So Who will Land the Role?
Based on all of the evidence, it’s clear that both Hutchinson and Neuvirth are the favourites at this time to land the role of the Leafs backup goaltender. Who ends up winning the battle for the coveted position will depend on what the teams’ needs are for this coming season.
If they want to stick with what has worked in the regular season, as in having a backup used sparingly on back-to-back nights, then Hutchinson will most likely get the gig. The caveat, however, is that the same problem of Andersen being overworked will likely reemerge, which could yet again impact the team’s outlook come playoff time.
Neuvirth could also fill that role but he can also be a more reliable option to fill in if the team experiences injuries at the position or Andersen struggles at some point. It might potentially result in Neuvirth playing in nearly 30 games, which would be extremely helpful in ensuring Andersen has enough left in the tank when the games matter most.
If I were to choose between the two options right now, I would lean towards Neuvirth. It’s primarily because of the potential stability in the crease he could provide and may subsequently contribute positively to Andersen’s workload. This does all depend on his health and his performance in the pre-season, which is why I also won’t be surprised if Hutchinson ends up winning it.
And if neither option works out, the other goalies in the Leafs system don’t appear ready to make the jump just yet. Meaning a trade or signing for a cheap option would be the next avenue explored.
(All stats unless otherwise noted are from Hockey-Reference.com and Natural Stat Trick).
The upcoming training camp will bring forth yet another dilemma over who will be the Leafs backup goalie for the coming season. With the two options in mind, we can only hope this is the last time for a while this decision will need to be made.