The report out of Sweden last month that indicated the Toronto Maple Leafs were going to signing Jhonas Enroth made a lot of sense.
The 28-year-old had successful stints with Buffalo, Dallas and Los Angeles and had displayed an ability to play more games than a traditional backup, but three weeks after the report, the free agent netminder is still unsigned.
Leafs GM Lou Lamoriello and head coach Mike Babcock were clear at the end of the club’s Development Camp that they were looking for someone with NHL experience to be the #2 behind Frederik Andersen, which all but rules out Garret Sparks or Antoine Bibeau getting a legitimate chance.
Toronto may be holding off on signing Enroth or another goaltender until after the Jimmy Vesey saga has come to a conclusion (since adding the Hobey Baker winner would take up another pro contract) or until the Jared Cowen buyout arbitration has been adjudicated.
If the Leafs win the Vesey sweepstakes, it could alter their decision to sign a free agent and instead swap a non-waiver eligible forward (Josh Leivo or Peter Holland) to a team with an extra goalie (Curtis McElhinney, Reto Berra, Keith Kinkaid/Scott Wedgewood or Jordan Binnington).
Enroth would rightfully demand a one-year deal in the neighborhood of $1 Million, but if the Leafs were unwilling to pay that price, they could go the tryout route and invite a couple goaltenders desperate for a contract to camp to compete for the job.
The pickings are slim in the veteran free agent goalie market. Karri Ramo followed up a solid 2014-15 with the Flames with a dreadful campaign last season. 25-year-old Finn Joni Ortio played better than teammate Ramo in Calgary, but has only 35 career NHL games under his belt.
Anders Lindback played surprisingly well for Buffalo when they were more interested in locking up 30th place in the NHL standings two seasons ago, but had a sub .900 save percentage and a goals-against over 3 with Arizona in 2015-16.
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Leafs Team President Brendan Shanahan responded to questions from fans in an article in
The Player’s Tribune and was asked if he thinks the Leafs are further along in their rebuild than he expected.
"I would say we’re somewhere between where we hoped to be and a little further along. Those are all off-season judgments though. It really comes down to how the players who are currently showing promise ultimately develop." Shanahan said. "We have a group that is very young and that has shown some potential, but that potential doesn’t mean much unless it’s fulfilled.
You’d rather have it that way than not, but getting it done on the NHL level is all about results, and that’s the challenge this young team faces."
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