The Toronto Maple Leafs have recalled Erik Kallgren from the AHL under emergency conditions, as Jack Campbell will be out for a minimum of two weeks with a rib injury. This is Kallgren’s first recall to the regular roster this season.
With Campbell out, the focus will turn to Petr Mrazek, the inconsistent netminder that Toronto signed to a three-year contract in the offseason. Mrazek dealt with injuries of his own early in the season and has made just 15 appearances so far, posting an .890 save percentage in those games. He does have a 10-5 record as the Maple Leafs have been able to outscore their goaltending woes fairly regularly, but with the pressure now squarely on Mrazek’s shoulders, things are going to have to improve.
In the case of Kallgren, the team has an interesting name to pivot to in this situation. A seventh-round pick of the Arizona Coyotes in 2015, the 25-year-old netminder spent the last two seasons playing in Europe, where he rediscovered his game and earned another NHL contract. With the Toronto Marlies this season, Kallgren has a 15-8-1 record and a .904 save percentage in 26 appearances. Whether he’s ready to help the Maple Leafs or not, he’ll serve as the backup for the time being.
Joseph Woll, the other young netminder that the Maple Leafs have used this season, played two days ago for the Marlies and stopped 27 of 29 shots. His .903 AHL save percentage on the season isn’t much different than Kallgren, however, and it’s unclear who would really be able to step up if Mrazek were to suffer an injury or struggle.
I would go to IR also to get out of the Toronto net!
Varlamov or Holtby time for the Leafs.
Or Fleury.
likely will wait till close to the deadline if interested in fleury. since mrazek would likely go back the other way, making this move still leaves you with no depth.
Yeah depth is certainly an issue. Part of me wonders if this injury is something that has lingered for a while that led to his recent struggles. The other injury that really had an impact on the defensive play was Muzzin. The more I look at the team, the lack of quality depth at every position is becoming increasingly apparent. Going into the deadline, help is needed at G, D, and LW with only enough cap space to address one of those arenas.
Why would Chicago take on Marazk’s contract. 2 yrs left at a ridiculous 3.8
You’d have to pay pretty good for a team to take that contract – with his performance and injury history
Off topic, but I just read an article on The Athletic about why now is the time to destroy the only professional women’s hockey league in North America in the hopes of whining and begging and guilt tripping Gary Bettman into building them a league from scratch and subsidizing the financial losses because they don’t think the current league is nice enough for them.
And it’s really really sad that these women in the PWHPA don’t have anyone in their lives who loves them enough to explain either reality or Econ 101 to them.
It’s the most pathetic and self destructive thing I’ve ever seen in sports.
Vandalistic angry groveling.
And the Leafs should offer Mrazek and a pick for MAF.
Haha! You can offer what you want, but it will take a high pick just to get rid of Marazk
Yeah, doubtful anyone wants Mrazek and his contract.
Mrazek is the modern day Kevin Weekes. Good goalie on a bad team. Bad goalie on a good team.
The Hawks are a bad team. They could…and possibly will…do worse.
Ken Dryden explained that syndrome in his first book, actually: that the “good goalie on a bad team” could let in three goals, say, as long as he made a few spectacular stops along the way and bagged a shutout every now and then. No one would expect more.
But by contrast, Dryden had to stop them ALL, and so did any other goalie playing for the 1970s Canadiens. “Good enough” wasn’t an option. Perfection was required.
But I’d say this ups the ante on Toronto to go get Holtby. Varlamov just won’t work without some serious financial shenanigans. Holtby’s the guy they can afford.
Exactly right.
5 greats saves a night masks the soft goal each game. When winning is all that matter that soft goal kills you.
Holtby is a good option but can he win it all at this point? I think MAF still can.
Y’all forgetting Holtby on the Canucks last year right? He’s the exact same as Mrazek if not worse.
You’re right on MAF vs Holtby, but Holtby’s the guy they can afford. I just don’t see Toronto being able to bribe Chicago enough to make the cap situation work for Fleury. (That is even if Fleury agrees to a trade, which he doesn’t seem inclined to do.)
I thought Mrazek played fairly well against the Blue Jackets. The Leafs gave up odd-man rushes and left forwards all alone in front of him for easy tip-ins. If the team cleans that stuff up Mrazek should be able to carry the load for a while IMO. (or until he gets hurt himself lol)
And of course he goes and lays a big frigging egg after I post that lol.
Big test coming for him at the outdoor game on Sunday.
I am predicting the Leafs acquire Holtby and Kessel at the deadline haha