Hutchinson happy to have another shot with Maple Leafs
Even though there are no fans in the Scotiabank Arena, it still feels like the stands are expecting bad things to happen when Michael Hutchinson tends the Maple Leafs’ net.
That’s not fair to Hutchinson. The beleaguered backup has won two of his three games in support of Frederik Andersen this season and was hardly the reason the team dropped the third of those games, 3-0 to Calgary on Monday.
“The more frequently you play, the quicker you get back into a groove,” Hutchinson said.
Hutchinson has a .928 save percentage and 2.35 goalsagainst average. Among NHL goalies who have played at least three games, Hutchinson has the 14th-best save percentage, third in the North Division. That’s behind Edmonton’s Mike Smith (six games, .934), and Montreal’s Jake Allen (seven games, .932).
The Leafs have four wins from backups in 21 games this season, with Jack Campbell winning his two starts before suffering a leg injury. It took the Leafs until their 45th game last season to get a fourth win out of a backup. By that time, Hutchinson had lost seven times and was saddled with an .890 save percentage and a 3.56 goalsagainst average. He was replaced by Campbell shortly after.
“We were an extremely upand-down team last year. We gave up way too many opportunities for any goaltender,” Leafs captain John Tavares said. “We knew coming into this year we had be a lot better in front of our goalies, (Hutchinson) included. And you can see how solid he has been these last two (games).”
Hutchinson found some redemption in the playoffs last season with Colorado, winning two of three starts when the Avalanche lost their top two goalies.
Brought back to Toronto, he started the season fourth on the depth chart. But the world works in strange ways. Aaron Dell was lost on waivers just days before Campbell got hurt. Now Andersen is nursing a little something or other.
“My whole career has been a huge whirlwind,” Hutchinson said. “It’s been going all over the place. I don’t know how many teams I have played for now. Quite a few. From the East Coast league to the NHL and everywhere in between. For me, it’s just enjoying the journey, and the moment that you’re in right now.”
The 30-year-old has been on 11 pro teams in 11 seasons: two in the ECHL, five in the AHL and four in the NHL (Winnipeg, Florida, Toronto and Colorado).
“Last year, being traded to Colorado. I just enjoyed my time when I was there,” he said. “Getting an opportunity to sign back with the Leafs, I’m just enjoying every day being a part of this team and organization and just showing up every single day thankful for the opportunity.”
Campbell, and perhaps Andersen, could return for the Leafs’ five-game road trip to Edmonton and Vancouver but the team has faith in Hutchinson. The fan base might not have the same trust but the backup position, long deemed an Achilles heel for the Leafs, seems less worrisome this season.
Notes: The Leafs said Marlies defenceman Rasmus Sandin suffered a fractured bone in his foot blocking a shot Feb. 15. He will be re-evaluated in midMarch ... The Leafs’ next five games are on the road, starting Saturday in Edmonton … The Marlies are off to a 4-3-0 start in the AHL and wrap up a fourgame series in Calgary against Stockton on Friday night.