Toronto Maple Leafs: Garret Sparks headlines backup controversy

With the 2018-19 NHL season dawning upon us, the Toronto Maple Leafs have a goaltending conundrum in deciding who backs-up Frederik Andersen.

While Curtis McElhinney provided ample goaltending support for the Toronto Maple Leafs last season, it is highly unlikely the 35-year-old is capable of replicating his above-average performance.

Above all, head coach Mike Babcock appears hesitant to utilize his secondary option after forcing Andersen to match his career-high of 66 games played for the second straight season. The backup search should begin and end with Garret Sparks solely based on his recent success in the AHL. Not to mention, he is already on the NHL roster and would have to pass through waivers in order to return to the Toronto Marlies.

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Toronto possesses a high degree of organizational depth which certainly allows them to consider trading their goaltending assets. However, the Maple Leafs must be wary of the consequences and make the right decision.

Unpleasant Circumstances

For Sparks to return to the Marlies, he must pass through waivers. Given his success last season, this would almost certainly signal the end of his time with the franchise that drafted him 190th overall in 2011.

The former seventh-round pick has done everything in his power to carve a place for himself in Toronto’s ranks. Most recently, he backstopped their AHL affiliate Marlies to their first-ever Calder Cup championship.

Sparks’ 14-5-0-2 playoff record featured a noteworthy 2.22 goals against average and a .915 save percentage. Unfortunately, he was robbed of a shutout performance in Game 7 of the Calder Cup Finals due to a blown goal review by on-ice officials.

Above all, Sparks was voted the 2017-18 Aldege “Baz” Bastien Memorial Award as the AHL’s most outstanding goaltender, backed by a 31-9-2 record, 1.79 goals against average, and a .936 save percentage. It’s safe to say a majority of the other 30 NHL teams would express reasonable interest in the 25-year-old puck-stopper if he were put on waivers.

Simply put, either the Maple Leafs take a calculated risk with Sparks and leverage him into their future or they risk losing him to another team. The latter could prove to be a costly mistake if he manages to prove his worth.

Comparably Speaking

Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy comes to mind when taking either goaltender’s situation into consideration. He took a back-seat to Ben Bishop in Tampa until injuries sidelined the star goalie, allowing Vasilevskiy to step in and showcase his talents.

Eventually, Bishop was due for a pricey contract renewal, much like Andersen will after three more seasons. He was traded away, partly to allow the younger, more cost-efficient option in Vasilevskiy to get more playing time. By taking a calculated risk, the Lightning greatly benefitted from this move in many aspects but none greater than the preserved salary cap space.

Toronto would be smart to take a page out of Tampa’s book. Considering his body of work, Sparks’ superb stats rank among Vasilevskiy and other notable goalies who have gone on to play in the NHL. Also, some lesser-known entities.

Evidently, one’s performance in the AHL doesn’t always translate to the next level. But still, Sparks’ success provides a legitimate reason for optimism.

The rate Andersen is being used could lead to health complications down the road in one form or another. Although unlikely, it could result in a similar situation to the Lightning for Sparks to take advantage of and run with.

Furthermore, the underlying facts of Sparks’ abysmal 17-game NHL-stint (6-9-1, 3.02 GAA, .893 SV%) can be correlated with a terrible team that was the 2015-16 Maple Leafs. At this point in his career, he undoubtedly deserves another chance with the big club.

Decisions

The defending Calder Cup champion Toronto Marlies will likely have choices for their starter next season. If Sparks is awarded the Leafs’ backup role, McElhinney can be kept in the minors as an insurance policy for the time being or shipped out via trade. However, with both Calvin Pickard and Kasimir Kaskisuo signed, the Leafs would still have some juggling to do.

A report by Sportsnet claims that Pickard has recently been made available for trade. In this case, take what you can get trade-wise in exchange for him (or McElhinney) and call it a day.

Kaskisuo is a rarely talked about commodity in the Maple Leafs organization despite posting above-average AHL numbers while on loan with the Chicago Wolves last season. He will be more than ample as the Marlies go-to or in a tandem with McElhinney.

With the William Nylander contract looming as a priority before the season begins, Kyle Dubas may have to deal with the goaltending situation on a back-burner. However, a decision should remain clear.

Stats from NHL.com and AHL.com.