Sparks, Pickard, McElhinney: Whom Will the Leafs Trade, Waive, or Keep?

[hockeyfan1]

According to TSN1050, actually make that James Mirtle who reported that  the Leafs will make a move as per their (backup) goaltending stuation is concerned.

Rumours speculate that either one of Sparks, Pickard,  or McElhinney will be moved.


https://thehockeywriters.com/nhl-rumors-august-16-2018/

[Zee]

Does Mirtle have a cousin working for the Leafs ala Darren Dreger? Since when does Mirtle have inside info?  Then again it's probably a reasonable guess that they'll trade or move one of those guys

[WAYNEINIONA]

 I'm thinking Pickard will be the one to go.

[Highlander]

No McBackup will be the one

[CarltonTheBear]

Does Mirtle have a cousin working for the Leafs ala Darren Dreger? Since when does Mirtle have inside info?  Then again it's probably a reasonable guess that they'll trade or move one of those guys

He specifically said in his actual radio hit that other teams are saying Pickard has been offered in trades.

[Highlander]

I can't see Sparks settling for one more year in the NHL.

[cabber24]

I choose McElhinney. He's done nothing to lose the job and has been consistently solid at the NHL level. We're good right now and need the best goalie today not tomorrow or one that we will hope will be good at the NHL level. I will take the sure thing.

[L K]

I think there is a piece of Sparks game that might prevent him from being a good NHL goaltender.  His numbers dip in the postseason in the AHL.  I'm not sure I want to bank on Sparks being good at this point.  I don't think the Leafs can afford to have a backup who doesn't force Babcock's hand to not play him less than 20 games.  Andersen shouldn't be trying to hold that kind of load if the Leafs want a deep playoff run.

2018 - .936 SV% regular season vs. .915 SV% postseason
2017 - .922 SV% regular season vs. .900 SV% postseason
2016 - .928 SV% regular season vs.  .915 SV% postseason

[Zee]

I think there is a piece of Sparks game that might prevent him from being a good NHL goaltender.  His numbers dip in the postseason in the AHL.  I'm not sure I want to bank on Sparks being good at this point.  I don't think the Leafs can afford to have a backup who doesn't force Babcock's hand to not play him less than 20 games.  Andersen shouldn't be trying to hold that kind of load if the Leafs want a deep playoff run.

2018 - .936 SV% regular season vs. .915 SV% postseason
2017 - .922 SV% regular season vs. .900 SV% postseason
2016 - .928 SV% regular season vs.  .915 SV% postseason

If you're gonna dig like that, Andersen's numbers also dipped in the playoffs the last 2 years.

2018 - .918 SV% regular season vs. .896% SV% postseason
2017 - .918 SV% regular season vs. .915 SV% postseason

[Highlander]

I choose McElhinney. He's done nothing to lose the job and has been consistently solid at the NHL level. We're good right now and need the best goalie today not tomorrow or one that we will hope will be good at the NHL level. I will take the sure thing.

I have to learn not to have a soft spot for players. I used to live near Guelph and remember Sparks from the team there. I always believed that he would be a Leaf. But the preseason has changed my opinion.  If we were still in early rebuild stages I would say go for him. But we have perhaps a 2-4 year window, maybe longer to win a cup or two.  And we are going for it this year. McBackup is steady eddy and we need that, perhaps he may falter in his next start and change my opinion again. If Sparks can just clear waivers and if either Freddo or McBackup go down then he gets another chance.  We still have a few games to figure this out.