There's talk that goalie Martin Jones might just stick around in Toronto for another season.
According to a report by Joshua Kloke of The Athletic, Jones and his family have taken a liking to the city and are considering extending their stay as Maple Leafs.
"Jones would prefer to play more games (what goaltender wouldn't) but crucially, Jones and his family enjoyed life in Toronto and appreciate living in bigger cities. Jones also formed a decent relationship with Joseph Woll this season and – having seven more seasons of NHL experience – took to the mentor role easily. It sounds like Jones would be open to returning to Toronto. Given his familiarity, if the Leafs can convince Jones to take on the No. 3 job on a similar-ish cap hit next season, it feels like a no-brainer.
Now, Jones may have been the Leafs' third-string goalie last season, but he made his mark when called upon. He suited up for 22 games and racked up an 11-8-1 record. His save percentage sat at .902, and he held a solid 2.87 goals-against average with a 6.3 goals saved above expected. That's solid for a guy who wasn't expected to carry such a load.
At 34 years old, Jones brings a wealth of experience to the table. With over 460 NHL games under his belt, he knows what it takes to get the job done between the pipes. He did backup Ilya Samsonov and Joseph Woll down the stretch, so the question of whether extending him is worth it, lingers.
However, if he's keen on sticking around and the Leafs are on board, why not give it another shot? Who knows, maybe Jones will continue to be a reliable backup or even surprise everyone with a standout season.
| POLL | ||
28 MAI | 290 ANSWERS Martin Jones says he wants to remain a Maple Leaf Do you approve of Martin Jones remaining a Toronto Maple Leaf? | ||
| Yes | 198 | 68.3 % |
| No | 92 | 31.7 % |
| LIST OF POLLS | ||
Latest 10 stories
