As rivals upgrade, Leafs take gamble

Toronto focused on Woll extension in same week Markstrom and Ullmark were traded

- NICK KYPREOS

Joseph Woll is expected to sign a three-year extension worth $10 milion to $12 million (U.S.) — a big leap of faith on a goalie with just 43 total career games in the regular season and playoffs, Nick Kypreos writes.

The Maple Leafs are making another gamble in goal. With the Boston Bruins sending Linus Ullmark to the Ottawa Senators earlier this week, the Leafs were forced to scratch a second target off their list of potential goalie partners for Joseph Woll. The deal came less than a week after the Calgary Flames shipped Jacob Markström to the New Jersey Devils.

What about Juuse Saros, you ask? Sources indicate Nashville general manager Barry Trotz has settled on his path forward with the 29-yearold goaltender, hoping to lock him up to an extension after the July 1 window opens — a move Trotz hinted at in May despite Saros’s name emerging in rumours at the trade deadline last season. The Predators would like Saros to help mentor 2022 first-rounder Yaroslav Askarov.

As for the Leafs, although there are questions about Woll’s dependability, the door is open for him to become their No. 1 goalie.