Leafs have new backup goalie option on the table!

It is no secret: the Toronto Maple Leafs have been pressured to find a suitable, experienced backup goalie to take the load off Frederik Andersen and give the team a chance to make the postseason with a strong combination in between the pipes. 

Michael Hutchinson was given the chance to play before the break and finally recorded his first win of the season. It remains to be seen if he can keep it going as the Leafs have yet to make a move to improve their goaltending situation.

Before the holiday break, Sportsnet analyst Brian Burke stated that the Leafs are making a huge mistake waiting for long to fix the ongoing backup goalie issues in Toronto, which could come and bite them in the butt later on this season.

“I do think it’s a big problem, and I do think that for stalling it and pushing it back isn’t going to change it.

“Last year, the team that made the playoffs in the East with the fewest number of backup goalie points were the Toronto Maple Leafs. They had 21 backup goalie points. There were teams that had 50 backup goalie points!

“So this breaks down into one or two things, either a broken down worn out Freddie Andersen that can’t compete in the playoffs, or some other catastrophe if he gets hurt. So to me, it does not make sense to not address this issue.”

There might be a great solution not to far away… 

On Friday, Ken Warren of the Ottawa Sun reported that Senators GM Pierre Dorion will have to decide which veterans he’ll need to keep to bridge the gap as his younger core continues to develop and mentioned that pending free-agent goalieCraig Anderson’s days in Ottawa are coming to an end. 

Anderson has been getting better ever since he returned from injury and could give the Senators a better the return if and when a team comes calling for an experienced backup.

That team could be the Maple Leafs. Insider Lyle Richardson believes Toronto could take a look at Anderson as the two clubs have a recent trade history.

However, the Senators would need to be open to retain some of Anderson’s salary, seeing that his $4.75-million annual cap hit would be too much for the Leafs’ tight cap. 

To be continued…