Speculation: How do you handle Toronto's goalie situation?

[Drytoast]

This was a big game for sparks and he choked.

He's a great goalie but gd that was a big game for him. Bigger than possibly the calder cup...as it was going to dictate his NHL career, big money, bigger games...and he choked.

You can't teach confidence.

McBackup wins it for me.

 

[Advanced stats]

So from 3 goalies vying for backup, it would appear that we're down to two now.

Sparks: not the guy, should clear waivers.

Question is, how do we deal with pickard and mac?
I really don't want to lose pickard as there's a good chance he could be the backup of the future that we need. He's got NHL level talent.
Mcbackup is playing so well right now though, it's hard to lose him as well.

What's the solution here?

 

[hector morrison]

Sparks made the decision easier tonite,although I 'm reasonably sure the job was Macs to lose!

 

[DarkKnight]

I'd be pretty pissed if I was fighting for a job and didn't even get into the crease tonight. Obvious to me, Mac is the guy.

 

[moon111]

Sparks is ready to take over ... from Justin Pogge.

 

[Kurisu]

there is no goalie situation.

 

[LeafShark]

Two words: Tukka Rask

 

[TheDoldrums]

still sparks

 

[Ratboy]

Two words: Tukka Rask

Two more words
f*** no.

 

[Duke Silver]

Two words: Tukka Rask

The only thing that links Rask and Sparks is that you can spell Rask with the letters from Sparks.

Completely incomparable otherwise.

 

[Leafslet]

Except the younger asset has been by far the worst goalie in camp.

Mac doesn't need to be what he was last year he just needs to be better than his competition and so far he has been and it's not close.

pretty much this. i don't see much of a controversy here anymore.

 

[kb]

Two words: Tukka Rask

Not in our system anymore. Only sh** left now.

 

[kb]

still sparks

Sparks flamed out. Enjoy the buses, kiddo.

 

[Drytoast]

Piccard wont clear waivers neither will but mcbackup is your choice now

Leafs just need to draft more goalies.

 

[TheDoldrums]

Sparks flamed out. Enjoy the buses, kiddo.

we'll see

 

[supermann_98]

still sparks

You hate the leafs well you’re in the wrong forum

 

[Mr Hockey]

Lets send Carrick and Sparks or Levio or someone to the Sens for Condon...

 

[Man Bear Pig]

I've been saying for a few years now that I don't ever see Sparks as an NHL goalie, I just don't. The reason I say that is from seeing him in person dozens of times. Others who go to Marlies games can back me up here. He has major flaws in his game. And I hate to say these things because he seems like a great guy who gives it his all. At the end of the day he's a backup at best and quite frankly, those aren't hard to find. Every summer there's decent options available. It's just not a position to get hung up on especially when Mcbackup was great last year and Pickard is in the system as insurance.

 

[Ratboy]

Seems like we're more likely to lose Pickard to waivers than Sparks now. I mean Sparks has shart the bed pretty hard this pre season.

I'll make no bones about it, I want to keep McBackup around because the guy has done his job very well up to this point. I don't really feel that losing Sparks would be a big deal, he may find footing as a backup somewhere else (I doubt it, but) it's not that big of a deal. We should draft more goalies in general.

 

[pheasant]

McElhinney will win the backup job.

Sparks will clear waivers.

Pickard will be traded for a song or claimed off waivers by Calgary.

Honestly, this is pretty good for all parties involved. Pickard finally gets playing time in the NHL, where he proved with Colarado he can belong. And Sparks gets to keep playing a high number of games, and stays in the system as insurance.

McBackup gets to keep the job he deserves, and plays well. Not everyone can be a backup goalie, and Curtis is great at it. Listen to Jamie McLennan talk about it some time. You need to mesh with the starter, you need to know your lane, you need to be ready to go in cold, you need to be ok going 2 weeks without game action. Seems like McElhinney is the perfect guy to support Andersen, and knows what Babcock expects of him. He's done the job absolutely perfect since he got here.

 

[ShaneFalco]

Disagree

 

[pheasant]

Disagree

Ya, I seriously disagree with Mirtle, here. Sparks is the only goalie we have that I think would clear waivers. The only reason I ever want to see him play for the Leafs again is because I loved his checkerboard pads.

But McElhinney would get claimed, has done a good job in the past, and no one has done anything to take his job away. It's pretty clear now that McBackup will be the backup.

 

[Menzinger]

It’s getting pretty interesting, Sparks certainly has not played well, but I have a hard time seeing Dubas of all people let two games in preseason sway his decision making one way or the their. Will know either way this weekend

 

[LeafShark]

Trade Mcbackup for a 4th and ride Pickard. Waive Sparks or trade him for a 6th and/or a younger prospect (like how we got Pickard in the first place).

(but to be frank.... a back-up isn't the reason the Leafs make the playoffs this year.... but a back-up may be a reason why the Leafs don't make the playoffs if Andy gets injured and the back-up has to play 30+ games in the season. Pickard honestly fills this insurance role the best).

 

[Ratboy]

Have had a good backup for two years, so ship him out and risk f***ing that up. Good plan