Leafs have no backup goalie tonight due to roster restrictions
After the Leafs signed their core four forwards to highly lucrative contracts, with three players earning over $10M, criticisms arose from both fans and media analysts about their ability to stay under the salary cap. As a result of their expensive roster, tonight, the Leafs will be unable to play a backup goaltender due to salary cap restrictions.
However, it's not just the salary cap that's preventing the Leafs from dressing a backup. Goaltender Matt Murray is presently injured but cannot be placed on injured reserve at this stage of the season. With Murray's salary still counting towards the cap and the team planning to sign draft pick Matthew Knies soon, they will have to play without a backup goaltender tonight to make room for the roster moves.
Despite the unique circumstances surrounding the signing of Knies, it is not an ideal situation for the Leafs to play without a backup goaltender, and it doesn't reflect well on the NHL that one of its top teams is unable to field a full team due to salary regulations.
In tonight's game against the Montreal Canadiens, the Leafs will rely on goaltender Ilya Samsonov to stay healthy for their chances of winning and progressing in the playoffs next week.
Update:
The Leafs had to resort to signing a university student to an armature tryout in order to have a back up tonight.
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 8 | 293 ANSWERS Leafs have no backup goalie tonight due to roster restrictions Is the cap or the Leafs to blame? | ||
| The Salary cap | 65 | 22.2 % |
| The Leafs | 154 | 52.6 % |
| Both | 74 | 25.3 % |
| LIST OF POLLS | ||
| G | A | PTS | ||
| Zachary Werenski | 2 | 3 | 5 | |
| Sean Monahan | 1 | 3 | 4 | |
| Jesper Bratt | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| Frederick Gaudreau | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| Jack Hughes | - | 3 | 3 | |
| Nikita Kucherov | - | 3 | 3 | |
| Mackenzie Weegar | - | 3 | 3 | |
| Kent Johnson | 2 | - | 2 | |
| Alexander Wennberg | 2 | - | 2 | |
| Mitchell Chaffee | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Anthony Cirelli | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Matthew Coronato | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Marcus Foligno | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Nick Foligno | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Conor Geekie | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Brandon Hagel | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Stefan Noesen | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Corey Perry | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Igor Sharangovich | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Dmitry Voronkov | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Complete stats | ||||
| STANDINGS 2024-2025 | ||||||
TOP 10 | GP | W | L | OL | PTS | |
Jets | 19 | 16 | 3 | - | 32 | |
Wild | 19 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 29 | |
Hurricanes | 19 | 14 | 5 | - | 28 | |
Devils | 22 | 13 | 7 | 2 | 28 | |
Capitals | 19 | 13 | 5 | 1 | 27 | |
Golden Knights | 20 | 12 | 6 | 2 | 26 | |
Maple Leafs | 20 | 12 | 6 | 2 | 26 | |
Rangers | 18 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 25 | |
Panthers | 20 | 12 | 7 | 1 | 25 | |
Flames | 20 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 25 | |
| Conference | Cumulative | ||||||