Maple Leafs And New Jersey Devils working on a possible trade
Hockey Insider Frank Seravalli was on Sportsnet 960 speaking on the Toronto Maple Leafs and New Jersey Devils goaltending situation:
Campbell is reportedly looking in the $6 million range on the open market. That is a number the Leafs simply can't afford.
It wasn't long ago that Blackwood was considered the next hot, young netminder. He has the pedigree as a high second-round pick, and his first 70 NHL games were excellent from 2018 to 2020. With save percentages of .918 in 18-19 and .915 in 19-20.
Blackwood struggled with a heel injury last season and his numbers have been poor for two seasons now. His save percentage was an ugly .892 in 25 games with a record of 9-10-4. The sense is the Devils, can't afford another season with shoddy goaltending, and have lost faith in Blackwood.
The 25 year old is signed for one more season at a cap hit of $2.8 million. He is a RFA with arbitration rights after the 2022-2023 season.
Veteran goalie Petr Mrazek is signed for two more seasons at a cap hit of 3.8 million per year. $6.6 million per season for your goalie tandem would be great especially for a team as a tight against the cap as the Leafs. It would be extremely risky to go into next season hoping both bounce back from injury riddled seasons.
If Leafs GM Kyle Dubas ends up trading for Blackwood I see them moving Mrazek by any means necessary. With the Leafs' expected to compete for a Stanley Cup with this roster I don't see them taking that much of a risk with the most important position on the team.
| POLL | ||
Who do you see the Leafs' targeting to replace Jack Campbell? | ||
| Mackenzie Blackwood | 11 | 15.9 % |
| Ville Husso | 18 | 26.1 % |
| John Gibson | 12 | 17.4 % |
| Marc-Andr� Fleury | 28 | 40.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
