Maple Leafs Face Goaltending Conundrum
The Toronto Maple Leafs are navigating a surplus in their goaltending department, with four netminders currently under contract for the upcoming seasons. Anthony Stolarz, Joseph Woll, and Dennis Hildeby are all secured on one-way deals for next year. Additionally, Artur Akhtyamov, who recently signed a three-year contract worth $900,000 annually, is set to transition to a one-way agreement after the next season. This situation presents a challenge, as carrying three goalies on the active roster is generally inefficient and risks losing a valuable asset like Stolarz, Woll, or Hildeby to waivers without compensation.
While the free-agent market might offer options like Sergei Bobrovsky and Stuart Skinner, both are strong candidates for re-signing with their current clubs. Maple Leafs General Manager Brad Treliving appears poised to exercise patience, anticipating that other NHL teams may soon inquire about acquiring Stolarz or Woll. It’s important to note that Stolarz’s new four-year, $15 million contract, which includes a 16-team no-trade clause, will not come into effect until July 1st.
Columbus Blue Jackets Delay Key Contract Discussions
The Columbus Blue Jackets have experienced a positive shift in performance since Rick Bowness assumed the head coaching role from Dean Evason. Despite Bowness’s current contract expiring at the end of the season, General Manager Don Waddell has confirmed that talks regarding an extension are temporarily on hold. Waddell stated, “Not one conversation about that. When I hired him, we agreed to talk at the end of the season, and we’ve stuck to that.”
Similarly, discussions concerning new contracts for pending unrestricted free agents Boone Jenner, Charlie Coyle, and Erik Gudbranson, which Waddell initiated during the Olympic break, have also been postponed until after the season concludes. Waddell conveyed this message directly to the players, telling them, “We’ll revisit it at the end of the year.” Beyond current roster discussions, Waddell also revealed the team’s active pursuit of several college free agents. While he chose not to disclose specific names, he confirmed, “There are a few guys we’re chasing… We’ve been on top of them since the start of the season, had calls, met with them. We’ll see where it goes.”
