Just In: Maple Leafs tables $36 Million Offers for Goalie
Getty For Jacob Markstrom, the Toronto Maple Leafs made a strong offer.
Goalie Jacob Markstrom of the Calgary Flames was the target of an offer from the Toronto Maple Leafs, according to Sportsnet’s NHL
source Elliotte Friedman. With two years remaining on his six-year, $36 million contract that he signed on October 9, 2020, Markstrom
was transferred by the Flames to the New Jersey Devils on June 19. Friedman does note that other teams did make an offer, notably the
Maple Leafs, whose offer was on line with New Jersey’s.
On his 32 Thoughts Podcast, Friedman stated, “I heard their offer to Calgary was comparable to New Jersey’s.” However, I believe Toronto would have to outperform everyone else in order to acquire that player due to the politics in that area.
“I believe the Maple Leafs were going to have to win that deal, but I also think Markstrom ultimately liked New Jersey the most, but he opened it up to teams like Toronto and Ottawa in the Eastern Conference,” Friedman continued.
In the end, Calgary sent Markstrom to New Jersey in exchange for defenseman Kevin Bahl and a 2025 first-round selection.
Friedman claims that what Toronto gave the Flames was equivalent, but Calgary chose to accept the deal with the Devils.
Friedman also notes that the Maple Leafs’ politics probably had some bearing on the agreement. Of course, Brad Treliving, who joined the Maple Leafs last season after leaving Calgary, is Toronto’s general manager.
Two Maple Leaf goalies are mentioned by an insider.
Following Calgary’s failure to get Markstrom, Friedman names two free-agent goalies for the Maple Leafs that Toronto may consider.
This offseason, Toronto is anticipated to recruit a goalkeeper to form a duo alongside Joseph Woll. Friedman suggests Anthony Stolarz
and Laurent Brossoit, two upcoming free agents, as potential possibilities for the Maple Leafs.
Friedman stated, “We know Toronto is in the goalie market, but I think that’s more of an Anthony Stolarz, Laurent Brossoit type piece.”
Brossoit finished the $1.75 million, one-year contract he had with the Winnipeg Jets. With Winnipeg last season, Brossoit went 15-5 with a
2.00 goals against average and a.927 save percentage.
In contrast, Stolarz had a 16-7-2 record, a 2.03 GAA, and a.925 SV% while playing for the Florida Panthers this season. He’ll be out of a
job on July 1st, having just finished a one-year, $1.1 million contract.
Maple Leafs’ main goal is to get a goalie.
Ilya Samsonov and Martin Jones are both prospective free agents, leaving Toronto with only Woll under contract for the upcoming year.
Samsonov is anticipated to be allowed to enter the free agent market by Toronto, and Treliving stated following the season that the Maple
Leafs wanted to guarantee that they had the best goalkeeper in each postseason matchup.
“As a goalie, I think Joe can succeed. Joe needs our support. At the year-end press conference on May 10, Treliving stated, “Ilya’s contract is up, but we certainly have to try to put ourselves in a position where we don’t have the second-best goaltender in each of these series.”
In the regular season, Woll finished 12-11-1 with a 2.94 GAA and a.907 SV%; in the postseason, he went 2-0 with a 0.86 GAA and a.964 SV%. Woll signed a three-year, $2.3 million contract in 2022, and he is currently in the final year of it.
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