Leafs upgrade prior to deadline, but goaltending remains questionable (maple leafs)

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Leafs upgrade prior to deadline, but goaltending remains questionable

By Mike Augello

Mar 22, 2022 • 11:01 am

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The Toronto Maple Leafs did not make any additional impact moves on NHL trade deadline day after acquiring former Norris Trophy winner and Toronto native Mark Giordano and forward Colin Blackwell from Seattle for a package of draft picks last weekend, choosing not to add a goaltender to the mix.

GM Kyle Dubas indicated that acquiring the former Norris Trophy winner to go along with adding Ilya Lyubushkin from Arizona provides an upgrade to Toronto’s blueline, while Blackwell addresses the Leafs need for a depth forward.

“The quality of player he still is, that is the most exciting part of it for us. Just in watching him throughout the year, and we played against him a lot last year with the division being what it was in Canada. Watching him in Seattle, and the variety of different partners they had him with, we still feel like he has a lot left to give as a player.… Dubas said after the deadline. “We tried to get (Blackwell) a few times in free agency, and it just didn’t go our way. With his versatility, he can play both wings, but he can also play both special teams and up and down the lineup.…

What will continue to be a question mark until the postseason is Toronto’s choice to not add a goaltender with Jack Campbell out for a couple more weeks and Petr Mrazek struggling. The Leafs placed Mrazek on waivers to potentially open up cap space, but it appears the veteran netminder will remain with the club after clearing on Monday.

"(Going on waivers) never feels good, but now it's over. We move on and it's like a reset button, Mrazek said after practice on Tuesday. "I had a chat with Kyle and I know what he said and it's nice that he believes in us and we can we can focus just on the game now and the rest of the season and the playoffs."

How much confidence Toronto had in their tandem has to be in doubt based on the club signing Olympic gold medalist Harri Sateri (lost on waivers to Arizona) and the report that the Leafs toyed with trading for Vezina Trophy winner Marc-Andre Fleury. Dubas chose instead to stick with Jack Campbell and hopes that Mrazek will bounce back from a tough stretch.

“The one thing about (Campbell) is that he always finds a way to bounce back. He is a competitor. He thrives when there are doubts and he thrives when things get rocky. For me, being a goaltender here in Toronto, you have to have that quality.… Dubas said. “It is good to see him back on the ice the last few days. It looks like he is getting close. We are excited for that and excited for the way Erik Kallgren has stepped up in the interim.…

The new Leafs practiced at the Ford Performance Centre for the first time, with Giordano wearing #55 instead of his traditional #5 and Blackwell donning Zach Hyman’s old number #11. The two will be in the lineup when Toronto returns to action against New Jersey at Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday.

Giordano skated with defense partner Timothy Liljegren, while Blackwell slotted in with veterans Wayne Simmonds and Jason Spezza.

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