Article content continued

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or

Sparks only had time for one extended off-season vacation trip, into the Rockies in Colorado to hike the high altitudes and take in some nature. Then it was back to work, determined not to rest on his laurels.

“I didn’t want to be reliant on the things that I’ve done last year. I want to continue to do great things here, show up and compete every day. I love Toronto and know if I want to (stay), then I have to be really good at camp and do everything I can to put myself in a position to try and make the team.

“I have to clear waivers, but there is no use in theorizing or trying to predict what will happen. You control the things you can, which is how hard you work every day. My main focus is just getting in front of the puck.”

McElhinney has been at the team’s summer skates just about every day for the past three weeks. He was joined Wednesday by Andersen and as seniority dictated, those two had the nets in the main practice and scrimmage game with the likes of John Tavares, Auston Matthews and Morgan Rielly (all who continue to decline media requests while in summer mode).

Sparks had to get his work in with the Marlies and prospects in the second group, though both sessions were intently followed by Mike Babcock and his full staff, still relegated to observer status until camp opens.

“The biggest thing for me now is to come back and build on the last season and a half I’ve had here,” McElhinney said last month. “There are some good young guys coming up.”