Toronto Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas and head coach Mike Babcock will use the club’s upcoming training camp to evaluate those on the bubble for making the final 23-man roster, but a factor that may affect the composition of that group is whether certain players can be sent down to the American Hockey League without being exposed to waivers.
The breakdown of the roster is normally two goaltenders, eight defensemen and 13 forwards, but it is possible that Dubas and Babcock will tinker with that structure based on waiver considerations.
The area where this is the most apparent is in goal, where backup candidates Curtis McElhinney, Garret Sparks and Calvin Pickard would have to clear waivers to be sent to the Toronto Marlies. Reports indicate that the Leafs have been trying to trade Pickard prior to camp (because he could get claimed), but that still leaves McElhinney and Sparks fighting it out for the #2 spot behind Frederik Andersen.
In spite of Sparks winning the Baz Bastien Award (the AHL’s Vezina Trophy) and Calder Cup last season, it is hard to imagine that Babcock would opt away from the veteran McElhinney, who had the best statistics of any NHL backup last season.
Dubas is unlikely to roll the dice and try to send Sparks down, so short of an injury situation or a trade, it is possible that the club may have to start the season with three goalies on the roster.
If Toronto has to carry three goalies, that would take away one spot for a reserve defenseman or forward. Bubble blueliners like Martin Marincin and Justin Holl have to be exposed to be sent down, but the club does have some flexibility if they have to carry only seven. with sophomores Calle Rosen, Andreas Borgman and KHL import Igor Ozhiganov being able to move freely up and down without concerns of waivers.
The addition of John Tavares to go along with Auston Matthews and Nazem Kadri gives the Leafs a pair of first-line centers and a checking center capable of absorbing large chunks of ice time. Tavares averaged nearly 20 minutes per game with the Islanders last season, Matthews played just over 18 minutes and Kadri nearly 17 minutes per game.
Based on those averages, that would leave a paltry five or six minutes each night for whoever wins the fourth line center job. As with Miro Aaltonen last season, Swedish Hockey League veteran Par Lindholm is penciled in as the fourth line center, but his being waiver exempt on his entry-level contract gives the Leafs options if Babcock is not happy with his performance or Dubas sees a better alternative outside the organization.
The roster spot going towards a third goalie could be bad news for forwards Josh Leivo or Tyler Ennis, who are battling for a spot on the fourth line and would be the extra forward if the Leafs keep two goalies.
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