Six Key Facts that Clearly Outline the Maple Leafs’ Goalie Situation

In this post, I’ll take a look at where the Toronto Maple Leafs’ goalie situation stands. To do so, I’ll look at six key facts that spell out where things currently are. I’ll also speculate about what might happen if things go either good or bad throughout the season.

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Fact One: The Maple Leafs Goalie Situation Has Been Iffy for A While

The fact is that the Maple Leafs’ goalie situation hasn’t been steady for several seasons. When Frederik Andersen was the starter, he’d have some great games and then let in some soft goals. It was especially true in the postseason. He never could seem to win the really big games.

Andersen was a decent goalie, but he wasn’t the kind of difference-maker who could simply stone the opposition when it really mattered. That’s one reason the team could not escape round one.

Fact Two: Jack Campbell Was a Hard Working Goalie, But He Was Streaky to a Fault

After Andersen was injured and couldn’t finish the 2020-21 season, Jack Campbell took over. He played great at the start of the season. Then he too faltered.

Campbell’s nothing but a good guy and a great teammate, and he had stretches where he seemed able to stop everything. Then, just as suddenly, he was off his game.

Over two seasons, it was the story of on and then off. In the end, Campbell just became too risky for the Maple Leafs to invest the kind of money he was able to pull from the Edmonton Oilers. It seemed the Maple Leafs’ management simply wasn’t confident enough to spend the big money for the long term. The Oilers were.

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Fact Three: When Kyle Dubas Went Shopping After Campbell Left, He Was Forced to Take a Chance (Well, Two Chances)

This offseason, when Campbell left, Dubas frankly didn’t have a lot of easy choices. So he went with pedigree and history. He signed former Stanley Cup-winning goalie Matt Murray. Second, he picked up a young goalie who seemed to once have a ton of potential but has slid recently, in Ilya Samsonov.

Two thoughts. First, Dubas believes in pedigree. He believes that, given the right time, circumstance, and context, someone with talent who’s slid a bit can rediscover that talent. Second, Dubas is putting a lot of faith in the players who play in front of the goalie. Given that the Maple Leafs set a franchise record with what analytically was rather mediocre goaltending, he believes that the team is no worse off this season than last season. That, however, is a hunch.

Fact Four: Logic Would Suggest that One or the Other of These Two Goalies Can Come Through

The truth is that risking the season on two “could-return-to-form” goalies makes more sense than risking it on only one such goalie. Given their history of success – albeit in the past – there’s a good chance one or the other of these goalies can carry the team.

The truth is that, as well, for much of the 2021-22 season, Jack Campbell was injured and both Joseph Woll and Erik Kallgren played adequately (if not better than that). So, if the same situation happened again this season; and, if the same results were registered, look for the Maple Leafs to have a good season.

Fact Five: If the Goalies Stop the Shots They Are Supposed to Stop, Then …

There’s an old adage in hockey that suggests that, if the goalies stop the shots they’re supposed to stop, things will go well if you have a good team. That’s true for the Maple Leafs: they have a good team. If their goalies play “quite well,” the team will carry the goalies. Everyone’s confidence will soar.

If the goalies let in weak shots, that amps up the pressure on both the team’s offense – to score more goals — and on the team’s defense – to stop more shots from getting through on the net. When goalies play well, the entire team thrives.

The Maple Leafs have a cast that can get the job done. Will they?

Fact Six: There Are No Excuses for the Team’s Management

The entire team management – especially general manager Dubas – is all in on the goalie situation. It could work swimmingly. If so, it’s all good in the land of the Blue and White. If it falters, that might spell trouble.

Dubas’ future is duct-taped to these goalies. There’s no telling for sure what happens if they falter.

Whichever way it works, it’s for sure going to be an interesting season.

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