Welcome to another edition of NHL Rumours! Just a few more days until the All-Star break, which will be a good reset for some teams. The rumour mill is churning faster and faster and teams are beginning to set the stage for what is to come. Some of this stuff can take place after the season but for today we focus on the Toronto Maple Leafs and Colorado Avalanche.
NHL Rumours
Toronto Maple Leafs
Rumour: Elliote Friedman discusses the State of the Leafs and Sheldon Keefe
Is there trouble in Leafs Land? Not exactly but the team doesn’t appear to be its dominant self. Also, they’ve lost half of the games they’ve played and if not for overtime losses, would be a .500 team. Not ideal given the firepower that the team has on the roster. Friedman brings up the future of Sheldon Keefe and what can happen.
As it stands, the Maple Leafs are clinging onto third place in the Atlantic Division, but the Detroit Red Wings are right on their heels. However, the team has been plagued with goalie issues all season long and has glaring holes it needs to address. Friedman is suggesting that its bigger picture and likely won’t see a coaching change at this point in the season.
Given the limited assets and salary cap availability, the all-in approach may not happen this trade deadline. Keefe has done a great job of getting this team to the playoffs, but the success has not been there. General Manager Brad Treliving will make potential changes when the season ends if anything.
It is bigger picture for the Maple Leafs and how they build going forward not just this season. If the team has another unsuccessful postseason run, maybe a change does happen to retool things.
Colorado Avalanche
Rumour: Elliote Friedman on 32 Thoughts discusses the goalie situation in Colorado
Our next set of NHL Rumours takes us out west. As it stands, the Minnesota Wild are fighting for a playoff spot. They’ve been dealt a tough blow, as captain Jared Spurgeon is done for the season. Depending where they stand at the deadline, being big sellers is a likely scenario. One team that can come calling is the Colorado Avalanche, who could use help in the goal crease.
Minnesota Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury will be a coveted goaltender this deadline. He will not cost nearly as much as the other goalies this trade deadline. This season has not been the best year for Fleury but he’s still worth adding to the tandem. He has a .897 save percentage and a 2.95 goals against average. Also, he has a subpar -5.7 goals saved above expected but that also goes for every other goalie the Wild have. Colorado needs help and badly.
Alexandar Georgiev is carrying the load and it’s getting heavy. He has started in 37 games this season and a backup goalie is needed. If the Avalanche are to make a playoff push, running their starting goalie out of gas is not ideal. Georgiev has 1.2 goals saved above expected but also a .895 save percentage.
Is it fatigue? Nobody knows but calling on Fleury is not a bad move if you are Joe Sakic. The Carolina Hurricanes are also rumoured to be in on Fleury as well.
Main Photo: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
