In Defense of Toronto Maple Leafs Back-Up Michael Hutchinson

The Toronto Maple Leafs are 0-6 when Michael Hutchinson starts.

The calls for the Toronto Maple Leafs to go out and get a new goalie are getting really loud.

But old’ Hutchy deserves another chance.

Although I agree that he has played terribly, and that he has cost the Leafs at least two games, the guy deserves a defense.

Toronto Maple Leafs Back-Up Goalie

The reason the Leafs went cheap on their back-up goalie is because that’s what the math says to do.

It takes a lot of talent to make it to the NHL, but once you get there, the differences between players is very small.

Also, goalies are extremely unpredictable.

Outside a few superstar goalies, everyone else is  a toss up.  You don’t know what you’ll get, or when you’ll get it.

The difference in actual talent between Hutchinson and any non-starter the Leafs could reasonably get is basically nil.

Now getting a new goalie could have psychological benefits.  Lets see the team just doesn’t believe in Hutchinson and they get a new goalie, he plays amazing in his first game, and everyone then celebrates how great of an upgrade he is.

This could perhaps lead into better results.

But then again, Hutchinson doesn’t cost anything salary cap wise, he was good enough to make it to the NHL, and he hasn’t been put into a position to succeed.

He’s played only in the second-half of back-to-backs, and once during a game that started at 4PM.

Yes, a professional has to get it done sometimes under bad circumstances.  But, his record, this streak of games, it’s just so unlikely to be because of his skill level.

Dozens if not hundreds of things go into the results of a hockey game, or series of games.

Going forward, the Leafs might stick with Hutchinson and he might turn it around. Or they might trade for someone, find a diamond in the rough, and have the next goaltending superstar.

There’s no way to know.

But because there isn’t, it’s a sensible play to go cheap on the back-up goalie when allotting your cap money. Sometimes it won’t work out, and you’ll look foolish, but results are random and it’s the process that matters.

This is the right process.

As for Hutchinson, it’s not his fault. I’m not saying the Leafs shouldn’t give someone else a try, maybe they should.  But it’s not the worst idea to give Hutchinson a few more tries, because we know for sure he’s not as bad as he has been.

You just couldn’t make it this far and be that bad.