A league-wide roster re-shuffling has already begun on the precipice of the NHL offseason. Rumours abound more often than usual, outdone by an increase of these rumours coming to fruition. Through it all the glitz and glam of possibility stirs in the minds of fans of all teams, Leaf Nation no different. There are improvements and adjustments that must be made, and players available to be brought in to solve them.
Naturally, the biggest names will be the most discussed and envisioned, but building a championship team requires contributions even from the depths of the roster. The cap, ever oppressive, looms over hypothesizing any and all the players who could help the team.
With the Leafs rumoured to be interested in re-signing both Max Domi and Tyler Bertuzzi, the space available to use elsewhere shrinks. Most agree that the Leafs blueline needs explicit upgrades, meaning that the Leafs might be forced to look at economical alternatives in net. Given starting goalie Joseph Woll’s injury history, and that prospects Dennis Hildeby and Artur Akhtyamov are optimistically at least another strong season away from pushing for NHL time, the Leafs are likely to add two legitimate NHL options this offseason.
Re-signing one or both of Matt Murray and Martin Jones might well be the best option for the Leafs. Chasing a better playoff fate, Leaf fans are certainly hoping that every aspect of the team is improved next season, and re-signing a pair of often maligned goalies might not feel like an upgrade to many. In a vacuum, the concept might seem unpalatable, yet in the context of the Leafs roster and the opportunities available, it might be one of the better navigations open to the team.
The pros
Even elite goalies are not immune to some down seasons throughout their careers. Often, the quality of the team in front of them has a lot to do with it, but sometimes the enigmatic art of goaltending provides its own built-in twists and turns. While some might find the degree of uncertainty unsettling, by the same token it might just as well be comforting. Look no further than the Florida Panthers Sergei Bobrovsky, widely considered untradable just a few seasons ago, authoring back-to-back vintage performances and Eastern Conference Championships.
So long as their bodies don’t give up on them, there is a decent chance that goalies who have had some consistent success can regain their form. Jones proved as much to Leafs fans last season, operating as the Leafs starter for a few weeks. His days as a starter might be over, but Jones had the ability and experience to provide steady play in a short burst of consistent usage.
Murray, on the other hand, is currently in a less predictable space. His two Stanley Cup rings are a true rarity amongst the goalies on the market. Historically, it was injury and cap hit that soured the public on Murray more than it was poor performance, as many goalies who played behind DJ Smith’s Ottawa Senators struggled only to go on and thrive elsewhere. Even more so than Jones, Murray has had success as a starter, which gives some confidence that he can stabilize the role should Woll be injured.
There are other options available that fans might prefer individually. In a vacuum some might prefer Kaapo Kahkonen, a younger but less proven UFA, Filip Gustavsson, a younger but less proven trade option, or even Laurent Brossoit, a goalie with strong results who has only ever had a backup role, starting a career-high of 24 games, to name a few. Arguing resume against potential is one thing, but another wrinkle is that the combined cap hit of Jones and Murray might be less than any one of those three alternatives cost on their own.
The Leafs need at least one goalie behind Woll that they can trust in a playoff start, and both Murray and Jones might fit that role better than other options on the market. The Leafs know both players well, and signing Murray might indicate a level of confidence in his medical situation. From the outside, neither Murray nor Jones looks to be commanding much cost. They won’t be the only cost-effective options, as a similar line of thinking might see other quality players fit the bill should their markets dry up (for example Cam Talbot), but Murray and Jones give the Leafs a very inexpensive, talented, and experienced goaltending trio, allowing them to maximize the allocation of resources elsewhere.
The cons
While offering either Murray or Jones too much money or term would be a mistake, the main drawback of this concept is durability. Murray missed all of last season, but had consistently missed large chunks of time prior to that. Combined with Woll, the availability of a Woll/Murray tandem is a huge gamble. Without a quality third option, preferably a young, waiver-exempt talent that is truly pushing for NHL starts, this approach might even be irresponsible.
A quality veteran third option, like Jones, might help be a buffer for the likes of Hildeby and Akhtyamov, though this is precarious. The Leafs might be forced to carry three goalies with a Woll/Murray tandem, which would forgo the issue of finding a goalie good enough to start some important games yet also pass through waivers unclaimed. Strapped for cap space, carrying a full roster is a luxury the Leafs are often forced to deprive themselves of.
Inherently, poor performance is always a possibility, which could ruin the perception of an otherwise shrewd signing. Likely, there is not much public support in Murray or Jones as desirable regulars, and many would feel unsatisfied by the Leafs seemingly treading water at the sport’s most important position.
Conclusions
These risks are precisely why the Leafs might be able to get value on Murray and Jones. The goalie market has shrunk now that Jacob Markstrom has been dealt to the New Jersey Devils. Signing any free agent forwards while acquiring a goalie at a higher price point makes upgrading the blueline more difficult than it already is.
Quite simply, looking for value will be crucial to the Leafs offseason, and the mercurial nature of goaltending always offers the possibility. Even if it is not Murray or Jones specifically, acquiring capable goalies at a reasonable price is imperative to the Leafs improving their roster enough to reach new heights. Time will tell which goalies can command bigger contracts and which ones might shake loose as unqualified RFAs or trade options, but Murray and Jones are at least interesting potential targets for the Leafs.
