Lamoriello: Maple Leafs must figure out what they have in Sparks
You're up, Garret Sparks.
Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Lou Lamoriello addressed the media Saturday afternoon after trading James Reimer - his best goaltender - to the San Jose Sharks in a four-player deal that netted his club a conditional 2018 fourth-round draft pick.
Lamoriello talked about the return - mainly the draft pick that could, at best, turn into a third-round selection - since many Maple Leafs supporters aren't too happy with it.
On return for Reimer, Lamoriello said there was not a "real need" for a goalie on playoff teams, or there were cap constraints at his price.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) February 27, 2016
With Reimer's contract expiring and Toronto playing out the stretch with a roster already resembling that of an AHL team, Lamoriello said it's time to look to the future in goal, specifically in Sparks and Antoine Bibeau.
"We needed to take a look at our minor-league goalies who are playing extremely well," he said, according to TSN's Frank Seravalli.
Garrett Sparks will be in Montreal tonight as the #Leafs backup. Lamoriello said they want to find out what Sparks "can or can't bring."
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) February 27, 2016
Sparks played five games for Toronto this season, winning three, and recorded a shutout and .915 save percentage. Only 22, he has a .925 save percentage in 20 games with the AHL's Toronto Marlies this season. Drafted 190th overall in the seventh round in 2011, Sparks could be the goalie of the future. Lamoriello wants to find out.
"We have to take a look at Sparks right now and see if how he performed earlier is the real thing," Lamoriello said, according to The Canadian Press' Jonas Siegel.
Bibeau will turn 22 in May and was a sixth-round pick, 172nd overall, in 2013. He has a .904 save percentage in 25 games with the Marlies this season, after posting a .913 save percentage in the AHL in 31 games last season. He's yet to see NHL action.
Lamoriello says possibility that pending UFAs could re-sign in summer despite being traded now is something he keeps in mind
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) February 27, 2016