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Toronto Maple Leafs: Looking Back on the 2011 NHL Entry Draft

BySpencer Teixeira|
TORONTO, ON - JULY 10 - Toronto Maple Leafs prospect defencemen Tom Nilsson, left, and Andrew MacWilliam during scrimmage action at the Leaf's 2013 prospect camp at the MasterCard Centre For Hockey Excellence. July 10, 2013. Chris So/Toronto Star (Chris So/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - JULY 10 - Toronto Maple Leafs prospect defencemen Tom Nilsson, left, and Andrew MacWilliam during scrimmage action at the Leaf's 2013 prospect camp at the MasterCard Centre For Hockey Excellence. July 10, 2013. Chris So/Toronto Star (Chris So/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
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TORONTO, ON – APRIL 02: Garret Sparks #40 of the Toronto Maple Leafs comes out of the dressing room to play the Carolina Hurricanes at the Scotiabank Arena on April 2, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – APRIL 02: Garret Sparks #40 of the Toronto Maple Leafs comes out of the dressing room to play the Carolina Hurricanes at the Scotiabank Arena on April 2, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images)

Round 7 Pick 190 – G Garret Sparks

With the 190th overall pick in the 2011 NHL entry draft, the Toronto Maple Leafs selected goaltender Garret Sparks from the Guelph Storm of the OHL.

Sparks would play three seasons with the Storm, posting a .905 save percentage in 138 appearances.

Sparks would make pro debut with the Marlies at the end of the 2012-13 season, and would split the three seasons between the Marlies (AHL, .926 in 47 games) and Solar Bears (ECHL, .938 in 47 games). Sparks would get an extended look in the NHL during the 2015-16 season, posting a .893 SV% in 17 games.

Sparks would then transition to a dominant full-time AHL goaltender, posting a great .922 SV% in 31 games in 2016-17 and a league-best .936 SV% in 43 games in 2017-18.

Sparks would also play a huge role in the Marlies’ 2018 Championship run.

This past season, Sparks would win the back-up job, and would play 20 games with the Leafs, posting a rather underwhelming .902 SV%.

This summer, Sparks was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights in an odd move that saw David Clarkson coming back the other way.

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