Whether this is the right decision or not by Mike Babcock is a point of contention, but with James Reimer currently injured, Jonathan Bernier seemingly unable to stop a puck right now and Antoine Bibeau struggling for form, Babcock obviously felt Sparks was the only viable option at this stage.
A road less traveled
Sparks’ route to his first NHL opportunity has not exactly been a well trodden path or without trials and tribulations throughout his young professional career.
High expectations have never really been placed on the shoulders of the Illinois native.
Drafted in 2009, 160th overall by the Guelph Storm, Sparks would not make his OHL debut until September 2010, after which he started just four games by January 2011.