Waiver Option Emerges for Brad Treliving as Maple Leafs Face Mounting Goaltending Injuries
The Toronto Maple Leafs have encountered a rough spat of goaltending injuries this season so they should look to add a netminder recently added to the waiver wire.
Although they have had some of the most consistent goaltending in what feels like forever, the Toronto Maple Leafs still have some issues in the crease; mainly injuries.
Joseph Woll missed the beginning of the season and it took him a bit to get into the swing of things.
Matt Murray looks out of place as he still deals with various ailments and Anthony Stolarz is still out for a few weeks although could be on the mend sooner than later.
Already at the halfway point of the season, Brad Treliving needs to make sure the most important part of his team is secure enough for the long haul, so he should take a look at placing a claim on a newly waived goaltender.
Dylan Ferguson Could Be A Great Emergency Backup
Although he hasn't made a big name for himself in the NHL so far in his career with only three games to his name, Ferguson could be a potential stud in the crease and offers a lot of upside for cheap.
Although not the behemoth goaltenders Toronto currently employs, he's still 6'2 and though he could afford to add a few pounds of muscle he's got quickness and great lateral movement.
Drafted in the 7th round by Dallas in 2017, he mainly played in the AHL; coincidentally playing five games with the Marlies in 2022-23.
That season with Toronto he went 2-2-0 with a 3.12 GAA and .888 SV%. In his NHL career he is 1-1-0 with a 2.81 GAA and .929 SV% with time spent in Vegas and Ottawa.
With questions also surrounding the Marlies goaltending situation with Murray and a suddenly inconsistent Artur Ahktyamov, Ferguson could be a great addition there as well.
He costs only $775,000 and is a free agent at season's end; a cheap and stable option that has a lot of potential.
Toronto will need to wait and see if any teams place a claim on Ferguson, but if he falls into their laps they really shouldn't hesitate to add him because it's always better to have more bodies available then to scramble and find a last minute replacement.
