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There are bound to be philosophical changes from the way the Toronto Maple Leafs were run under Lou Lamoriello to the administration under new GM Kyle Dubas. One area where the club has some decisions to make is their organizational depth in goal.
On Tuesday, the Leafs signed goalie Kasimir Kaskisuo two-year $1.35 Million contract extension.
The University of Minnesota-Duluth product was signed as a free agent two years ago and shuttled between the Toronto Marlies and Orlando Solar Bears over two seasons, but played well for the Marlies in relief of an injured Garret Sparks during the playoffs last season.
After the acquisition of Calvin Pickard from Vegas in late October, the Leafs decided to loan the 24-year-old to the AHL Chicago Wolves (whose parent club (Vegas) had goaltending injury issues), rather than potentially stunting his development playing against lesser competition in the ECHL.
Kaskisuo had a 2.38 GAA and .914 save percentage in 28 games and likely will be part of the Marlies goaltending duo next season with possible changes occurring.
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Veteran Curtis McElhinney posted a career-best .934 save percentage and 2.14 GAA in 18 games for the Leafs and has the trust and confidence of head coach Mike Babcock, who quickly soured on Jhonas Enroth and rookie Antoine Bibeau last season.
Barring the unexpected retirement or dramatic decline of the 35-year-old backup (who is signed through 2018-19), Babcock will keep the veteran as Andersen’s backup and that will give Dubas a dilemma regarding Sparks and Pickard.
Both goalies had fantastic seasons, with Sparks winning the Baz Bastien Award (the AHL’s answer to the Vezina) with a 31-9-2 record, 1.79 GAA and .936 save % and going 10-2 during the Marlies run to the Calder Cup Final.
Pickard went 21-9-2 in 33 games for Toronto (2.31 GAA, .918 save %) and shared the Hap Holmes Award (the AHL’s Jennings Trophy) with Sparks.
The difficulty for the organization is that both are relatively young and inexpensive, which would make them attractive to the number of teams looking for goaltending help, but their need to clear waivers to be sent down makes it likely that they would be claimed.
Pickard has the advantage of nearly 90 games of NHL experience as a backup under his belt and if the Leafs qualify the 26-year-old, it is possible that NHL clubs would pass on his one-way salary on waivers, as they did last October before being dealt by the Golden Knights.
Sparks’ mediocre 17-game stint for the bottom-dwelling Leafs two years ago did not sully his reputation, and the fact that he is just 24, potentially winning a Calder Cup, under contract for $675,000 next season and a restricted free agent after that could make a valuable commodity as a trade chip.
If the Leafs are looking to make upgrades without subtracting from their NHL roster, teams in need of goaltending (like Carolina or the New York Islanders) may value Sparks highly as part of a package deal for blueline help and for Toronto, a deal of that sort would be preferable than losing a prospect for nothing.
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