Leafs goaltending continues to battle through injury and inconsistency, leading to reports that management are scouring the goalie market.
- With Jack Campbell out for an unknown length of time and Petr Mrazek floundering in the Toronto crease, the Leafs have put feelers out on the goaltending market once again.
- Reports suggest a primary target is the Blackhawks starter Marc-Andre Fleury, who is on the last year of his deal that carries a hefty 7 million dollar cap hit.
- But the Leafs have gotten creative with the cap before, and could very well do it again to secure the services of the veteran netminder. A deal with retained salary and or a contract going back to Chicago or elsewhere could make it work financially. There is believed to be at least one team willing to take on Mrazek's contract.
- That said, there would not only need to be a pretty big sweetener for Chicago, but Fleury himself would have to sign off on the move. Rumblings suggest Fleury would only consider a move to a select few teams with a shot at the Cup - and although the Leafs are firmly entrenched in a playoff spot, they have struggled to advance in postseasons past.
- The Capitals are also believed to be pushing hard on a Fleury deal. Neither team sounds to be a preferred landing spot for Fleury himself - though things could change closer to the deadline.
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- But the Leafs have gotten creative with the cap before, and could very well do it again to secure the services of the veteran netminder. A deal with retained salary and or a contract going back to Chicago or elsewhere could make it work financially. There is believed to be at least one team willing to take on Mrazek's contract.
- The Capitals are also believed to be pushing hard on a Fleury deal. Neither team sounds to be a preferred landing spot for Fleury himself - though things could change closer to the deadline.
- Toronto is rumoured to have kicked tires on Senators goalie Anton Forsberg, Canucks' Jaroslav Halak and Sharks' James Reimer as well.
- I don't imagine the Leafs preference is to use their sliver of trade deadline cap space addressing goaltending, but if Campbell is out long term and/or Mrazek continues to flounder, they may have no choice but to pull the trigger.
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