Mike Augello: Leafs cut down to 26 players, Sparks and McElhinney still on roster

Mike Augello: Leafs cut down to 26 players, Sparks and McElhinney still on roster
- mikeinbuffalo

andy first.

andy first.
- systemtool

What I said before.

SparkleHinney

What I said before.

SparkleHinney
- Woderwick

i might be the only Leaf fan who doesnt give a twat who our back up is.

....and is happy lievo made the team and think both Holl and Grunnstrom deserve a shot this season even if its not opening night.

I'm trying to understand the "fear" of losing McElhinney. He's a 35 year old backup goaltender who may be our best option... but by how much over Sparks/Pickard?! How many wins above replacement (to use a baseball term) does McE give you over either of the younger options?

Marincin... still here...

i might be the only Leaf fan who doesnt give a twat who our back up is.
- systemtool

I spend no time on this train of thought...

What a weak D.

I'm trying to understand the "fear" of losing McElhinney. He's a 35 year old backup goaltender who may be our best option... but by how much over Sparks/Pickard?! How many wins above replacement (to use a baseball term) does McE give you over either of the younger options?
- mjones242

McElhinney is our best option. Simply put, losing him right now makes the team worse, and the ultimate goal is to put the best team forward.
McBackup will hardly play, whether we like Babs overplaying Andersen or not.
But dear god, if there is any sort of injury to Freddy, having Sparks in for any amount of games strung together would be horrifying.

I'm trying to understand the "fear" of losing McElhinney. He's a 35 year old backup goaltender who may be our best option... but by how much over Sparks/Pickard?! How many wins above replacement (to use a baseball term) does McE give you over either of the younger options?
- mjones242

they arent worried about losing him. they're worried the other two arent going to be as good as him this year. which is a year they're trying to win it all, not develop for the future

Marincin... still here...
- SofaKingBored

From nhl.com

"The Toronto Maple Leafs announced today that the hockey club has reduced its roster to 26 players (13 forwards, nine defencemen and four goaltenders).

The Maple Leafs have loaned the following players to the American Hockey League's Toronto Marlies: Andreas Borgman, Jeremy Bracco, Adam Brooks, Emerson Clark, Rich Clune, Pierre Engvall, Colin Greening, Carl Grundstrom, Timothy Liljegren, Mason Marchment, Trevor Moore, Calle Rosen and Dmytro Timashov.

The Maple Leafs have placed the following players on waivers: Adam Cracknell, Josh Jooris, Vincent LoVerde, Chris Mueller and Jordan Subban

The Maple Leafs have placed Martin Marincin into a cannon and will subsequently be fired from it early this afternoon with trajectoral hopes of landing in Buffalo.

The Maple Leafs open the 2018-19 season on Wednesday, October 3 at 7 p.m. when they host the Montreal Canadiens at Scotiabank Arena."
- SofaKingBored

Nope Missed this in the last blog perhaps.

Nope Missed this in the last blog perhaps.
- UsernameUnknown

My mind must have blocked that paragraph out when it seen his name...

My mind must have blocked that paragraph out when it seen his name...
- SofaKingBored

I hope they over-pack the gun powder and he makes it to Chile. Just get him the (frank) away from Toronto.

3 Days till Season opener

What a weak D.
- islansjet

The D is fine, it’s avaerage.

And like any contending team the Leafs will shore up on the weakness at the TDL from a non playoff team. Your team will probably be a non playoff team so maybe they will help the Leafs out

The D is fine, it’s avaerage.

And like any contending team the Leafs will shore up on the weakness at the TDL from a non playoff team. Your team will probably be a non playoff team so maybe they will help the Leafs out
- Santo_44

The trash talk might be bordering on absurd here...

What a weak D.
- islansjet

Feel free to point out the glorious norris winning hall of fame dmen on the last 3 cup winning teams.

So yea. Cool story though. Hope you feel better about your ass team after your post.

Marincin is not an NHL player....that's an easy cut that should be coming soon. Neither is Gauthier, that'll be almost as easy. The only reason it's not as easy is due to the previous hopes for him as a former first rounder, but he just can't keep up with the pace of play in the NHL.

I understand the reluctance to part ways with someone as good and reliable as McElhinney, but given how little the backup will play, whoever it is, it probably isn't as big a deal as it's being made out to be. Someone earlier mentioned the prospect of extended time with Sparks being terrifying if something happens to Andersen, but really, if there's a long term issue with Freddy, I'm not sure that any of the 3 would be suitable to take the reins anyway.

Marincin is not an NHL player....that's an easy cut that should be coming soon. Neither is Gauthier, that'll be almost as easy. The only reason it's not as easy is due to the previous hopes for him as a former first rounder, but he just can't keep up with the pace of play in the NHL.

I understand the reluctance to part ways with someone as good and reliable as McElhinney, but given how little the backup will play, whoever it is, it probably isn't as big a deal as it's being made out to be. Someone earlier mentioned the prospect of extended time with Sparks being terrifying if something happens to Andersen, but really, if there's a long term issue with Freddy, I'm not sure that any of the 3 would be suitable to take the reins anyway.
- MarcN

what’s pogge up to?

What a weak D.
- islansjet

Rielly> Any defenceman you have...

Trouba is overrated, Byfug is fat and slow and a pretty poopty skater, Myers is averge and probably Maurice's favorite. The rest who gives a (frank). Leafs have Sadin and Liljegren in the pipes who will both be NHL players. Your farm system looks pretty meh.

McElhinney is our best option. Simply put, losing him right now makes the team worse, and the ultimate goal is to put the best team forward.
McBackup will hardly play, whether we like Babs overplaying Andersen or not.
But dear god, if there is any sort of injury to Freddy, having Sparks in for any amount of games strung together would be horrifying.
- UsernameUnknown

Is he our best option? And even if he is, again, how much WAR is he capable of producing over Sparks/Pickard? The backup goalie position this season will see perhaps 15-20 games -- how many of those will be won/lost because of the relative quality of any three of these options?

How confident are you that McBackup's last season was anything other than an anomaly?

Why is Sparks necessarily your next in line? Why not Pickard?

The Leafs season rests squarely on Freddie's shoulders. None of the backups in question are going to carry this team forward into or during the playoffs if he goes down.

I'd rather hold onto younger options with upside than a guy who's 35 years old and is very unlikely to reproduce past results moving forward.

they arent worried about losing him. they're worried the other two arent going to be as good as him this year. which is a year they're trying to win it all, not develop for the future
- systemtool

I think you're placing FAR too much emphasis on the contributions McBackup will bring to the team in their quest to "win it all".

Also, yeah, so the Leafs are a legitimate contender for the Cup this season. Sure, I agree completely. But we also have to consider assets moving forward and continue to develop and have patience with prospects in the pool.

McBackup is a dead end and he's not going to be the difference this year nor next (or beyond).

Is he our best option? And even if he is, again, how much WAR is he capable of producing over Sparks/Pickard? The backup goalie position this season will see perhaps 15-20 games -- how many of those will be won/lost because of the relative quality of any three of these options?

How confident are you that McBackup's last season was anything other than an anomaly?

Why is Sparks necessarily your next in line? Why not Pickard?

The Leafs season rests squarely on Freddie's shoulders. None of the backups in question are going to carry this team forward into or during the playoffs if he goes down.

I'd rather hold onto younger options with upside than a guy who's 35 years old and is very unlikely to reproduce past results moving forward.
- mjones242

Pickard is the best option.

86GP.. .913 career average.. Still young enough to be a core piece.

Trade Sparks and roll with McBackup and Kaskisuo on the Marlies

Pickard is the best option.

86GP.. .913 career average.. Still young enough to be a core piece.

Trade Sparks and roll with McBackup and Kaskisuo on the Marlies
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Absolutely agreed.

Absolutely agreed.
- mjones242

Sparks outplayed Pickard all season last year