3 Toronto Maple Leafs New Years Resolutions for 2020
By Jeff Borsuk
Find a Consistent Backup Goaltender
The Maple Leafs have the luxury of having an excellent starting goalie in Frederik Andersen. He has been relied upon to carry the lion share of the load for Toronto because no one else has been trustworthy in the crease.
Michael Hutchinson won the backup position out of training camp this season beating out Michal Neuvirth who was on a PTO.
Brandon Halverson and Kasimir Kaskisuo were also in the running, but their odds were always far slimmer to win the role. Hutchinson ultimately earned the spot when Neuvirth went down with an injury during the preseason and essentially disqualified himself.
Hutchinson held the backup role until the Toronto Maple Leafs front office decided that his being winless just over a month into the season was all they could stand.
They pulled the plug on Hutchinson and placed him on waivers. In the same move, they recalled Kaskisuo from the Toronto Marlies in order to fill the vacated role.
The spot belonged to Kaskisuo for just one game. After coach Mike Babcock was fired and replaced by Sheldon Keefe, Kyle Dubas brought back Hutchinson. Though he still hasn’t played very well, Hutchinson has managed to pick up two wins.
Whether it remains Hutchinson or a new player finds their way between the pipes, we hope that consistency comes to the Leafs net. Andersen could really use some rest.