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The Toronto Maple Leafs accomplished more than was expected at the 2022 NHL Draft in Montreal, turning three picks into five selections and in the process ridding themselves of goalie Petr Mrazek’s albatross contract and opening up cap space for the start of free agency, but the direction of the club and their hopes for playoff success rest on what GM Kyle Dubas is able to do in the next few weeks.
The Leafs deserve some criticism for signing an injury-prone Mrazek to a three-year, $11.4 million contract last summer, as chronic groin problems derailed any chance of playing up to expectations, but the trade with Chicago has to be considered a master stroke as it resulted in getting rid of almost $4 million in cap space for the sacrifice of 13 slots.
While very true that Toronto missed out on selecting a promising prospect like Brad Lambert, Issac Howard, or Ryan Chesley at #25, Dubas job is dependent on what happens in the next 12 months, and clearing Mrazek’s cap hit will go far in enabling the Leafs to sign or acquire a starting goalie.
#Leafs top pick Fraser Minten at the '22 NHL Draft in Montreal. pic.twitter.com/vXvttMTcu5
— Michael Augello (@MikeInBuffalo) July 9, 2022
Will that be Jack Campbell?
Based on what Dubas indicated after the draft, Toronto will engage the free agent netminder’s representatives before the start of the frenzy on Wednesday, but based on the chatter in Montreal, Campbell could be drawing interest from at least two other teams who have the cap space to sign the 30-year-old for $5 million or more per season for four or five years (a term and salary that the Leafs have balked at).
Will Dubas have to overpay to recoup “Soup…?
As much as it appears the free-agent options are dwindling after Ville Husso was dealt and signed with Detroit, Dubas seemed more focused on a trade for help in net over free agency, since the price point is already set. We did see Alexandar Georgiev and Vitek Vanecek traded over the last few days, and if the Leafs are not able to get Campbell at their price, Dubas seemed open to piecing together a tandem instead of looking for one goalie to handle the bulk of the work.
If a home run starter like John Gibson is not available or too costly, names like Mackenzie Blackwood, Braden Holtby, Jake Allen, Cam Talbot, or Matt Murray (with Ottawa retaining salary) will be the likely targets.
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