In the 2017-2018 season, Garret Sparks was the AHL’s goalie of the year, and served as a large part of the Toronto Marlies’ Calder Cup run, as well. So, when the Toronto Maple Leafs searched for their backup goalie at the start of this past season, Kyle Dubas took a chance on the younger option, placing both Curtis McElhinney and Calvin Pickard on waivers.
The assumption was that Sparks’ success in the AHL would transfer itself to the NHL level.
That assumption, at least for the season which has now past, was wrong.
Many factors could have played into the way Sparks’ season played out.