The rumors of free agent goaltender Martin Brodeur being a potential backup for Leafs starter Jonathan Bernier next season have popped up recently, but the odds of the future Hall-of-Famer coming to Toronto are a long shot at best.
The 42-year-old netminder is expected to play as a backup somewhere other than New Jersey, where he has spent his entire 21-year NHL career and Toronto will likely be looking for someone to play behind Bernier, as James Reimer is certain to be moved sometime during the summer, but due to the current state of their salary cap, the Leafs are not looking to spend significant dollars on their backup goaltender.
Brodeur made $4.5 Million in the last year of his contract with the Devils in 2013-14 and will have to take a salary conducive to that of a backup, but based on his pedigree and reputation it is hard to imagine him taking anything less than $2 Million per season.
The Leafs have only 12 players signed for the 2014-15 season and will have to spend a significant portion of their available cap space to re-sign their own free agents and to have options on the trade/free agent market this summer.
Toronto could acquire a goaltender under contract via trade, but the more likely option would be to delve into the free agent market, perhaps later in the summer near the beginning of training camp when they can sign someone anxious to lock down an NHL job for the season.
Based on his play in the Calder Cup Playoffs, Toronto Marlies veteran Drew MacIntyre has to be a consideration. The 30-year-old journeyman had a 10-4 record, 2.08 GAA and .941 save percentage in 14 games for the Marlies and faced an average of over 35 shots per game.
While his NHL experience is limited to five relief appearances and one career start, MacIntyre could be signed to a league-minimum one-way deal, with the additional cap room to be used to bolster the club’s defense or adding a depth forward.
Veterans Al Montoya, Evgeni Nabokov, Tim Thomas, Ray Emery and Scott Clemmensen are also possible options.
Another factor may be Brodeur wanting to play his final season for a team with a good chance to win a Stanley Cup like Pittsburgh and Chicago, who may be in the market for a veteran presence behind Marc-Andre Fleury and Corey Crawford. The Leafs status as a team trying to make the playoffs does not look to be a good fit.
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