Analysis: Is Maple Leafs rookie Erik Kallgren the real deal?

Imagine being 25 years old, with only 31 games of minor-pro experience in North America, and suddenly you’re the starting goaltender for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Erik Kallgren, come on down. You’re the next contestant on The Crease is Yours.

The 6-foot-3 netminder from Stockholm, Sweden has been a pleasant surprise for the Leafs. In his first NHL start, Kallgren posted a 35-save shutout over the Dallas Stars. Two nights later against the Carolina Hurricanes, he allowed two goals on 36 shots to claim his second NHL victory.

For the Maple Leafs, Kallgren’s opening performances couldn’t have come at a better time. Jack Campbell started the season red hot but cooled dramatically after the NHL’s holiday break in late December. And then the American goaltender suffered a rib injury that has kept him out of game action for the past two weeks.

In Campbell’s place, Petr Mrazek struggled mightily, including a lackluster performance at the 2022 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic that took place on Mar. 14. Mrazek allowed four goals against during the game – including one from a terrible angle by Buffalo Sabres forward Vinnie Hinostroza.

The Maple Leafs had seen enough. For better or worse, it was Kallgren time. And it still might be until Jack Campbell returns from injury. So let’s take a peek into Kallgren’s game.

The first thing I notice is that Kallgren has good goalie posture. He keeps his torso upright and presents big. To me, Kallgren is a very typical Swedish goaltender. He’s detailed and structured, the result of goalie coaching from a young age in Sweden. Kallgren has spent most of his career developing within that environment, including playing 21 games last season for Vaxjo HC of the Swedish League.

I like that Kallgren has a strong element of control to his game. He understands where his posts are and often uses them as imaginary boundaries. That spatial awareness is a big reason why Kallgren looks calm in his crease. He rarely chases the play.

In each of the examples above, watch how clean and efficient Kallgren’s movements are. He does a nice job of using the overlap technique on net drives – a move that enables full coverage along the post. When in motion, Kallgren stays compact and minimizes holes. His post integrations are effortless.

I like how Kallgren accepts the play. He works to get set early, then lets the puck come to him. Rarely is Kallgren in a rush – and that’s a good thing. Stationary eyes track the puck much better than those that are in motion.

See how simple Kallgren’s game is? Even when he’s forced to be explosive, Kallgren is usually able to stop his momentum and stay within his posts. He protects the middle of the net well because he’s usually in the blue paint.

I like Kallgren’s body control. He’s not perfect – at times his arms can trail. But Kallgren is disciplined with his upper body. He rotates well. And if you watch Kallgren’s head, he’s constantly surveying the defensive zone for awareness.

Kallgren does a lot of things effectively, but there is room for improvement in several areas. The first being his hands.

When I was scouting Kallgren before his first NHL start, one of the first things I noticed was the sheer number of pucks that bounced out of his glove and off his blocker into dangerous areas. 

It’s concerning. Because by the age of 25, there isn’t much development that can be done with a goalie’s hands. They either have it or they don’t. It’s a challenge for Maple Leafs goaltending coach Steve Briere. No doubt they’re working in unison to improve Kallgren’s rebound control on high shots, but it won’t be easy.

Another area where I think Kallgren has room to grow is his game feel. At times I felt like he was slightly behind the play – especially on the penalty kill. The NHL is hard enough at even strength, but when a team is shorthanded, the intensity ratchets up.

In the first clip against the Nashville Predators, Mattias Ekholm blasts a one-timer past Kallgren short-side. It’s a nice shot, but Kallgren is sluggish in his movement. He should know from pre-scout meetings that Ekholm is a threat from that location and that he needs to arrive early. Instead, Kallgren is late on the play, and he can’t get his eyes on the shot.

The second clip, a 2-on-1 goal by Predators forward Matt Duchene, is another example of where I think Kallgren can improve. To me, his initial depth against the rush is slightly aggressive. It leaves a wide-open net should Filip Forsberg decide to pass. And Kallgren is vulnerable to any rebound opportunity, which is exactly how Duchene scores.

I’m not advocating for Kallgren to make a drastic change. But even six or eight inches less depth can make a world of difference against the rush in the NHL. I know firsthand. You can find plenty of clips in which I was too aggressive and it bit me.

I always felt the biggest difference between the AHL and the NHL was how fast the puck moved. Players in the minors can skate fast. They can shoot the puck hard. But generally speaking, they can’t think as fast. The game sense isn’t there. And that’s a very difficult skill to teach.

It’s the same for goaltenders. Some anticipate the play better than others. And while experience matters, not every goaltender will ultimately be able to process the action in front of them well enough to be successful.

The first two games of his NHL career, Kallgren was an unknown. Teams didn’t know how to play against him, or what weaknesses might be available to exploit. Now they do. And that’s the biggest challenge for any rookie goaltender: finding ways to improve. Because the game is constantly evolving.

I like the base of Kallgren’s game. He understands the technical side of goaltending and is disciplined within his structure. Kallgren is rarely on his back or stomach – a trademark of control. He looks calm in the net, which is a stark contrast to what the Maple Leafs have seen recently from their regular tandem of Campbell and Mrazek.

In a limited sample size, Kallgren has passed the eye test. Add a bit of urgency to his game and I’m curious to see where it ends up. But for now, Erik Kallgren has given Maple Leafs fans a breath of fresh air.