NHL: Leafs Are On the Prowl For A Veteran Goaltender

OK, the secret’s out: the Toronto Maple Leafs are looking for an experienced netminder. Now that senior vice-president of hockey operations Dave Nonis said so in an interview the other day, the speculation can officially continue on which puckstopper will end up being the top guy between the pipes for the Blue and White next season (whenever that season begins).

It’s probably not going to be Jonas Gustavsson. While no decision has been made public, the Monster appears to have worn out his welcome in the T-Dot. In the linked interview earlier in this story, Nonis said he would be “surprised” if the tandem was composed of James Reimer and Ben Scrivens. While the comments which followed focused on Scrivens, Reimer didn’t exactly get a stamp of approval.

Nonis said he wants choices at the next training camp. He also made the point that his team is more interested in acquiring that top-shelf goalie via trade instead of free agency, with the reason that getting free agents can be an expensive proposition.

Signing an unrestricted free agent doesn’t have to break the bank, but it wouldn’t yield a long-term solution either. The Washington Capitals signed Tomas Vokoun for peanuts (one year, $1.5 million) and he had an up-and-down season for them (25-17-2, 2.51 GAA, 4 shutouts) before a groin tear halted the 35-year-old’s season. The price would be right, but his age is not.

If age didn’t matter, they might as well look at Dominik Hasek, who has made it known that he is looking for an NHL team. Despite his pedigree, though, it would be difficult to see how any club would even consider the 47-year-old as a backup, never mind a starter.

This is where the talk of bringing in Roberto Luongo comes in. He is still one of the few elite, established goaltenders known to be available; his coach, Francois Allaire, is still employed by the Leafs; and the cap hit would be $5.33 million (with a salary of $6.714 million per year). Toronto wants to manage its money well but is likely not hurting for funds, so they could spring for Bobby Lu without having to give up too much in return.

It was a different story a few weeks ago when it was thought that the Tampa Bay Lightning might also be looking in the 33-year-old Luongo, but now general manager Steve Yzerman has hinted that his club is searching elsewhere to fill its need in net. So it looks like the Bolts don’t want Luongo — at least, they won’t say it in public.

So this could mean that there is less competition for Luongo’s services now, and the Leafs might be able to get him for less than they might have before. Or the Buds could spring for Vokoun or Hasek. Of course, they can hope that Scrivens and Jussi Rynnas get more confidence from the Marlies’ Calder Cup playoff run and wow the Leafs in camp. But they seem determined to bring someone they don’t currently have: a goalie with experience. There are few of those available; Luongo is one who is under 35 with some years of effective service remaining.