Big Gambles, Bigger Questions, and Backup Goaltenders

The Toronto Maple Leafs lost 5-1 to the Montreal Canadiens on Monday night, and with that, the fanbase and much of the media circled in and submitted their final votes on who the team’s backup goaltender will be this year. Garret Sparks gave up five goals on 36 shots, which to the eyes and ears, contrast heavily with Curtis McElhinney’s strong relief performances in two half-games this preseason. To many, it’s proof that the 25-year-old netminder will never make the NHL, and that he’s simply not ready for prime time.

This is a premium post and as such, you are only seeing a portion of the content. The full post is available to subscribers only. These subscriptions help keep the site operational and come at an affordable cost, with all sorts of additional features. To learn more and/or register, click here. Thank you!

Liked it? Take a second to support The Faceoff Circle on Patreon!