For a period, and out of necessity, Chicago moved on from good players while in their prime and playing for their organization and promoted from within and did so successfully. So has Pittsburgh. We're not Chicago or Pittsburgh (or Boston), but, what these successful teams prove time and time again is that at some point, successful teams get comfortable with moving from strength to strength.
As good as Mclhenney has played for us, he's 34 and he was acquired for free. He's playing well within our system. I believe our players are improving within Babcock's system and will continue to, so, the question becomes one of maximizing assets and a reasonable assessment that determines if Sparks can fill a permanent back-up role. If Sparks can - and I think he can given his AHL numbers - fulfill that role, AND we can move Mac for something, a 7th, a 6th, then, we've come out winners and added twice over with our own developed young back-up and flipped a free wallet into another crack at an Andreas Johnsson or something more...And more's the point, Sparks gains experience and exposure, from which to entertain repeating the process.
Toronto gaining the reputation as a place that mines reliable talent is a good thing.