The Toronto Maple Leafs are reportedly among the teams that are preparing to make a pitch to Sergei Bobrovsky's camp in free agency.
With the Toronto Maple Leafs trading away Joseph Woll to the Philadelphia Flyers on June 16, hypothetically, there is an open spot in the team's NHL goalie tandem, even though that opportunity can be filled by Dennis Hildeby or Artur Akhtyamov.
One of the biggest goaltending names available in this year's free agency class is Sergei Bobrovsky. And based on the Florida Panthers' acquisition of goalies Jacob Markstrom and Akira Schmid in the past few days, it seems that Bobrovsky's tenure with the Cats is over.
It's been reported that the Maple Leafs will be keeping tabs on Bobrovsky, who is reportedly looking for a hefty contract considering the two-time Stanley Cup champion is 37 years old.
Regardless, Toronto will likely make a pitch to Bobrovsky's camp.
"The Toronto Maple Leafs are going to be among the teams that see if there's a fit there," Chris Johnston said of UFA Bobrovsky on TSN's Insider Trading.
Before the Panthers decided to bring in a new goaltending tandem of Markstrom and Schmid, Bobrovsky was looking for a contract similar to Brad Marchand's six-year contract in his late 30s. However, instead of the $31.5 million contract that Marchand received, Bobrovsky was more in the ballpark of a $42-million deal.
In addition to his age, he's coming off one of the worst campaigns of his 16-year NHL career with a .877 save percentage and a 3.07 goals-against average. Therefore, there is certainly risk involved in handing Bobrovsky a long and expensive contract.
"The Leafs are in an aggressive remake, remodel frame of mind right now," Johnston added. "Bobrovsky deal, if it's a long-term one, would have some risk."
Along with this report, Leafs GM John Chayka left the door open to the possibility of adding a goaltender in free agency.
Nonetheless, going into the first day of free agency, July 1, the Maple Leafs have $20.9 million in salary cap space to work with.
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