TSN: Sparks - All I’ve wanted is a fair opportunity

[diceman934]

He comes off as a complete hero nerd in the process but it seems he was defending a challenged person, so how is this call a bad look for him?

It was his own Facebook site. Then rather then delete the posts he used profanity and name calling while defending a person who was called names. Very poor decision and immature.

 

[diceman934]

Sparks is hilariously awful.

What an awful goalie.


Enjoy the AHL backup job bud

He will not be in the AHL after this season. He was never a good goalie. I watched him play and his save selection and tracking the puck was among the worse I ever saw.

 

[Legion34]

Shilton is dead on. The insinuation is very clearly that he's not been given a fair opportunity. Otherwise there is zero reason for the quote to past tense.

Orrrrr he is a hockey player. Speaking with emotion and didn’t realize he was giving a sworn statement to the grammar police?

 

[Mr Hockey]

Why say anything is more the point. He got a contract from our GM after watching his performance this year. That was more then fair. He should have said nothing but I am looking forward to an opportunity to prove that I am a capable goalie.

It is an odd write-up, the writer also says ...

"He beat out Mcbackup and Calvin Pickard for the backup role behind Frederik Andersen thanks to a strong showing in training camp and pre-season, which resulted in both McElhinney and Pickard being placed on waivers and claimed."

 

[diceman934]

It is an odd write-up, the writer also says ...

"He beat out Mcbackup and Calvin Pickard for the backup role behind Frederik Andersen thanks to a strong showing in training camp and pre-season, which resulted in both McElhinney and Pickard being placed on waivers and claimed."

Both the writer and him are delusional period.

 

[Mr Hockey]

Both the writer and him are delusional period.

I would consider this a garbage article, Sportsnet should delete it

 

[darrylsittler27]

Dubad tried to get tricky and save money. He tried to ram Sparks into that role because of a Calder cup. All the fans saw and said he sucked. He didn't beat out Hutchinson who looked competent and relaxed. Sparks looked like Raycroft if he had drank 20 cups of coffee. His timing was terrible and he was fishing for pucks. Most of his saves were accidents. It cost us home advantage which may have cost us the series. Sparks had no chance here since the fans would have boo ed him into oblivion.

 

[hoglund]

Ummm...no. That would be like saying Sparks is under-rated and he was as good as Andersen.

No it wouldn't.

 

[Stephen]

Sparks is a pretty well spoken guy and generally articulates himself pretty well in interviews. I definitely do think his quote is being mistakenly taken out of context, but also agree that even what he was meaning to say was miss placed and he should have just given a generic hockey response there instead of tears.

Comes across more as an abrasive loud mouth and goofball than a well spoken guy. From a room dynamic POV it must have been so annoying to see a guy this terrible at his position calling out teammates for playing with passion/heart.

 

[Brownies]

I understand it differently than most. I think he knows he disappointed last year, so wouldn’t have had a real chance at winning the backup spot back with the Leafs. New team new system, he’ll probably at least get a serious look at the camp. Badly worded, but I think it only refers to the next year.

 

[Superstar]

Comes across more as an abrasive loud mouth and goofball than a well spoken guy. From a room dynamic POV it must have been so annoying to see a guy this terrible at his position calling out teammates for playing with passion/heart.

But he's an emotional guy and plays with emotion...

 

[ACC1224]

I can’t wait to read @ACC1224 thoughts

There's something you don't see everyday.

 

[ottomaddox]

He will not be in the AHL after this season. He was never a good goalie. I watched him play and his save selection and tracking the puck was among the worse I ever saw.

This evaluation reminds me of when The monster Gustavsson played for TOR. I listened to a NJD broadcast and Glenn Chico Resch was the colour commentator. He said that Gustavsson's glove hand (catch and release) was the worst he'd ever seen. That he "clearly didn't grow up playing catch with his Dad."

I have to agree with you. Sparks' playoff run to the Calder Cup was nothing to admire. His fundamentals didn't seem to be there at all. I always thought that he just lucked into winning games with his height and large equipment.

 

[Menzinger]

It was his own Facebook site. Then rather then delete the posts he used profanity and name calling while defending a person who was called names. Very poor decision and immature.

It was poor decision making on his part. that said in context he was defending somebody with disabilities so imo his heart was at least in the right place

 

[Menzinger]

Can I split the difference? He couldn't come back to the organization this Fall, he overstepped his place in the pecking order and undoubtedly peeved a few people in the organization. But I really wish him well. His ill-timed awkwardness has never seemed malicious.

Yeah, that's how I feel.

Ultimately he wasn't going to work out but he at least was an interesting guy to follow cosndoering the personality of most players is on par with a piece of plywood.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

I mean what more could he want? he was gifted the job despite being the worst goalie in camp because he is friends with the GM he then proceeded to fail.

When you get a shot you out not deserve you better deliver and he could not have failed worse.

 

[93LEAFS]

The guys an idiot. He's a back-up, learn how to avoid microphones or social media.

 

[6ix]

This guy fking stinks. Legit garbage goalie. So glad we dumped this egotistic clown. Guy can’t just shut up and get it through his head that he’s a bum goalie.

Guy belongs in ECHL as a backup.

He’ll forever be remembered as Garrett SHARTS in my books.

 

[griffon1]

He was never good in the NHL and McBackup was. Seems he was given a rare opportunity based on a Calder Cup. I didn't watch him enough in the AHL to judge, but I'm glad he's gone and was sad McBackup left.

 

[Go4soda]

He should have never been given that game. Wasn't impressed with Babs going with that plug over Andersen in a game that means a lot to a star player of ours. He needed to switch up for 1 game. Let Sparks play the Blue Jackets and give Freddie the second half of the back to back and play the Islanders. Babs is way too stuck in his ways sometimes

What you described is way to complicated for Babcock.

 

[PanniniClaus]

I feel Sparks earned his opportunity over the past few years ...I don't have a problem with promoting within and having your farm team feel like they have a legitimate shot.

However...I feel he was given a good look during the 2018/19 season and he played poorly. I couldn't believe just how poorly he played. This team can't afford to give him another chance given the pressure on them. Garrett ....Sparks had the amazing ability this year to play well below his size...I can't stand it when a tall goaltender makes himself small in the net...he found a way to do that every week.

 

[Craig Button]

We lost a great back up in McElhinney
To give this Frozen Applejuice (Scheifele-ism) an opportunity.

So far he has been Dubas biggest mistake

 

[fahad203]

We lost a great back up in McElhinney
To give this Frozen Applejuice (Scheifele-ism) an opportunity.

So far he has been Dubas biggest mistake

Without a doubt but I see why Dubas did what he did. Good for Dubas to cut his losses and move on. He's not letting his ego come on the way of his judgement

As for Sparks. Bro, you got some nerves. We gave up a goalie who few years ago stopped Sydney Crosby to on an open net to take us to the playoffs
Who would have never complained or call his team mates out. McElhinney by the looks of it will be in NHL in few years and you won't be

The thing is bud, you spend 6 years in AHL 4 of which in a lousy Leafs team and you couldn't win a spot. Shame on you

 

[Joey Hoser]

The amount of vile hatred for a backup goaltender who wasn't good enough seems pretty over-the-top around here.

 

[ShaneFalco]

The amount of vile hatred for a backup goaltender who wasn't good enough seems pretty over-the-top around here.

Or the fact that he was the one kept