As the trade deadline approaches, all eyes are going to be on the Toronto Maple Leafs as to what they may do. It’s no secret that they’ve been in the market to acquire help for the team’s top-six. Though recent news shows that there could be other factors at play.
Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston reported that the Maple Leafs are the front runner for Nashville Predators defenseman Mattias Ekholm, while Elliotte Friedman disagrees as he talked about positioning and the cost to acquire him. Both make great arguments and it’ll be interesting to see what happens as the Predators are now in the fight for a playoff spot.
However, the Maple Leafs do have questions surrounding their goaltending. Jim Parsons Sr. recently wrote a great piece on why general manager Kyle Dubas, who is very familiar with making deals with the Los Angeles Kings, could look to acquire both a goalie and a forward in Jonathan Quick and Alex Iafallo.
Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov)
When Parsons Sr. brought this article up on the latest episode of the Maple Leafs Lounge, it got me thinking about another potential trade scenario with another team. Dubas could look to the Arizona Coyotes to acquire someone like Darcy Kuemper and Conor Garland to help bolster the Maple Leafs at both positions.
Maple Leafs Dealing With Injuries in Goal
It’s well known that the Maple Leafs have had their fair share of concerns in the crease, especially in regards to the play of starter Frederik Andersen.
With his recent struggles, including a lingering injury that has played a factor, now the team is managing the amount of games that Jack Campbell is playing as he’s still not 100 per cent with his lower-body injury. While he has been fantastic this season with a 1.48 goals against average and a .945 save percentage, it’s now got to the point where they’re managing his starts so that he won’t re-aggravate his injury. It’s something that may force them to make a move to address goaltending.
Sheldon Keefe said Jack Campbell wasn’t feeling great yesterday coming off Saturday’s game. Was feeling better today, but just a reminder that #Leafs have to be vigilant in not rolling him out too often if he’s not 100 per cent.
If both Andersen and Campbell are out long term, then Michael Hutchinson is the next in line to be the starter. While he has had a good season, a performance like his game against the Ottawa Senators where he allowed two goals on three shots is concerning. The Maple Leafs haven’t made it a point to be in the market for a goaltender as the team has something great with Andersen and Campbell (when healthy).
As the trade deadline approaches, it wouldn’t hurt to try and address goaltending now so that way the team can be certain at the position for the future. Will Andersen return? Will Campbell be the starter next season? There are a lot of unknowns at the moment.
The talk of Andersen’s future has been a focal point in Leafs Nation all season and it may have come to a boiling point. In his article Parsons Sr., writes that whether he’s healthy or not, Andersen may not be the goaltender for the future. Even Friedman mentioned that the Maple Leafs have inquired on goalies, including the Coyotes.
Why Acquiring Kuemper Makes Sense
While many, including myself, feel that Campbell could be their go to guy in net, the recent news of his load management and injury could be a concern for the team going forward. If Andersen doesn’t have a future in Toronto and they still have some worries with Campbell’s injury, they need help immediately. Bringing Kuemper in makes sense.
Could the Toronto Maple Leafs look to acquire Arizona Coyotes goaltender Darcy Kuemper? (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Kuemper has had a pretty good track record with his play over his nine year career as he has a 2.45 GAA and .918 SV%. Since becoming the starter for the Coyotes, his numbers immediately stand out as he was in the top-10 for the Vezina trophy the last two seasons. He was off to another great start this season with a 2.41 GAA and a .914 SV% but has since been sidelined with a lower-body injury.
As a comparison to Andersen, Kuemper’s numbers provide a stark contrast over the last three seasons.
Season
Kuemper’s SV%
Kuemper’s GAA
Andersen’s SV%
Andersen’s GAA
2018-19
.925
2.33
.917
2.77
2019-20
.928
2.22
.909
2.85
2020-21
.914
2.41
.897
2.91
Kuemper’s numbers have been steady while Andersen’s numbers have declined. This season, Andersen has arguably had the best defense he has seen in his time in Toronto and his numbers aren’t anywhere near to what Kuemper is posting.
While Kuemper’s statistics are noticeably better, his contract is something that the Maple Leafs would love to have. According to Cap Friendly, he has a cap hit of $4.5 million and is signed for the 2021-22 season, something that benefits them greatly. If Dubas moves on from a pending unrestricted free agent in Andersen, getting a goalie with term and upside would be a great move. Since teams have called about Andersen, swapping goalies could be a good option.
Even though Kuemper is injured, with the quarantine for players entering Canada is being shifted from 14 days to seven, it helps out a team like the Maple Leafs but also Kuemper. Since he’s on the injured reserve list and while his return is up in the air, the quarantine would coincide while he’s recovering from his injury.
Conor Garland in the Mix?
As Parsons Sr. used Iafallo as his forward, the Maple Leafs could look to add Conor Garland as he’s in the midst of a strong season. After posting 22 goals and 39 points in 2019-20, he could match his point total from last season as he already has 26 points.
His contract wouldn’t be an issue at all as he’s making $775,000 and is a restricted free agent at the end of the season. After his last two seasons, you can expect an increase from what he’s making now. Though Friedman mentions that the Coyotes have been asked about him, they aren’t shopping him unless the price is right.
Conor Garland, Arizona Coyotes (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)
While he’s 5-foot-10, 165 pounds, he has great energy and a strong offensive skillset that matches the Maple Leafs play style. He isn’t afraid of going to the front of the net or battling in the corners.
Having Garland on the wing with John Tavares and William Nylander would definitely round out the top-six very well. While Alex Galchenyuk has played well with them, Garland would provide a slightly better production offensively. Garland likes to generate speed and has great control when the puck is on his stick. He’s quick with his speed and has a knack for being very deceptive sneaking into the open areas on the ice.
When he’s on the ice at five-on-five, the Coyotes have a good Corsi for percentage (shot attempts) of 51.58%. But his impact is felt in the high danger area as the team’s percentage when he’s on the ice is at 57.23%, second overall on the team with a minimum of 100 minutes played. Adding him would be a major addition to the Maple Leafs.
What Could a Deal Look Like?
If a deal were to be made, it’s likely that both Andersen and Kuemper are going to swap. If Garland is coming the other way the Maple Leafs could move a forward in Alexander Kerfoot (21st on TSN’s Trade Bait List). Even if Kerfoot wasn’t involved, they could offer up a prospect they’re willing to part ways with.
Alexander Kerfoot, Toronto Maple Leafs (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)
The Maple Leafs could also deal their first-round pick in 2021 for a few reasons. One, this draft is unpredictable as there could be a lot of movement outside of the top-10. Two, the Coyotes don’t have a first-round pick as they forfeited theirs after violating the league’s combine testing policy. The Maple Leafs would keep their prospects in place, while giving up a first in what could be a weird draft season.
Whether or not the Maple Leafs are looking at the Coyotes for help to upgrade their goaltending or the top-six forward group, both Kuemper and Garland fit what they’re looking for. Dubas is no stranger to making a package deal before and it’s very possible that he can do that again this time around.
Hockey has been a big part of my life since watching my first Leafs game to currently coaching minor hockey. I previously interned at The Hockey News and worked on Toronto Marlies broadcasts for Rogers TV. Aside from hockey, I also enjoy drumming, animation and impressions/ voices.
DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Red Wings signed forward Lucas Raymond to an eight-year, $64.6 million contract Monday, completing a deal with one of their best young players less than 72 hours before training camp begins.
Raymond will count $8.075 million against the salary cap through 2032. The 22-year-old was a restricted free agent without a contract for the upcoming NHL season and was coming off setting career highs with 31 goals, 41 assists and 72 points.
The Red Wings have another one of those in defenceman Moritz Seider, who won the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year in 2021-22.
Detroit is looking to end an eight-year playoff drought dating to the Original Six franchise’s last appearance in 2016.
Raymond, a Swede who was the fourth pick in 2020, has 174 points in 238 games since breaking into the league.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Kirk Cousins led a flawless last-minute drive for Atlanta and connected with Drake London for a 7-yard touchdown with 34 seconds left to give the Falcons a 22-21 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night.
Saquon Barkley dropped a short pass that stopped the clock with 1:46 left and forced the Eagles to settle for a field goal instead of a game-sealing first down. That was plenty of time for Cousins — especially against an Eagles defense playing soft coverage with a nonexistent pass rush.
The 36-year-old veteran, playing his second game since tearing his Achilles tendon last Oct. 29 while playing for Minnesota, shook off an uneven effort and hit Darnell Mooney for 21 and 26 yards on consecutive plays during the decisive drive.
Cousins found London on a short pass to his right for the tying score, and Younghoe Koo put Atlanta (1-1) on top with a 48-yard extra point after London was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct. The go-ahead drive took just 65 seconds.
Jalen Hurts had his final pass intercepted by Jessie Bates III to seal Atlanta’s win and set off a wild celebration on the sideline.
The Eagles (1-1) went ahead on Hurts’ 1-yard tush push score with 6:47 left. Barkley finished with 95 yards on 22 carries in his home debut for Philadelphia, but his drop provided the Falcons with some hope.
And then Cousins started playing like the QB Atlanta thought it was getting when it signed him to a four-year, $180 million contract.
Cousins finished 20 of 29 for 241 yards and two touchdowns. Atlanta’s first TD was a 41-yarder from Cousins to Mooney, who finished with three catches for 88 yards.
Hurts was 23 of 30 for 183 yards, including a touchdown pass to DeVonta Smith. With No. 1 receiver A.J. Brown out with a hamstring injury, Smith led the Eagles with seven catches for 76 yards and a score.
Jake Elliott kicked two field goals for the Eagles. His 28-yarder with 1:39 left made it 21-15.
Atlanta kept stalling in the red zone, getting three field goals from Koo, before Cousins fired over the middle to Mooney, who shook loose from C.J. Gardner-Johnson and left him on the turf before he somersaulted into the end zone with 1:21 left in the third quarter for a 15-10 lead. Cousins failed on the 2-point conversion pass.
Hurts had some juice in his step during a second-quarter TD drive, running with abandon for big plays much like he did in the 2022 season. He spiked the ball in a rare, raw show of emotion on a 23-yard run, earning a delay-of-game penalty. He shrugged off the 5-yard setback and scrambled for 9 yards and 15 yards to move the Eagles to Atlanta’s 19.
With comedian Shane Gillis and actor Bradley Cooper among the fans cheering on the Eagles, Hurts connected with Smith in the back of the end zone for a 7-yard TD that made it 7-3.
Under new defensive coordinator Vince Fangio, the Eagles have established an early knack for allowing long drives that end with three points instead of seven. Koo kicked field goals of 39, 22 and 34 yards, the last one enough for a 9-7 lead in the third quarter. In their opener, the Eagles held the Packers to just three field goals when they drove inside the 20.
Questionable call
Rather than take a chip-shot field goal from Elliott, the Eagles’ fourth-and-4 gamble at Atlanta’s 9-yard line in the first quarter failed when Hurts threw an incomplete pass.
Elliott kicked a 29-yarder with 4:31 left in the third quarter for a 10-9 lead.
Running wild
Bijan Robinson ran for 97 yards for the Falcons. The Eagles stuffed him late on fourth-and-1 at the Atlanta 39.
Barkley was quiet until the go-ahead drive, a week after he rushed for 109 yards and scored three touchdowns against Green Bay. Eagles fans booed when the opening drive of the game ended without Barkley touching the ball. They went wild when he had consecutive 9-yard runs to open the second drive. Barkley had 40 yards rushing in the first half.
Foles honored
Former Eagles QB Nick Foles, who led the franchise to its only Super Bowl title, served as an honorary captain and led the crowd in a rendition of “Fly, Eagles, Fly.”
Injuries
The Falcons played without LB Nate Landman (calf, quad).
Up next
Atlanta hosts Super Bowl champion Kansas City on Sunday.
TORONTO – Singles star Leylah Fernandez and doubles specialist Gabriela Dabrowski will anchor Canada’s five-player lineup when the team tries to defend its Billie Jean King Cup title in mid-November.
The 26th-ranked Fernandez, the 2021 U.S. Open finalist from Laval, Que., is the lone Canadian in the top 100 of the WTA Tour’s singles rankings.
Dabrowski, from Ottawa, is ranked fourth on the doubles list. The 2023 U.S. Open women’s doubles champion won mixed doubles bronze with Felix Auger-Aliassime at the recent Paris Olympics.
Marina Stakusic of Mississauga, Ont., returns after a breakout performance last year, capped by her singles win in Canada’s 2-0 victory over Italy in the final. Vancouver’s Rebecca Marino is also back and Bianca Andreescu, the 2019 U.S. Open champion from Mississauga, Ont., returns to the squad for the first time since 2022.
“Winning the Billie Jean King Cup in 2023 was a dream come true for us, and not only that, but I feel like we made a statement to the world about the strength of this nation when it comes to tennis,” Canada captain Heidi El Tabakh said Monday in a release. “Once again, we have a very strong team this year with Bianca joining Leylah, Gaby, Rebecca and Marina, making it an extremely powerful team that is more than capable of going all the way.
“At the end of the day, our goal is to make Canada proud, and we’ll do our best to bring the same level of effort and excitement that we had in last year’s finals.”
Fernandez, who beat Jasmine Paolini to clinch Canada’s first-ever title at the competition, is ranked No. 42 in doubles.
Canada, which received an automatic berth as defending champion, will play the winner of the first-round tie between Great Britain and Germany on Nov. 17 at Malaga’s Martin Carpena Arena.
Australia, Italy and wild-card entry Czechia also received first-round byes. The tournament, which continues through Nov. 20, also includes host Spain, Slovakia, the United States, Poland, Japan and Romania.
Stakusic is up 27 spots to No. 128 in the latest world singles rankings. Marino is at No. 134 and Andreescu, the 2019 U.S. Open champion, is ranked 167th.
Canada will look to become the first team since Czechia in 2016 to successfully defend its Billie Jean King Cup title.
Malaga will also host the Nov. 19-24 Davis Cup Final 8. The Canadian men qualified over the weekend with a 2-1 victory over Great Britain in Manchester.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 16, 2024.
