Goaltending situation far from clear
Newcomer Hutchinson given opportunity with Sparks, Andersen out
Maple Leafs goalie Michael Hutchinson’s introduction to the organization was a hasty one.
But his immediate future with the club may be more welcoming.
After a solid performance in his Toronto debut — a 4-3 loss to the Minnesota Wild in Thursday’s matinee — the Leafs’ goaltending situation remains uncertain.
For now, though, it appears there’s a spot open for Hutchinson, who stopped 30 of 34 shots after being an emergency recall from the Marlies Wednesday night. Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas was forced to act after No. 1 goalie Frederik Andersen and backup Garret Sparks were sidelined by injury.
Andersen missed his fourth game with a groin injury. While he continues to work out on his own, he likely will miss Saturday’s home game against the Vancouver Canucks.
Sparks, meanwhile, continues to be a question mark. He was placed under concussion protocol following Wednesday’s practice, having taken a shot off his mask. While he appeared fine afterward and even gave interviews about being excited to get what would have been a third consecutive start Thursday, league protocol led to further examination.
So Dubas sprung into action and recalled Marlie goalkeepers Hutchinson and Kasimir Kaskisuo.
After Thursday’s loss, it appears the Leafs don’t want both up with the big club. That may precipitate the need to find another goalie with NHL experi- ence for depth purposes. It also means Kaskisuo is likely headed back to the Marlies so he can continue to play rather than sit.
“I don’t know what’s going on, we were just talking about maybe finding another goalie,” said Leafs coach Mike Babcock. “We’d like (Kaskisuo) to get playing, we don’t want him to be sitting around. So maybe we’ve got to find another goalie and go from there.”
For Hutchinson, though, everything could change Friday, based on updates on Andersen and Sparks.
“He was out again today,” Babcock said of Andersen, who continued working out away from the team. “Everything is moving along according to our medical people that way, but it is what it is. I thought Hutch gave us an opportunity (against Minnesota), that’s all you can ask of him. Then we’ve got to do our part.”
Hutchinson appears to be the leading candidate to start Saturday against Vancouver.
He barely had time to familiarize himself with Toronto, with the Leafs sending a draft pick to Florida to acquire him earlier this week. Once Sparks was placed in concussion protocol, however, getting Hutchinson up to speed was critical.
“I thought he gave us a chance, that’s all you can ask of a guy,” Babcock said after Thursday’s defeat.
“They called me and told me (Sparks) couldn’t go and so we knew (Hutchinson) was going to play. I asked what his first name was, he told me. I asked him what he liked to be called, he said Hutch. I said, ‘Have fun.’ ”
Hutchinson admitted to being nervous, dreaming of playing for the Leafs having grown up in Barrie, Ont.
“When I got traded here, I hoped for a chance to play for the Leafs.
“Growing up just north of here, it was really exciting to get my first game, but it makes you hungry to get more and get the first win and go from there.”
“I asked what his first name was, he told me. I asked him what he liked to be called, he said Hutch. I said, ‘Have fun.’ ”
MIKE BABCOCK