The Maple Leafs had the top goaltending tandem at the minor league level in Garret Sparks and Calvin Pickard. Both players put up strong numbers that should have them on the radar to push for the backup spot against Curtis McElhinney in training camp.
However, both of them also have to clear waivers to make it back to the minor league level. With a handful of teams around the league potentially still on the lookout for upgrades to their number two netminder, it’s no surprise that Toronto is trying to be proactive to see if they can take advantage. In an interview with TSN 1050 (audio link), James Mirtle of The Athletic reports that the team has been shopping Pickard:
“Calvin Pickard has been offered around the league in trade talks, other teams have been saying that. So, you know they are looking to ease that logjam a little bit.”
The Maple Leafs acquired Pickard from Vegas early last season to give them some extra insurance between the pipes. While he only made one appearance with the big club, he did fare quite well with the Marlies in the AHL, posting a 2.31 GAA and a .918 SV% in 33 games. However, he was the clear number two option behind Sparks in the postseason.
That said, Pickard still has 87 career NHL contests under his belt over the past four seasons with reasonable results – a 2.78 GAA and a .913 SV%, numbers that are typically close to the NHL average which should help garner some interest. Toronto also re-signed him earlier this summer to a reasonable cap hit of $800K which could also endear him to some cap-strapped teams.
Given the fact he needs to pass through waivers to get back to the AHL, is currently fourth on the depth chart, and the presence of multiple veterans in free agency, the asking price in a trade shouldn’t be particularly high. Although they likely wouldn’t get much in return, moving Pickard in the coming weeks would allow Toronto to alleviate their current logjam and get something for someone they’ll have to risk losing for nothing by early October. While Kari Lehtonen and Steve Mason are drawing the most attention among available goaltenders, Pickard’s name appears to be in the mix as well.
I don’t know why the Leafs bothered to trade a pick to Vegas for him in the first place. They already had Sparks in the minors. What a waste.
it was for Lindberg and a 6th. not like they gave up a star and may not have even given up a future NHLer.
It was still a waste unless they get something like a 6th or higher in return. If they lose him to the waiver wire that’s even worse. Most teams interested in Pickard (if there are any) aren’t going to give up an asset when they know they can get him for nothing at the end of training camp.
Doesn’t hurt to have the extra depth though. Maybe the thought process in the Toronto front office was that if Anderson or McElhinney suffered an injury that they would call up Pickard to be the injury replacement over Sparks (this way Sparks can continue to get significant playing time in the AHL as opposed to possibly riding the bench in the NHL).
Trade happened because no one expected Mcelinney to have the season he did. Many people already wrote him off once the trade happened. But it’s not like the Leafs lost anything. Depth at the goaltender position is never a bad thing to cover up for injuries.
Not a waste. It’s called depth. They did win the Calder Cup. You idiot.
Toronto needs help defensively. Pickard and an expiring contract to NYR for Brendan Smith and a draft pick
Smith doesn’t help Toronto at all, especially with his contract. While he was in Detroit, many of us thought he should be switched to winger.
OMG Brendan Smith. Dude can’t even dress with the Wolf Pack.
They all want our battleships but sending us their rowboats.