The Toronto Maple Leafs have more to accomplish in goal. Chris Johnston, a source, said this morning that the Leafs front office “definitely don’t think they’re finished addressing” the goaltending issue this summer.
That’s a loaded statement given what just occurred.
Toronto conceded 299 goals this season. Worst in their division by a wide margin, that’s a -46 goal differential.
The goalie’s numbers were not good. Anthony Stolarz had an average save percentage of .893 over 26 games. Samuel Ersson performed worse, saving just .869 of shots over 33 games.
Only Dennis Hildeby made them feel good, with a .912 performance in 20 starts. 3 victories Twenty starts. It’s not a number around which to build.
The Leafs completed the season with a record of 32-36-14. They lost their final seven straight games and finished their previous 10 games with a record of 2-7-1.
More than just the crease, Toronto’s problem with goals is deeply ingrained.
Only 60 games were played by Auston Matthews. However, the club scored 253 goals during the season, which is not terribly low. The actual problem oozed from the other side.
When the crease is like a revolving door, you’ll surrender 3.6 goals per game and come in 28th overall. There are three different goalkeepers, no clear starter, and no structural identity.
Johnston’s remark was not presented as a rumor. The Leafs aren’t waiting to see what the market offers, according to the way it was presented as organizational confidence. They will take action on this.
What kind of improvement is truly available is the real issue. A proven starter at this point of the offseason won’t be inexpensive, and Auston Matthews already costs the Leafs $13.25 million against the cap.
The price of William Nylander is $11.5 million. Matthew Knies just reached $7.75 million. There is little space to acquire a top goalie without displacing someone.
For years, Toronto has tried to convince itself that a “good enough” solution between the pipes will suffice. The response to that argument is a 299-goal season. They are now trapped trying to solve it in June, vying with every other squad that requires the same thing.
The urgency is genuine. It’s a completely different issue whether the answer matches it.
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