Trade Proposal Nets The Leafs A Vezina Caliber Goaltender But At The Price Of One Of The Core Four
The Leafs are in need of a top goaltender but it may cost a core four member to go through.
The Leafs Need For Elite Goaltending
The Toronto Maple Leafs have fallen just short year after year in the playoffs. While some blame this on the offense disappearing, which is certainly a factor, the Leafs only get average goaltending at best in the playoffs.
One way the Leafs could solve their issue is by trading for an elite goaltender, one who can be their rock come playoff time and go tit for tat with the best goalies.
Mock Trade
While this trade sees the Leafs depart from William Nylander, it also sees them acquire Connor Hellebuyck and Brad Lambert.
To start, Lambert is a top prospect for the Jets who was predicted to go in the top 3 of the 2022 draft before his draft year but fell due to his lack of production in the Finnish LIIGA.
Last season, he joined the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL and exploded producing 38 points in 26 games. Compared to teammate Dylan Guenther, the 9th pick of the 2021 draft, Lambert outproduced him by scoring 1.46 PPG as opposed to Guenther's 1.45 PPG.
He could develop into the perfect Nylander replacement if all goes according to plan.
The big piece of the deal would be Hellebuyck. He has been a consistent Vezina finalist and has proven to be one of the most elite goaltenders in all of the NHL.
He is coming off a season where he posted a .920 sv% and a 2.49 GAA on a rather weak Jets team.
Like Nylander, he is entering the final year of his current deal and will require a new one if he would want to stay with his new franchise.
| POLL | ||
Should the Leafs do this trade? | ||
| Yes | 1000 | 59.9 % |
| No | 669 | 40.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
