The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed goaltender Martin Jones to a one-year contract worth $875,000.
The crease is getting crowded in Toronto.
The Toronto Maple Leafs bolstered their goaltending depth on Wednesday, agreeing to terms with veteran Martin Jones on a one-year contract worth $875,000.
The 33-year-old is coming off a decidedly difficult 2022-23 season spent with the Seattle Kraken, during which he finished with a 27-13-3 record along with three shutouts and a dismal .886 save percentage. In fact, it's been quite some time since Jones has posted a save percentage above .900. Back in 2017-18, Jones finished with a .915 save percentage for the San Jose Sharks, never managing to recapture the form that made him such an appealing asset early in his career.
Heading to Toronto now, Jones will fight for the Maple Leafs' backup job with prospect Joseph Woll, who performed phenomenally in his brief NHL stints last season.
It never hurts to have a veteran option in the system, but with the Maple Leafs so tight against the salary cap, it will be interesting to see if they can manage to pass Jones through waivers following training camp or even fit him on the active roster in the event he's needed.
Needless to say, the Maple Leafs will be a team of particular interest to watch heading into the 2023-24 season.