NHL Trade Speculation: 5 Goalies the Leafs Should Target

With the NHL trade deadline fast approaching, the Toronto Maple Leafs are quickly running out of time to find an answer to their goaltending woes.

The Leafs hit the ice tonight to take on the visiting San Jose Sharks, and considering that goaltender Jonas Gustavsson had an atrocious game Tuesday night in a 4-3 overtime loss to the New Jersey Devils, James Reimer will probably get the start in net for the Buds.

Should Reimer play well this evening and earn Toronto the win, he well have more than likely earned himself a start this upcoming Saturday night as well.

But, regardless of tonight's outcome, can either of the two starting goalies in Toronto be trusted down the stretch?

Based on their inconsistent play as of late, the answer is an emphatic no.

In fairness, does a Leafs playoff berth depend on the play of its goalies alone?

No, of course not. 

However, by a similar token, Toronto can ill-afford to let vital points slip away as a result of inconsistencies between the pipes.   

To fix this issue, GM Brian Burke could trade for a veteran goalie such as Evgeni Nabokov, but what if that option fails to produce wins and the Leafs miss the playoffs for yet another season? Not only will they have missed the playoffs, but they will have given up good prospects or picks in what turned out to be a wasted transaction.

Perhaps the better option is to trade for a youthful goalie who is eager for the chance to break out and become a No. 1. At least then, if the Leafs miss the playoffs, they will have saved face by retaining value for the future.

With this in mind, I have compiled a list of five names that are ready for starting duties, or who could be in the near future.

Anders Lindback

The Nashville Predators receive stellar play game in and game out from their No. 1 backstop, Pekka Rinne. As a result, backup Anders Lindback does not play nearly enough as he is capable of.

Yesterday, TSN's Daren Dreger speculated on the Quiz/Insider Trading that Lindback would be an ideal candidate for the Leafs.

He is a big, athletic goalie who seems to have a bright future in the NHL, and Nashville may make an ideal trading partner since they are a Western Conference team searching for depth at the forward positions.

2011-12 NHL Stats

Games Played In (GPI): 10

Goals Against Average (GAA): 2.70

Save Percentage (SV%): .897

Josh Harding

Based solely on NHL experience, Minnesota Wild goaltender Josh Harding is a good candidate to step in and provide the Leafs stability in net. 

The Wild currently sit 12th in the Western Conference with 61 points, five behind the eighth-place Los Angeles Kings. While five points does not sound insurmountable, Minnesota has struggled as of late, only winning two games in the past 10 outings.

The issue is scoring, and with their No. 1 goalie Niklas Backstrom playing well, the Wild may be willing to ship their backup out of town for some much-needed offensive help in return.  

2011-12 NHL Stats

GPI: 24

GAA: 2.59

SV%: .919

Jonathan Bernier

If there is one back-up goalie currently playing in the NHL who has seen just as little game time as Predators Lindback, it is Jonathan Bernier of the L.A. Kings.

Bernier would be a terrific pickup for the Leafs going forward, but there is one catch: the Rick Nash sweepstakes.

Bernier represents a key bargaining chip for L.A. in trade discussions with the Columbus Blue Jackets for their star forward and will only become available elsewhere should the Kings fall out of the running for the deadline prize of this trade season. 

2011-12 NHL Stats

GPI: 11

GAA: 2.57

SV%: .900

Ben Bishop

Considered by many around hockey circles to be the best goalie not currently playing in the NHL, Ben Bishop is playing extremely well for the St. Louis Blues' AHL affiliate, Peoria Rivermen. 

Bishop came into training camp this year and hands down outplayed his competitors. For all intensive purposes, he earned the No. 1 starting job in St. Louis, but Blues brass opted to stick with experience in net and sent Bishop to Peoria. 

To the surprise of many, the goaltending tandem of Brian Elliot and Jaroslav Halak has made the decision makers in St. Louis look like geniuses, and luckily for other NHL teams, Bishop has become expendable.

He has virtually no NHL experience, but if the Blues are looking for a trading partner, Burke should put in a serious effort to land Bishop.

2011-12 AHL Stats

GPI: 37

GAA: 2.26

SV%: .928

Cory Schneider

Of all the goalies on this list, Cory Schneider is the least likely to be traded before the deadline.

So why do I bring up his name?

Simple, he has the most experience of any of the five goalies that I have mentioned, and if his play in Vancouver over the last few seasons is any indication, he could take on the No. 1 role in Toronto without question.

Also, with little short of stellar play as of late, Roberto Luongo has re-emerged as the clear No. 1 starter for the Canucks.

Does this mean Schneider is expendable?

Considering Luongo's track record in the playoffs, probably not.

In the minds of many, Vancouver would be nuts to trade away their top insurance package. But if Schneider did become available, he would be at the top of Burke's list.

2011-12 NHL Stats

GPI: 22

GAA: 2.25

SV%: .928

Officially Searching for Help in Net

Whether or not Toronto lands one of the names on this list prior to the NHL trade deadline remains to be seen.

Leafs brass is officially on the look, though. According to TSN's Pierre LeBrun, management met yesterday and made the decision to explore the trade market for an upgrade in goal.

If I had to wager a guess as to who the Leafs may snag, my guess would be veteran Evgeni Nabokov from the New York Islanders. He has a well-known history with Toronto's coach, Ron Wilson, from their days in San Jose and would be a good rental-veteran netminder for the Leafs down the stretch.

But, should management be looking towards the future as well, Bernier may be Toronto's best target. The Kings desperately need help at the wings, and a package including Clarke MacArthur may be a good solution.

However, as I have already mentioned, this scenario only works should the Kings miss out on Nash.

That is my opinion, but what is yours?

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