Stolarz to Utah for Barrett Hayton solves the Maple Leafs depth problem in one phone call

As the Maple Leafs navigate this offseason, at least they have a pretty good head start on things with the first overall pick. Gavin McKenna awaits, and with enough luck they will be able to keep him and Auston Matthews around for the foreseeable future.

But there are a lot of other changes the team needs to make, most importantly up front though one sticking point that certainly got lost in the shuffle since the draft lottery has been the goaltending.

With questions about Anthony Stolarz's health and Dennis Hildeby ready to go, it seems a deal may be in the works.

There are a few times like Philadelphia and New Jersey who could certainly use him, and while he does have injury concerns, when he's healthy he can be legitimately one of the best goalies in the entire league.

One more team who could throw their hat into the ring is the Utah Mammoth and considering they need a goalie to back up Karel Vejmelka, adding Stolarz seems like the perfect way to do so; and they have exactly what Toronto needs.

Coming back to the Maple Leafs would be forward Barrett Hayton, who would give the blue and white a versatile bottom-nine forward who can do a little bit of everything. He can score you 15-20 goals, win you face-offs, can hit a bit, has a willingness to block shots, is above average defensively, and actually is pretty strong on the power-play.

That, and he's only 25 years old and an RFA who is currently making $2.65-million. Toronto can acquire his rights for Stolarz (though a 2nd may be overkill) then sign him to a long-term deal to ensure he sticks around; like five years at $3.75-million (the same deal Stolarz has).

With the team needing younger and frankly, better replacements for names like Calle Jarnkrok and Steven Lorentz, it makes sense to target a player like Hayton.

Stolarz is good though heavily unreliable and there's no telling if he's going to give you a lights out performance or tear his knee going for a cross-crease save. Toronto is blessed to have Dennis Hildeby and Artur Akhtyamov both ready and able to step in at the NHL level.

That makes Stolarz expendable and teams are likely going to buy in on his talent as he still is way above average and a former Cup winner with playoff experience. For a team who just earned their first ever playoff berth - that could be a useful asset.

Meanwhile, Toronto accomplishes their goal of getting younger and tougher by adding Hayton and ensures one of their young goalies gets a primetime look.

All the pieces fit, and it's only a question of whether John Chayka and Bill Armstrong can come together on a deal or if Toronto has other plans in mind for their veteran goaltender.

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