It’s getting to the point in the summer where teams don’t have many open roster spots. Teams have pretty much filled out their lineups, with only some depth roles potentially available. For three former Toronto Maple Leafs netminders, finding an opportunity this upcoming season could be highly challenging.
So, let’s take a closer look at the former Leafs goalies still looking for work this summer.
James Reimer
James Reimer had a resurgent season with the Ottawa Senators last season. After the Maple Leafs cut him from a Professional Tryout Contract (PTO) in training camp last fall, the Senators came calling. And the move worked out pretty well for both sides.
The team desperately needed support in the crease. Reimer didn’t just come in and play a backup role. He started 14 games and carried the club during a stretch where it lost starter Linus Ullmark. Reimer played very well, but looks to be on the outside looking in.
This season, the Senators have Ullmark back with Samuel Ersson earmarked as the backup. There may still be a shot out there for Reimer, especially if a team faces an unexpected injury at some point in the season.
Matt Murray
Matt Murray is another former Maple Leafs and Senators goalie. The Stanley Cup winner got a chance to start in Toronto, but injuries ultimately derailed his chances of entrenching himself with the Leafs.
Murray came back from hip surgery and looks like a serviceable NHL goalie. While he may not be starter material anymore, he could be the sort of goalie a team could use in a pinch. Perhaps a role as a third-stringer could be the best he could hope for.
The 32-year-old appeared in five games last season for the Seattle Kraken, posting a respectable 2.21 GAA and .922 SV%. So, questions will emerge about his durability. But if he’s not pressed into a starting role where he’s forced to start 10 games in a row, Murray could be the sort of goalie any team would like to have.
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Petr Mrazek
Petr Mrazek was a once-promising NHL netminder. The Maple Leafs hoped he could become a mainstay in the crease. But a couple of disappointing seasons led Toronto to dump his contract on the Chicago Blackhawks.
Since then, Mrazek has been a bit of a journeyman. He’s played for Anaheim Ducks, Carolina Hurricanes, Philadelphia Flyers, and Detroit Red Wings. Last season, the 34-year-old appeared in 10 games, posting a 4.07 GAA and .858 SV%.
Those numbers will hardly make teams fall over themselves to sign Mrazek. But if there’s one thing teams cannot have enough of in the NHL is goaltending depth.
So, a team could come calling amid the need for organizational depth. Mrazek could even bide his time in the minors as a third-string option. With the league moving to 84 games this season, it would hardly be strange to see emergency call-ups at some point of the season.
That’s where having a veteran option like Mrazek (or Reimer and Murray) could make a significant difference for clubs looking for stability in the crease.
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