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Toronto Maple Leafs: Evaluating Backup Goalie Options

By Thomas G

TORONTO, ON- MAY 20 - The Toronto Marlies Garret Sparks and back-up goaltender Calvin Pickard celebrate after scoring the overtime winner as the Toronto Marlies play the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in game two of the AHL Eastern Conference final in the Calder Cup play-offs at Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto. May 20, 2018. Toronto leads the series 2-0. (Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON- MAY 20 - The Toronto Marlies Garret Sparks and back-up goaltender Calvin Pickard celebrate after scoring the overtime winner as the Toronto Marlies play the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in game two of the AHL Eastern Conference final in the Calder Cup play-offs at Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto. May 20, 2018. Toronto leads the series 2-0. (Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images) /
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With 3 NHL caliber backup goaltenders, the Toronto Maple Leafs may want to make some changes

On October 6, 2017, the Vegas Golden Knights placed Calvin Pickard on waivers in order to claim goaltender Malcolm Subban. Once in the minors, the Toronto Maple Leafs pounced on a perfect opportunity to boost their goaltending depth. Pickard was traded to Toronto in exchange for Tobias Lindberg and a 2018 6th round pick.

This was a smart move. If Frederik Andersen had gotten injured for a long period of time, the Leafs would still have a goalie on their roster who has spent time as a starting goalie. Was it for a really terrible Colorado team? Sure, but it’s still something.

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There is still lots of time until October. However, there are two questions that need to be answered, or at least pondered, before the regular season starts in Toronto. They both involve the Leafs’ backup goalie situation.

Should the Leafs trade someone?

You knew this was coming. The undeniable fact is that the Leafs have goaltending talent. Some would suggest Toronto should make a trade. Frederik Andersen is an above-average, albeit inconsistent, starting goaltender. Curtis McElhinney is a decent backup goaltender. While he did put up a fantastic .934 save percentage last season, most fans can agree that that number is likely unsustainable.

Sparks was the goalie of the year in the AHL, posting a .936 save percentage through 43 games, while Calvin Pickard finished the AHL season with a .918 save percentage through 33 games. Well, what do we do with this?

A lot of teams would probably appreciate a Garret Sparks or a Calvin Pickard. Who wouldn’t? They’re young, they are clearly talented, and they may be yet to enter their primes. Sparks in particular, as previously stated, was the best goaltender in the AHL. There are teams out there who could need some goaltending depth.

The Carolina Hurricanes, for example, do not have a true starting goaltender. They basically have two backups and could run into trouble very quickly. Sparks would be perfect for a team like the Canes or the Ottawa Senators. Now, Toronto has spent years developing Sparks into the goalie he is today. He has a lot of value to them. But with the Leafs fueling up for a playoff run, however, you could make the argument he should be traded.

It’s not likely the Leafs would get a roster player who would be an upgrade over who they currently have for Sparks. But it’s something they should explore, especially as teams begin to realize they need some goaltending help.

If no trade, who will be the Leafs’ backup next season?

Alright, enough foolish trade speculation. So much could be written about what teams should and shouldn’t do. A far more interesting topic is who the best backup goalie option is for the Leafs.

Personally, Toronto should stick with McElhinney next season. He may not post a .934 save percentage again, but he could be a late bloomer. In one and a half seasons with the Leafs, he has proven himself to be a skilled backup, who is more than happy to accept his role. Please don’t forget the season-saving save he made on Sidney Crosby.

Of course, there’s also Sparks.  He’s a decade younger than McElhinney and is just about to enter his prime. They are probably at similar skill levels. However, even if we knew that they were equal in skill, I would still go with McElhinney.

Coach Mike Babcock has a stubborn (and often questionable) habit of only playing his backup on the second half of a back-to-back. A good time to rest your starter, for example, is when you only have a few games left, in a season where you have clinched a playoff spot, and cannot mathematically move out of the spot you are in, in the standings.

Sparks is just 25 years old, and I wouldn’t want to see him make just 20 or so appearances. He is undoubtedly NHL capable, but another year in the AHL would be just what the doctor ordered.

Pickard is also deserving of consideration. He is the only one of the three who has spent significant time as a starter in the NHL. However, it would be preferable if he could inch up that .918 save percentage before he is made a regular backup. There is nothing wrong with that save percentage, but I think he is a lot better than that.

I wouldn’t blame Pickard if he is tired of being drafted by expansion teams. Nor would I blame him if he is tired of being sent down to the minors before he even gets to play a game with said expansion team. It’s hard to blame Pickard if he was frustrated by the process, which saw him converted from an NHL starter to an AHL backup. Alas, he probably has to go through another year in the AHL.

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Conclusion

Hopefully, that sums everything up nicely enough. The Leafs have a good problem. A problem many teams would love to have. McElhinney, Sparks, and Pickard are all capable of being NHL backups. It is up to the Leafs to decide what must be done.

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