Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
It’s September 1st, and Dennis Hildeby is still without a contract, and it seems like if Toronto wants to ensure they have some proper backup they need to sign him.
With the preseason looming in the distance and August behind us, it’s time for the NHL season to start gearing towards its season opener in the beginning of October.
Expected to be a season filled with intriguing storylines, potential blockbuster deals, and coaches on the hot seat; it’s going to be the year for headlines it feels like.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are expected to be in the headlines a lot this season, and hopefully it’s for the right reasons. While they have built a very solid and deep roster, there are still some questions about the full make up of the team.
What’s Behind the Delay in Hildeby’s Contract Talks
One big question seems to be that of the goaltending and not because of Joseph Woll and Anthony Stolarz. Those two are seemingly locked in as the 1/2 this season, but with the loss of Matt Murray it’s going to rely on Dennis Hildeby to shoulder any emergency starts.
But, it’s September 1st and he doesn’t have a contract yet, and with no real backup goaltenders available to help out at the NHL-level; it’s getting a tad worrisome.
It seems that Toronto might be waiting to see what other moves they make first such as a potential Jack Roslovic signing, then figuring out their cap space with a David Kampf deal later on. They hold his rights, so it’s not like he’s going anywhere.
It would be interesting to see if Hildeby is holding out for more money and knowing he has some leverage now that Murray is gone. But with a 3-3-0 record and pedestrian counting stats; it’s hard to see him helping out long-term if Woll or Stolarz are out.
Why Toronto Can’t Afford to Wait Much Longer
Unless the team wants to bring in someone like James Reimer, Ilya Samsonov (again) or Alexandar Georgiev on a PTO, it’s going to rely on Hildeby to shut the door in a tough situation.
There aren’t many options and teams like Edmonton and Pittsburgh are both looking to add goaltending help at the last minute, so if they scoop up one of those players it makes things even harder with no contract, and dwindling free agents.
It’s great that Brad Treliving wants to stress patience, but with his goaltender’s injury history he should probably figure out if he’s going to bring in an NHL-ready goaltender or rely on Hildeby to find his footing.
Could Hildeby’s Situation Impact Toronto’s Goalie Depth?
The pipeline for Toronto’s goaltending is stronger than it has been in years, and Hildeby is a product of some very smart drafting but if he doesn’t sign a deal somehow then it’ll open up a lot of room.
Akhtyamov has the potential to be a star with enough time, and Appleby is the most experienced and veteran goaltender now with Murray gone; he can play well enough in spot starts when Akhtyamov needs a night off.
But not keeping him around is a bit puzzling, and it’s more than likely that Toronto is just waiting to see where things lay when it comes to their roster up front, before deciding their goaltending situation last minute.
Hildeby made his NHL debut last season, and posted a 3-3-0 record with a .878 SV% and a 3.13 GAA.
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