Speculation: Goaltending Conundrum next season
- Thread starter The List Of Jericho
- Start date
- Feb 9, 2007
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I think Sparks deserves an opportunity as a backup somewhere in the NHL. His first tour of duty may not have been the greatest, but goalies take longer to develop and he's been nothing short of amazing this year. I don't think he gets a shot with us, McBackup earned his spot this year.
CantLoseWithMatthews
Registered User
- Sep 28, 2015
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Keeping mcelhinney over sparks would be pretty foolish
Hockey Crazy
Registered User
- Dec 30, 2008
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The Leafs gave Pickard a game this year, but not Sparks despite what the stats show. I could see Sparks having more trade value, while Pickard has past NHL experience. My guess is Pickard.
Andersen
Pickard
Kaskisuo
Euro Signing
Heeter
Skapsi
Andersen
Pickard
Kaskisuo
Euro Signing
Heeter
Skapsi
Warden of the North
Ned Stark's head
Freddy and Sparks make the roster. Mc and Pickard waived.
Not really a conumdrum.
Unproven, no name, or backup goalies are cheap
Not really a conumdrum.
Unproven, no name, or backup goalies are cheap
My personal preference would be to see Sparks backing up Freddy next year.
Were it up to me, I'd move McElhinney at the Draft for the best pick or C/D prospect you can get, and let Sparks and Pickard duke it out for the backup role next year, with Sparks' current campaign being the de facto tie-breaker if one doesn't significantly outplay the other. If you think the guy who doesn't get the job will be claimed on waivers, then try and get some value for them.
Were it up to me, I'd move McElhinney at the Draft for the best pick or C/D prospect you can get, and let Sparks and Pickard duke it out for the backup role next year, with Sparks' current campaign being the de facto tie-breaker if one doesn't significantly outplay the other. If you think the guy who doesn't get the job will be claimed on waivers, then try and get some value for them.
ToneDog
56 years and counting. #FireTheShanaClan!
We have the perfect backup and we want our goalie prospects playing. We will probably stand pat as far as goaltending goes.
Both Sparks and Pickard will be available to all *30 other teams for free if we try to send them back to the AHL - Standing pat isn't really a control-your-own-destiny kind of choice in this situation, which makes it a very risky one.
*In fairness, most teams will likely have their 2 guys already established by that point - Who knows how many teams will actually be in the market?
ToneDog
56 years and counting. #FireTheShanaClan!
Maplebeasts
I See Demons!!!!!
If you read the OP you'd see standing pat is not an option. I'd try to trade McBackup in the offseason and have Sparks take over his role next year
The CyNick
Freedom of Speech!
- Sep 17, 2009
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Trade or waive Mac. Call up Sparks and let him backup and push Freddy.
Some time on the IR at the start of the season for McElhinney allowing Sparks to get a few games as a backup would really help... lol
Torontonian
Registered User
I would make sparks the backup goalie next season, Mcbackup did his job for us but you need to start developing goalies to get assets for them.
Look at the kings, they have traded Jones and Bernier for a 2nd round pick and Jones went for a 1st.
Darling from the Blackhawks went for a 3rd
Look at the kings, they have traded Jones and Bernier for a 2nd round pick and Jones went for a 1st.
Darling from the Blackhawks went for a 3rd
Buds17
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- Nov 29, 2015
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Not sure who ends up winning the backup spot, though McElhinney might still have an edge. All three have been through waivers at some point. Pickard would need to be signed to a new deal as an RFA. Sparks and McElhinney are under contract and on one way deals, though those are inexpensive.
Goalie would seem to be the easiest position to sneak through waivers, but timing and the health of other teams' netminders could play a part.
Goalie would seem to be the easiest position to sneak through waivers, but timing and the health of other teams' netminders could play a part.
I'd lean towards trading the much older guy coming off a career year and at max value personally
Trading young netminders on an upward trajectory seems short sighted to me
Keato
Registered User
Regardless of what the off-season brings, the most important thing is that Freddy doesn't play as much. Given how well McElhinney played, he should have gotten some non-back to back starts before the last few games of the season. So whoever can handle 25-30 games would be my choice.
Anthrax442
Registered User
MikeBabchuk
Mike Bobcat
This is a tough call because either way, one of Pickard or Sparks will need to clear waivers.
I would say that McElhinney should be traded. I say this while believing that McElhinney is a very good backup. He deserves to play in the NHL next season either way, but it just wouldn't make sense to put both Sparks and Pickard on waivers.
I would say that McElhinney should be traded. I say this while believing that McElhinney is a very good backup. He deserves to play in the NHL next season either way, but it just wouldn't make sense to put both Sparks and Pickard on waivers.
Suntouchable13
Registered User
To be honest I think McElhinney is just as likely to bomb next season as he is having another good season. I don't trust him to have another good season.
diceman934
Help is on the way.
Management will not risk losing both to waivers and not likely either of them. If there is no trade before the season starts look for both to be on our opening roster until we trade one of them. Mc Backup is Likely gone. I am speaking about Sparks and Pickard and my money is on Pickard being our backup next season.
