While Dave Nonis was annually handing out 2nd round draft picks for sub par players during his time as general manager, one of better giveaways was thought to be Jonathan Bernier. Promising at first, Bernier now looks like he may be adding his own name to the goaltender carousel that is the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Surely the Leafs faithful pictured Bernier being amongst the likes of Ed Belfour and Curtis Joseph; not the likes of Andrew Raycroft or Justin Pogge. With Bernier’s confidence waning, there has been some indication that coach Mike Babcock is open to starting 22-year-old prospect Garret Sparks in the Leafs next game.
Garret Sparks is in his first full season as part of a tandem in the AHL this season. He has played 11 games and has a gorgeous 1.90 GAA, and an absolutely glorious 0.938 save percentage. While a cup of tea with the big club won’t harm the 7th rounder from the 2011 draft, it is simply not necessary at this time.
The Leafs don’t actually have aspirations of going anywhere in the next few years either. I mean, Matt Hunwick is their top pairing defenseman, that’s all that really needs to be said. The most important thing the Leafs management can do at this time is talent assessment. Good players won’t just appear on this team in a few years and some of the players on the current squads could make valuable pieces in the future. What Lou Lamoriello and company need to figure out is who are these valuable pieces. That’s what makes the difference between winners, and say, trading a superstar like Alexander Steen away: talent assessment.
Bernier is in the first year of a two-year deal so the Leafs don’t really have a choice, he’s going to be here for the next 160 games or so, unless the Leafs make the playoffs (in which case forget everything I’m saying because we’re wrong about everything). As long as James Reimer is injured, the Leafs need to keep giving Bernier the opportunities to succeed or fail.
Bernier is a goaltender that is one year removed from a 0.912 save percentage on a line-up that mailed in the last 30 games of the season, and two years removed from a 0.922 save percentage. One cannot ignore the fact that its only months since Jonathan Bernier was providing the Leafs with solid goaltending.
Meanwhile, Garret Sparks has not even played a full season of AHL hockey yet. He featured in 21 games as a backup two seasons ago. Then last season he played just two games due to a lack of fitness and was sent down to the ECHL. He has performed admirably this year and a few games will definitely be beneficial to his development. However, there is no rush as he is still young in his career, and has a few steps to climb before he needs regular NHL opportunities.
Bernier has had flashes of brilliance in his brief NHL career. Since he is tied down for two years, the Leafs may as well be sure they are not giving up on another Tuukka Rask before cutting him loose. Sparks’ opportunity doesn’t need to be now, and perhaps he’d be better prepared by having an entire season of AHL goaltending under his belt.
