Sparks is an NHL goalie for sure.

[hullsy47]

the more he plays he.ll be fine backup 4-1 I'd take it all day long

 

[member 262271]

Oh I certainly remember the "ECHL" goalie posts. One of those times where you should've just not clicked the post reply button and deleted what you typed.

 

[Paradoc]

The thing is I'm not basing my opinion on his win/loss record. He is shakey when the other team moves the puck well or gets to the rebounds.
I'm judging him on his skills.
Can they improve? Yes. Will they improve? Time will tell

Andersen used to be like that as well. His rebound was not great and used to over commit on shots, but over the years he seems to have greatly improved his rebound control and his positioning is phenomenal. I can expect the same to occur to Sparks if he has to same work ethic as Andersen.

 

[Stand Witness]

Ultimately it came down to the guy whose career is almost over vs the guy who has potential and is just starting.

I'd consider their performance so far essentially a wash.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

It doesn't even really matter that he's been the best of the backup options. He would have been the right choice even if he was winless and terrible so far. I can't believe people freaked out about keeping him

 

[Mr Hockey]

The bottom line is that it is really damn hard to fluke a career AHL .927sv%.

yea, Crash Davis was a legend

 

[Cor]

The bottom line is that it is really damn hard to fluke a career AHL .927sv%.

It wasn't a fluke. Sparks is one of the top AHL goalies. But I think it goes without saying that doesn't mean he'll be an NHL quality goalie.

I'm glad it's working out with Sparks here, and I'm glad McBackup is having success in CAR, and as I suspected, there's now talk of McBackup being Carolina's starter moving forward as Darling and Mrazek are crap. I believe it was Freidge or CJ that said CAR is looking to cut ties with Darling on headlines. No idea how they'd manage to get someone to trade for him without 50% retention, so it's likely he'll just be buried.

 

[Cor]

It doesn't even really matter that he's been the best of the backup options. He would have been the right choice even if he was winless and terrible so far. I can't believe people freaked out about keeping him

You'd have a hard time convincing people keeping Sparks was the right move if he was 0-5 and a sub .900 sv% when McBackup is 6-2 and has a .919 sv%.

At the end of the day, we just need a backup goalie who wins. I'm glad Sparks is 4/5 now. Hopefully he keeps it up.

 

[Paradoc]

It doesn't even really matter that he's been the best of the backup options. He would have been the right choice even if he was winless and terrible so far. I can't believe people freaked out about keeping him

45 pages for a backup goaltender. Does Marner and Tavares get that many discussion about them?

Sparks was the obvious choice here. 4-1 with a .925 sv% and young goaltender with tons of upside. If he can show Andersen level of work ethic on his weaknesses, we potentially have a solid choice for starter role if Andersen decides to leave elsewhere.

 

[DarkKnight]

You'd have a hard time convincing people keeping Sparks was the right move if he was 0-5 and a sub .900 sv% when McBackup is 6-2 and has a .919 sv%.

At the end of the day, we just need a backup goalie who wins. I'm glad Sparks is 4/5 now. Hopefully he keeps it up.

Just so asinine to say it would have been the right decision regardless of how he performed. All that matters is performance. If he was 0-5 and we were 9 points back of TB he’d already be gone....period.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

Just so asinine to say it would have been the right decision regardless of how he performed. All that matters is performance. If he was 0-5 and we were 9 points back of TB he’d already be gone....period.

I'm sure you would happily evaluate the decision as a complete failure if Sparks had a poor 5 games, but that would be silly

 

[Albus Dumbledore]

.924% and 4-1 this season. Hopefully this lasts. As part of the group that was sceptical of sparks I'm glad he's proving me wrong.

Positionally and eye test wise he looks a lot better and more fluid since the start of the season. Still can look and do better.

 

[DarkKnight]

I'm sure you would happily evaluate the decision as a complete failure if Sparks had a poor 5 games, but that would be silly

He’d be on waivers, my state of mind is irrelevant. But, he’s 4-1, hence we move forward with some hope. That’s how I roll, unlike some

 

[Suntouchable13]

It wasn't a fluke. Sparks is one of the top AHL goalies. But I think it goes without saying that doesn't mean he'll be an NHL quality goalie.

I'm glad it's working out with Sparks here, and I'm glad McBackup is having success in CAR, and as I suspected, there's now talk of McBackup being Carolina's starter moving forward as Darling and Mrazek are crap. I believe it was Freidge or CJ that said CAR is looking to cut ties with Darling on headlines. No idea how they'd manage to get someone to trade for him without 50% retention, so it's likely he'll just be buried.

Speaks more about how awful those other guys are. Tell me which good team would have McElhinney as their starter? There are none.

 

[diceman934]

He played fine last night. The jury is still out to see if he can play the way he did last night consistently or was it just a one of. I hope he can give us solid goaltending.

 

[LeafsStorm]

Would it be a bad idea to start him against Boston and see if he can keep a hot streak going? Don't want to over work Freddy, after all.

 

[saltming]

Andersen used to be like that as well. His rebound was not great and used to over commit on shots, but over the years he seems to have greatly improved his rebound control and his positioning is phenomenal. I can expect the same to occur to Sparks if he has to same work ethic as Andersen.

Andersen always had better rebound control than sparks, especially by the time he got here. Also, andersen always tracked the puck better moved better he better save selection etc.
Imo it's not fair to compare the 2 as one had starter potential and the other has backup potential

 

[zeke]

Andersen always had better rebound control than sparks, especially by the time he got here. Also, andersen always tracked the puck better moved better he better save selection etc.
Imo it's not fair to compare the 2 as one had starter potential and the other has backup potential

Age 23

Andersen NHL: ---
Sparks NHL: ---

Andersen AHL: 47gms, .929sv%
Sparks AHL: 31gms, .922sv%


Age 24

Andersen NHL: 28gms, .923sv%
Sparks NHL: ----

Andersen AHL: 4gms, .939sv%
Sparks AHL: 43gms, .936sv%


Age 25

Andersen NHL: 54gms, .914sv%
Sparks NHL: 5gms, .925sv%

 

[Mr Hockey]

From Corsica

Sparks...

• 23 low danger shots against ~ 9 medium danger shot against ~ 2 high danger shot against

Flyers ...

• 16 low danger shots against ~ 17 medium danger shot against ~ 8 high danger shot against

it was a very easy game for a Leaf goalie, and good for stats watchers who do not understand context, Sparks was untested and padded his stats

 

[zeke]

From Corsica

Sparks...

• 23 low danger shots against ~ 9 medium danger shot against ~ 2 high danger shot against

Flyers ...

• 16 low danger shots against ~ 17 medium danger shot against ~ 8 high danger shot against

it was a very easy game for a Leaf goalie, and good for stats watchers who do not understand context, Sparks was untested and padded his stats

From Corsica

5v5

High Danger

Andersen 79.8sv%
Sparks 86.4sv%

Medium Danger

Andersen 94.4sv%
Sparks 92.2sv%

Low Danger

Andersen 99.1sv%
Sparks 97.3sv%

 

[saltming]

Age 23

Andersen NHL: ---
Sparks NHL: ---

Andersen AHL: 47gms, .929sv%
Sparks AHL: 31gms, .922sv%


Age 24

Andersen NHL: 28gms, .923sv%
Sparks NHL: ----

Andersen AHL: 4gms, .939sv%
Sparks AHL: 43gms, .936sv%


Age 25

Andersen NHL: 54gms, .914sv%
Sparks NHL: 5gms, .925sv%

How does this show rebound control, puck tracking skill, etc?

 

[Suntouchable13]

From Corsica

Sparks...

• 23 low danger shots against ~ 9 medium danger shot against ~ 2 high danger shot against

Flyers ...

• 16 low danger shots against ~ 17 medium danger shot against ~ 8 high danger shot against

it was a very easy game for a Leaf goalie, and good for stats watchers who do not understand context, Sparks was untested and padded his stats

Who cares? Bottom line is that he hasn't cost the team anything so far. That's the only thing that matters.

 

[Mr Hockey]

From Corsica

5v5

High Danger

Andersen 79.8sv%
Sparks 86.4sv%

Medium Danger

Andersen 94.4sv%
Sparks 92.2sv%

Low Danger

Andersen 99.1sv%
Sparks 97.3sv%

you're quoting me, asking me to engage, Zeke?

Andersen plays with the weight of Leaf nation on his shoulders, he is supposed to win every game against the elite teams. Sparks doesn't play with that pressure. It's not right to compare the two.

 

[Mr Hockey]

Who cares? Bottom line is that he hasn't cost the team anything so far. That's the only thing that matters.

I'm bored and chatting, it is all good

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

How does this show rebound control, puck tracking skill, etc?

Leafs were actually awarded a loss yesterday because the league decided Sparks looked sloppy in net. I'm getting sick of the guy