Welcome back to another instalment of Toronto Marlies Notebook!
I apologize for the delay on this one. Aside from the Toronto Maple Leafs starting all their games this week in the dead of night, I’d recommend placing the blame squarely on the University of Toronto. It was they who thought having three research papers due within the same week was an okay thing to do.
Alas, that nightmare is over, and I’m back and ready to talk about the 1st place Marlies! And boy, do we have much to discuss.
Let’s dive in.
Garret Sparks
This happens to be the third notebook in a row in which I’ve designated an entire section to Garret Sparks. And you know what? He’s earned it.
To say that Sparks has come into his own this season is to say that Peter Chiarelli is a bad general manager. It’s a thoroughly accurate statement, and those who disagree with it clearly haven’t been watching close enough.
While Curtis McElhinney continues to demonstrate what playing hockey on a slip n’ slide would look like, Calvin Pickard is regarded by fans as the heir to the Toronto Maple Leafs back up role.
Not so fast, people.
After shutting out the Laval Rocket on November 1st, Sparks became the Marlies franchise record holder for most career shutouts. Now, If that wasn’t impressive enough for you, I’d like to point out that he also currently sports a ludicrously high .942 save percentage. That places him above all AHL goaltenders with at least 5 games played. Not too shabby.
Perhaps most importantly, 2017-18 serves as the first season of Sparks’ AHL career in which he’s been unquestionably given the role of starting goaltender. For him respond to this new-found responsibility so successfully is thoroughly encouraging.
If any Marlie has earned himself an NHL call-up, it’s him.