I think I might just go take a crunch in the toilet and then stare at it for a thousand years, I want to have more fun.
- Zezel

Only a thousand years? Future HOFer Vermette has played OVER a thousand games. Fact.

Lehner at 21 - 31GP, 2.12, .938
Sparks at 23 - 31GP, 2.16, .922

Just because one got rushed into the league after a good half season in the minors, because his numbers the year before were pretty terrible doesn't mean jack. Sparks just built upon that season with 43GP, 1.79, .936
Not to mention these are goalies, who develop different than players... If you were the GM what would be the point of draft picks? Oh a player isn't a star after 2 seasons, time to move on and get a guy in his 30s... Reminiscent of the early 2000s....

And yea sparks NHL stint was so bad, lets ignore that it was on the team that finished dead last in the league, cant put that in because it doesn't fit my narrative.
- harps43

Still doesn't change the fact that Lehtonen and Mason are more proven as NHL goalies and more likely to be suitable to play 25-30 games so Andersen doesn't burn himself out like he did last year.

We're debating signing Kari Lettin-em-in...this takes it to a whole new level of dizzerp.
- Zezel

Matt Murray was lightning it up at 20-22. Sparks, Pickard and McElhinney are all significantly older. He also played for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

I understand what you're saying about developing goalies and I agree but only if it's legit prospects. Sparks and Pickard are in their mid 20s and haven't shown they're very good. In the AHL, sure, they had some good numbers but in the NHL, the results have been either poor or a mixed bag.

They should be developing their own goalies but these ones just aren't very impressive and for the short term, the goal of keeping Andersen rested is more important than rolling the dice on one of two guys who are probably journeymen back-up goalies like McElhinney turned out to be anyway.
- Unholy_Goalie

Matt Murray is a year younger than Sparks; he lucked out when MAF got injured and shone in the playoffs, backstopping a stacked Penguins team. Sparks got to lead Tank Nation to the Matthews Cup, backstopping a historically brutal team.

Totally different scenarios, but both put up excellent numbers with good farm teams.

We're debating signing Kari Lettin-em-in...this takes it to a whole new level of dizzerp.
- Zezel

No no, Kari Let-it-in AND Sieve Ma5on!!!

Matt Murray is a year younger than Sparks; he lucked out when MAF got injured and shone in the playoffs, backstopping a stacked Penguins team. Sparks got to lead Tank Nation to the Matthews Cup, backstopping a historically brutal team.

Totally different scenarios, but both put up excellent numbers with good farm teams.
- gravyface

Or Matt Murray is just a good NHL goalie and Sparks isn't.

Still doesn't change the fact that Lehtonen and Mason are more proven as NHL goalies and more likely to be suitable to play 25-30 games so Andersen doesn't burn himself out like he did last year.
- Unholy_Goalie

But he is comparable to Lehner who is a starter, who you also wanted to sign. So why not actually give him a chance on a team that isn't the worst in the league? Oh because he was bad when the team was trash so he is always trash, right....
But yea better get those guys who have lost their starting jobs because they aren't good enough anymore because they will be better once they are backups... Lehtonen has had 4 seasons to win the net back in Dallas against Niemi and he can't even do that, why would you want him...

Only a thousand years? Future HOFer Vermette has played OVER a thousand games. Fact.
- Steven_Seagull

No no, Kari Let-it-in AND Sieve Ma5on!!!
- As_I_See_It

- Zezel

Or Matt Murray is just a good NHL goalie and Sparks isn't.
- Unholy_Goalie

Maybe, but the jury is still out.

Backups in the twilight of their career are a dime a dozen and available for late round picks any time of the year (or remain unsigned and play in Europe or whatever), so if Sparks doesn't pan out, we can easily nab a backup for next to nothing.

But he is comparable to Lehner who is a starter, who you also wanted to sign. So why not actually give him a chance on a team that isn't the worst in the league? Oh because he was bad when the team was trash so he is always trash, right....
But yea better get those guys who have lost their starting jobs because they aren't good enough anymore because they will be better once they are backups... Lehtonen has had 4 seasons to win the net back in Dallas against Niemi and he can't even do that, why would you want him...
- harps43

But he isn't. Lehner won everything Sparks did, 4 years younger than Sparks did.

Because Lehner has proven more in the NHL, that's why.

Dallas actually got Ben Bishop but Lehtonen stealing the net back in Dallas has zero to do with the fact that he's a proven NHL goalie who played effectively in the NHL last year in 37 games, which is what the Leafs need from their back-up, not a question mark that leaves Andersen being overworked again.

- Zezel

Or Matt Murray is just a good NHL goalie and Sparks isn't.
- Unholy_Goalie

Or Sparks only had one chance, on a terrible team when he was 22. Again not many goalies are ready at 22, some are like Murray, doesn't mean they are never going to get there....

Sparks just turned 25. I don't know what he's talking about with 20-21 year olds, but they ain't starters in any pro league.

What was the last bluechip goalie prospect you can remember? The list of goalies taken in the 1st round in the last 10 years is brutal. Vasilevskiy is like the only one I can think of that's solid starter.
- gravyface

this is like playing Triva pursuit for me. Ah Potvin? ooh not for the Leafs.

But he isn't. Lehner won everything Sparks did, 4 years younger than Sparks did.

Because Lehner has proven more in the NHL, that's why.

Dallas actually got Ben Bishop but Lehtonen stealing the net back in Dallas has zero to do with the fact that he's a proven NHL goalie who played effectively in the NHL last year in 37 games, which is what the Leafs need from their back-up, not a question mark that leaves Andersen being overworked again.
- Unholy_Goalie

Lehtonen didn't steal the net back. Bishop got injured.

But he isn't. Lehner won everything Sparks did, 4 years younger than Sparks did.

Because Lehner has proven more in the NHL, that's why.

Dallas actually got Ben Bishop but Lehtonen stealing the net back in Dallas has zero to do with the fact that he's a proven NHL goalie who played effectively in the NHL last year in 37 games, which is what the Leafs need from their back-up, not a question mark that leaves Andersen being overworked again.
- Unholy_Goalie

No he didn’t.

Still doesn't change the fact that Lehtonen and Mason are more proven as NHL goalies and more likely to be suitable to play 25-30 games so Andersen doesn't burn himself out like he did last year.
- Unholy_Goalie

Mason is too busy playing tier 5 ball hockey every summer that he hasn't put in the work necessary to be a nhl goalie. He's khl bound.not worth the leafs time

Lehtonen didn't steal the net back. Bishop got injured.
- PatC80

Damn guys c'mon stop feeding into this... bloody pages of the same nonsense. Stop already... and hell no more pages of Vermette or Lehner or whoever else

Maybe, but the jury is still out.

Backups in the twilight of their career are a dime a dozen and available for late round picks any time of the year (or remain unsigned and play in Europe or whatever), so if Sparks doesn't pan out, we can easily nab a backup for next to nothing.
- gravyface

Jury is in, Matt Murray is better than Sparks. If Sparks was really that good, he'd already have taken the net from Andersen. He's just not that good.

Or you can just sign one now and not have to trade anything to get one.

- Steven_Seagull

I know, I know. Facts schmacts

Lehtonen didn't steal the net back. Bishop got injured.
- PatC80

No he didn’t.
- Steven_Seagull

Didn't say he did. Read carefully.

37 games last year, .912 SV%, plenty of experience. Still better than what they currently have.
- Unholy_Goalie

You do know that a .912 SV% last year was the league average......and it was the first time in 5 years that he has even come close to the league average? I will take McIlGoalie as my backup over him or Mason any day.

We have 6 goalies on pro contracts in the system. We need to trade a goalie contract, not add another.

By the way....nice job of posting an agreement to your own post. Don't create alt accounts if you cannot manage them correctly.

Damn guys c'mon stop feeding into this... bloody pages of the same nonsense. Stop already... and hell no more pages of Vermette or Lehner or whoever else
- Roadrunner75

He keeps making a fool out of himself. Tis funny.