(TSN.CA) - Looking for a new starting goaltender with the expected buyout of veteran Ed Belfour on the horizon, the Toronto Maple Leafs acquired former Calder Trophy winner Andrew Raycroft from the Boston Bruins on Saturday.''He's a proven No. 1 goaltender, former rookie of the year, he's going to look great in our uniform,'' Leafs GM John Ferguson told TSN.
The Leafs sent goaltending prospect Tuukka Rask to the Bruins.
"We had an opportunity, with three good, solid goaltenders who are all No. 1 goalies in the NHL, and they couldn't all play for us," Bruins interim general manager Jeff Gorton said. "Andrew had some value and we were able to move him for a player we really like, who is along the lines of Hannu Toivonen."
Raycroft won the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year in 2004 after posting a 29-18-9 record for the Bruins. He also had a stellar 2.05 goals against average and a .926 save percentage.
Last season, however, Raycroft struggled and lost his starting job. He finished 8-19-2 with a 3.70 goals against average and an .879 save percentage.
Raycroft signed a $1.35-million qualifying offer from the Bruins but Ferguson will try to get his signature on a long-term contract.
"We don't anticipate any hurdles getting him done for the right number and whatever the right term is," Ferguson said.
Rask was the Leafs first round pick in 2005. He was 12-8-7 with a 2.09 goals against average and a .926 save percentage for Ilves Tampere in the Finnish Elite League last season.
Rask was named the best goaltender at the 2006 world junior hockey championship, but the Leafs were able to trade him away because they have another blue-chip goaltending prospect in Canadian Justin Pogge
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