Shocking goaltending stats that prove things can't get worse for the Maple Leafs

PUBLICATION

C. Ritchie
August 20, 2022 (8:30)

SHARE THIS STORY

The Toronto Maple Leafs are coming off of their sixth straight season of being eliminated in the opening round of the playoffs. Management felt like a change was needed and completely revamped the goaltending by letting Jack Campbell walk in free agency and trading Peter Mrazek to the Chicago Blackhawks. When you look into some of the numbers its easy to see why Toronto felt they needed a change. But are the new goalies actually going to help?

The Toronto Maple Leafs had the fourth worst team save percentage at 5-on-5 last year. The bottom 12 teams in 5-on-5 save % all missed the playoffs, except the Toronto Maple Leafs. Jack Campbell had a save % at 5-on-5 of .914 and Peter Mrazek's was .889 which definitely won't do the job. To put that into comparison, Pittsburgh Penguin's starting goalie Tristan Jarry's 5-on-5 save % was .921.

General Manager Kyle Dubas made a trade with the Ottawa Senators for Matt Murray and added former Washington Capitals goaltender Ilya Samsonov via free agency. Each of these transactions perplexed fans and experts alike. Both goalies struggled last season with their respective teams and the underlying numbers prove it. Matt Murray had a 5-on-5 save % of .912 which is a only slightly worae than Jack Campbell's, and to be fair that was with the Ottawa Senators. Ilya Samsonov doesn't look like much of an upgrade either as his 5-on-5 save % was .901, significantly better than Peter Mrazek's.

The stat that really stands out though is the Maple Leafs as a team were in the bottom of the league for high danger chances given up. In theory if Murray and Samsonov can even maintain their play from last season the Maple Leafs should improve.