Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas is working hard to get Jack Campbell re-signed, however from all accounts, it doesn't sound like the contract negotiations are going as smooth as some anticipated. The team just fired their goaltending coach and now some rumblings have begun the Leafs are looking to go in a whole new direction in their crease for next season. If a deal can't be reached and 'Soup' leaves, here's three goaltenders who may end up being his replacement:
Marc-Andre Fleury
Dubas and company worked hard on the Chicago Blackhawks to acquire both Marc-Andre Fleury and Brandon Hagel last season before the deadline but unfortunately for Leafs Nation a deal couldn't get finalized. Dubas is expected to have some serious interest in 'Flower' this summer as he'll hit free agency July 13 if Bill Guerin can't get him signed in Minnesota before then. Dubas is in the final season of his contract, he's going to want an all-star caliber goaltender to give the group another shot at making it past the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Fleury could be the perfect fit in Toronto on a one or two-year contract.
John Gibson
If Dubas swings and misses on Fleury, look for the Maple Leafs GM to move to the trade market and Gibson could be priority #1. There were some trade talks out of Anaheim before the trade deadline as the Ducks have begun to get frustrated with his inconsistent play of late. The 28-year-old is signed for the next four seasons at $6.4 million and holds a no-trade clause that protects him from 10 teams. Toronto has the prospect capital to get Anaheim to agree, so there's certainly some potential here if Campbell does in fact skip town from Toronto.
Matt Murray
The current hottest name among Leafs Nation, Ottawa Senators netminder Matt Murray has been linked to Dubas for over a decade as the two know each other well from the Ontario Hockey League days. Sheldon Keefe was Murray's last junior coach as well so the familiarity may just take the cake here. Murray struggled early on last season and was even sent down at one point, but in the second half of the season he battled back and performed well. Murray is a two-time Stanley Cup champion and who has two years left on his contract, at $6.25 million per season.
Toronto doesn't have a ton of cap space so they may need to overpay here so Ottawa retains some salary. The two teams you wouldn't expect to do business together actually have a history of some big trades. We'll see how the summer shapes up with Campbell, but Murray is certainly becoming a hot topic these days in Toronto.
Photo credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
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