
Jack Campbell
UPDATE: The Leafs acquired Campbell on Feb. 5.
Before we get into talking about Jack Campbell let’s address one other name first. Alexander Georgiev’s name will forever be linked to the Leafs until some other team makes a deal for the Rangers netminder.
It’s unlikely to expect Dubas to part ways with Kasperi Kapanen, Alexander Kerfoot or Andreas Johnsson in a deal for Georgiev so what could be an alternative? Well unless New York comes down on their asking price then Toronto should be looking at Campbell.
This is a goalie the Leafs have looked into acquiring before in the past according to Fox and it makes sense. While the 28-year-old went from being a promising first-round pick to a backup goalie, he is outperforming Jonathan Quick and signed a two-year extension worth $1.65 million per season.
Despite the Los Angeles Kings being the worst team in the Western Conference, Campbell actually has a 2.85 GAA and a .900 save percentage in 20 games. Granted it’s far below his 2.58 GAA and .916 save percentage in 58 career games but this Kings team is in a full-blown rebuild and in desperate need of talent.
The Leafs and Kings got together to make a deal last season with Jake Muzzin coming to Toronto and while that trade wasn’t cheap, it helped the Leafs fill a need that they needed to address. It only makes sense that they look at Campbell as their solution for the backup position.
His $675,000 cap hit is ideal for the Leafs this season and you have to think the Kings would be glad to take on an asset in return for Campbell considering Cal Petersen will be looking to make the jump to the NHL.
As for the cost? Well, unlike the Rangers, it would be tough to expect the Kings to want a first-round pick for Campbell and they have made some goalie trades in the past. During the 2017-18 season, the Kings traded Darcy Kuemper to the Arizona Coyotes for Tobias Rieder and Scott Wedgewood.
Generally, teams don’t pay more than a mid-round pick for a backup goalie and considering the King’s need for scoring, they could try to give the Kings a pick and a prospect. It’s tough to gauge what type of prospect Campbell is signed for two more years.