Confirmed with Link: PHI Claims Calvin Pickard | CAR claims Curtis McElhinney

[Swedish Gretzky]

McElhinney is 100 times better than Andersen. Not even debatable. He should have been the starter in Toronto. He was the #1.

Waiving him is going to cost the Leafs a playoff spot. Sparks is terrible.

You suck

 

[Budsfan]

McElhinney and Pickard are obviously good goalies, but the injury situations with Carolina and Philadelphia played a part in them both being claimed as well, I think. Rare already that a team puts two goaltenders of that calibre on waivers at the same time, and them both being claimed was a bit surprising, to me at least.

If that's still our goalie tandem by that point, Sparks would figure to be unprotected. Sparks being claimed by Seattle depends on a few things though, namely what other players we make available, but also which other goalies are left unprotected by the other teams.

That's quite true but Sparks was AHL goal tender of the year and would probably be better suited as a starting goal tender and if they have as good of a scouting staff as LV did, our D offers little promise for an expansion team and most of our Forwards can be protected, in my mind Sparks would be the one most likely picked up in that draft.

 

[34]

Pickard and McElhinney were picked up off waivers and there is no doubt Sparks would be taken in an expansion draft.

Solid Back-up goal tenders are not that plentiful and it wasn't until we got McElhinney that we had solid goal tendin
Not that Sparks is not a good goal tender but back-up goal tenders tend to only get 1/3 to 1/4 of the total number of games per season and some can handle those lay-offs and come in cold and play a great game, some can't but finding another back-up, will be very difficult if Sparks is lost in the expansion draft.

We can only hope Sparks is lost in the expansion draft. He is not an NHL goalie.

 

[Menzinger]

And that's why I don't think Kyle thought both would get claimed. Do we really need to roll with 8 D on the team, knowing you would wipe out your goalie depth? Makes little sense.

I don’t think babcock wanted to do that though. Coaches like having depth in hand.

 

[DarkKnight]

I don’t think babcock wanted to do that though. Coaches like having depth in hand.

This whole thing wasn’t his decision though, it was Dubas.

 

[Menzinger]

This whole thing wasn’t his decision though, it was Dubas.

I know, but there was likely some degree of consolation between the two.

And i think ultimately Dubas rather risked losing goalie depth than say a D or forward to waivers.

 

[DarkKnight]

I know, but there was likely some degree of consolation between the two.

And i think ultimately Dubas rather risked losing goalie depth than say a D or forward to waivers.

Marincin already cleared waivers last year, I would argue he didn’t need to keep him up for real fear of losing him. I really believe that the brass felt one goalie would slip through.

 

[Suntouchable13]

Marincin already cleared waivers last year, I would argue he didn’t need to keep him up for real fear of losing him. I really believe that the brass felt one goalie would slip through.

That makes sense. Sometimes you gamble and you lose, sometimes you win.

 

[Menzinger]

Marincin already cleared waivers last year, I would argue he didn’t need to keep him up for real fear of losing him. I really believe that the brass felt one goalie would slip through.

And I’d say there’s a fair chance that was true. Though I think they also felt that Marincin offers a more immediate need than a 3rd goalie.

 

[Drytoast]

Enroth didn't play 15 games here. i think he played 5 did he not?

Ya he was out the door as soon as they could find a replacement. The person inwas tesponding too is suggesting that we take the full year to decide on sparks regardless of how awful he may play

 

[Jarqui]

Marincin already cleared waivers last year, I would argue he didn’t need to keep him up for real fear of losing him. I really believe that the brass felt one goalie would slip through.

And I’d say there’s a fair chance that was true. Though I think they also felt that Marincin offers a more immediate need than a 3rd goalie.

Hainsey, who played the most on the PK last season, needs to cut back
Zaitsev, who played the second most dman Pk minutes, is coming off a shaky season.
Departed Polak provided third most dman PK minutes.

It might be argued that Marincin plays best on the PK so that he could be insurance until they get it figured out - which may well be more important than carrying a 3rd goalie they're eventually going to have to lose.

 

[zeke]

what a weird year to choose to be on Team Negative.

 

[Menzinger]

what a weird year to choose to be on Team Negative.

Best Leafs team (on paper) in what, 18 years?

I remember when folks were jumping up and down with excitement with like the 2010/2011 team lol

 

[Daisy Jane]

Ya he was out the door as soon as they could find a replacement. The person inwas tesponding too is suggesting that we take the full year to decide on sparks regardless of how awful he may play

LOL yah...clearly that person doesn't know babcock

 

[orbiter11]

This move along with letting Carrick go have me skeptical of Dubas. I know were giving him a long leash because of the Tavares signing but Ozighonov is not an NHL d man an Sparks has been givin many chances to show hes a NHL goalie and looked horrible every time.

 

[DarkKnight]

Good luck to Sparks tonight.

 

[Jarqui]

what a weird year to choose to be on Team Negative.

I've been following this team for a long, long time. Too long maybe. I cannot recall a year since the mid 60s when "Team Negative" wasn't around. It is kind of like dating someone you really like. It can get emotional when things aren't going well .... and maybe tougher when that goes on for many seasons

 

[Suntouchable13]

This move along with letting Carrick go have me skeptical of Dubas. I know were giving him a long leash because of the Tavares signing but Ozighonov is not an NHL d man an Sparks has been givin many chances to show hes a NHL goalie and looked horrible every time.

Not really. He has not played since his 17 games or whatever it was in that tanking season. Preseason games don't count for shit. At least give him a few games behind a legit team before writing him off.

 

[Drytoast]

LOL yah...clearly that person doesn't know babcock

While i agree with you, my fear is dubas forcing babs to stick with sparks

 

[Its not your fault]

Pickard and McElhinney were picked up off waivers and there is no doubt Sparks would be taken in an expansion draft.

Solid Back-up goal tenders are not that plentiful and it wasn't until we got McElhinney that we had solid goal tending.

Not that Sparks is not a good goal tender but back-up goal tenders tend to only get 1/3 to 1/4 of the total number of games per season and some can handle those lay-offs and come in cold and play a great game, some can't but finding another back-up, will be very difficult if Sparks is lost in the expansion draft.

I more mention Raycroft and Toskala lmao. You make good points. I think sparks going in expention draft is almost best case scenario. If he has a good year he just might.

 

[Da Cool Rula]

Tonight's game just goes to prove. Gareth doesnt inspire any confidence.
Just Another of the 90% AHL Goalie of the year busts.

 

[Kurisu]

Yeah big mistake. LOL

 

[Leafs at Knight]

Oopsie

 

[Menzinger]

Bit of confirmation bias at play tonight. The Leafs (nor we) shouldn’t necessarily be able to say for certain what the team should have done based on 1 game. Sparks didn’t play well though, was apparently watching Andersen a bit too closely last night.

 

[Ratboy]

I f***ing told you Sparks is no good.