Martin Jones #31 of the Toronto Maple Leafs
Last August, the Toronto Maple Leafs made a peculiar move by signing veteran goalie Martin Jones to a one-year deal on August 9, 2023. This decision became clearer days later when fans learned that Matt Murray would be out for the season due to upcoming hip surgery.
The signing by new Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Martin Jones turned out to be a smart move, as the team acquired a veteran third-string goalie for just $100,000 over the league minimum salary.
This move served two purposes: it provided the team with insurance in net and created a false sense of security in goal. Jones stepped in as the starter last January when Joseph Woll was injured, and Ilya Samsonov faced challenges that eventually led to him being placed on waivers.
In his first 12 game appearances, Jones recorded an 8-3-0 record with a 1.98 GAA and a .934 save percentage, including two shutouts. Unfortunately, management relied on him for the remainder of the season instead of pursuing a permanent solution or giving prospect Dennis Hildeby a chance. In his final ten appearances, Jones posted a 3-5-1 record with a 3.94 GAA and an .863 save percentage.
Re-signing Martin Jones would be a smart move.
The Athletic’s Joshua Kloke reported earlier this week that Jones is interested in returning to the Maple Leafs.
While his second-half numbers may cause hesitation, bringing back the 34-year-old in the role he was intended for at the same salary is a move worth considering for Brad Treliving. Treliving still needs to find a goalie to either share time with Woll or handle the majority of games, but having Jones as a third option for 5-10 games in case of injury could be beneficial. However, Jones is not a long-term solution to the goalie issue.
Jones can help the Maple Leafs avoid having to give up assets to acquire a goalie for a few games, similar to what happened in 2021 when Kyle Dubas traded a third-round pick for Dave Rittich at the trade deadline. Rittich only started four games for the Maple Leafs, while the Calgary Flames used that pick to acquire Nikita Zadorov.
Bringing back Jones in a clearly defined role, rather than as a long-term solution, is a smart decision.
