I'd say many teams make the playoffs without an effective back-up but it comes at a price. The price is the starter plays 65+ games and runs the risk of overworking them. If that starter gets injured, a new problem arises.

McElhinney had a career year and he was 35. He should have been traded.

Can Sparks win 10 games? That's a pretty big unknown at the moment. I'm not a big fan of his at the NHL level. It's a risk to expect him to win 10+ games and even more importantly, play 25+ games and give Andersen more rest.

The Leafs have 12 back-to-back games and Sparks will be expected to play in all of them. It's the other 12 games he should be playing (versus bad teams) that he might not be trusted to play that will become an issue.
- Unholy_Goalie

cant believe the Leafs GM didnt think of that

I know, it was stupid of them. They're just in tank mode and need bodies to fill the line-up and eat some cap space.
- Unholy_Goalie

Don't they have Eriksson for that?

cant believe the Leafs GM didnt think of that
- senstroll

Dubas should have known Carolina was going to claim him... Should have called and asked for something in return.. If Dubas really is a child prodigy, then he should have foreseen this.

Dubas should have known Carolina was going to claim him... Should have called and asked for something in return.. If Dubas really is a child prodigy, then he should have foreseen this.
- PatC80

Worst. GM. Ever.

I know, it was stupid of them. They're just in tank mode and need bodies to fill the line-up and eat some cap space.
- Unholy_Goalie

Leafs play Ottawa and Montreal 8 times. So there is 7 for him (Freddy gets HO obvi)

Dubas should have known Carolina was going to claim him... Should have called and asked for something in return.. If Dubas really is a child prodigy, then he should have foreseen this.
- PatC80

I doubt greatly that he thought of that.

Don't worry old friend.

It'll end 5-3 Leafs with Jeff Petry scoring in his own net once letting Marner get his 5th point on the night with the empty netter.

Price will let in 3 soft goals and people will already claim he's finished.

Oh and of course Kotkaniemi will get hit from behind by Kadri and will retire on the spot.
- Scabeh

I only see 1 issue with your assessment.

Marner will be the closest person to petry and last person to touch the puck, so he will be credited with the goal and thus receiving his 5th point of the night.

Everything else looks legit.

I hope the leafs are trying to sign Kapanen and Johnsson to similar deals Brown got in length and a little less money. They are RFA as well and might as well get them locked in before dealing with Marner and Matthews.
- Aaron_85

Yup, but keep them on 4th line so their production isn't as good as it could be so we can re-sign them for cheap

I doubt greatly that he thought of that.
- Ear Hole

I don't know, man.. It's not like Carolina claimed McElhinney after Dubas' bed time. They did it while he was in class. I bet his teacher didn't let him have his cell phone until after he finished his math test.. Still, Dubas is a child prodigy, how could he not see this happening?

I don't know, man.. It's not like Carolina claimed McElhinney after Dubas' bed time. They did it while he was in class. I bet his teacher didn't let him have his cell phone until after he finished his math test.. Still, Dubas is a child prodigy, how could he not see this happening?
- PatC80

Or you know Carolina said "Well you have to put him on waivers so I'll get him for free, kthxbye"

This is not good news for Leafs fans, but on the bright side this must open up some room on the limit of 50 allowed NHL contracts. That's caused issues the last couple years.

The team clearly does.
- Aaron_85

Not necessarily.
They probably didnt want to get rasked again

Dubas should have known Carolina was going to claim him... Should have called and asked for something in return.. If Dubas really is a child prodigy, then he should have foreseen this.
- PatC80

Both goalies were claimed, but they had no trade value. Teams were not going to give up assets for them. For free a team will take a chance.

This is not good news for Leafs fans, but on the bright side this must open up some room on the limit of 50 allowed NHL contracts. That's caused issues the last couple years.
- TroyTech

Well they are at 44 now, so it wasnt really an issue.

This is not good news for Leafs fans, but on the bright side this must open up some room on the limit of 50 allowed NHL contracts. That's caused issues the last couple years.
- TroyTech

poopz don't tell MiB that. 50% of his material would just vanish.

Well they are at 44 now, so it wasnt really an issue.
- senstroll

Plus they will need to replace one of the goalies.

Plus they will need to replace one of the goalies.
- Fakepartofme

Why? Woll/Kaskisuo. Or you mean find an ECHL goalie?

Mike Augello: No safety in net for Leafs, McElhinney and Pickard both claimed on waivers
- mikeinbuffalo

and the kyle dumbass era begins....

Both goalies were claimed, but they had no trade value. Teams were not going to give up assets for them. For free a team will take a chance.
- senstroll

Philly taking Pickard was odd.. Don't they already have 7 goalies fighting for 2 spots?

and the kyle dumbass era begins....
- Shinobi

Its either when he signed Tavares or lost curtis mcelhinney on waivers. ..I cant decide which

Why? Woll/Kaskisuo. Or you mean find an ECHL goalie?
- markmark

But neither of which has played a single nhl game. Need insurance in case sparkie or andy get injured.

and the kyle dumbass era begins....
- Shinobi

Well.

Not really.

But neither of which has played a single nhl game. Need insurance in case sparkie or andy get injured.
- Fakepartofme

So the big worry is that both of our goalies will go down with long term injuries at the same time? I'm pretty sure the Leafs are (frank)ed if Freddy goes down long term regardless of who is stepping in horse poop down at Ricoh.

Its either when he signed Tavares or lost curtis mcelhinney on waivers. ..I cant decide which
- senstroll

I know how he pitched the idea of winning the Cup to Tavares. Basically said "Johnny, I'm telling you.. we are good enough to win the Stanley Cup without Curtis McElhinney."

Both goalies were claimed, but they had no trade value. Teams were not going to give up assets for them. For free a team will take a chance.
- senstroll

Well, pickard was picked up for a 6th and tobius linberg
So he did have value.
But, other teams knew the leafs were screwed so they waited and got them for free