Sparks and McBackup both signed for 2 years.

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

LeafsPR

Not sure of 2 years for McBackup.

 

[ZBBM]

McElhinney is as good an option as any. Sparks is meh.

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

McElhinney is as good an option as any. Sparks is meh.

He absolutely isn't, in fact he's been well below league average over the past couple of years.

He's only making 850k though so he can be buried should alternative options become available.

 

[Kin]

I'm not as confident in McBackup stepping into a starting role in case of injury as I might have been with some of the other options out there but as a 15-20 game a year guy I think he's a pretty solid call.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Would have preferred a 1-year deal, but McBackup can also get sent to the Marlies if something better comes around.

 

[ZBBM]

I'm not as confident in McBackup stepping into a starting role in case of injury as I might have been with some of the other options out there but as a 15-20 game a year guy I think he's a pretty solid call.

Yeah. If Andersen got hurt long term they'd have to bring in somebody else anyway other than Sparks.

 

[Bender]

Well this is disappointing. Would like to see what Elliott got. Then again he might be angling for a starter role.

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[CarltonTheBear]

Well this is disappointing. Would like to see what Elliott got. Then again he might be angling for a starter role.

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He's going to Philly, where he'll be in at least a platoon situation with Neuvirth. 2 years, $2.75mil cap hit.

 

[Zee]

McBackup contract is under 900K per season so he can be buried with 0 cap hit if he's a total flop.

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

Even with a healthy Andersen, not sure I'm comfortable with McBackup playing a quarter of the teams games and if injury strikes Andy, other teams have you over a barrel trying to find something more stable.

 

[lc9]

Kind of surprised with the reaction.  This is great for the leafs.  Cap friendly and costs them nothing to cast off if Anderson gets hurt and they have to move in another direction.  This is a good start to the day.

 

[Kin]

Kind of surprised with the reaction.  This is great for the leafs.  Cap friendly and costs them nothing to cast off if Anderson gets hurt and they have to move in another direction.  This is a good start to the day.

At best it's the status quo. I don't think it's a bad move but this is an area where the Leafs had potential for improvement and didn't find it.

 

[lc9]

Kind of surprised with the reaction.  This is great for the leafs.  Cap friendly and costs them nothing to cast off if Anderson gets hurt and they have to move in another direction.  This is a good start to the day.

At best it's the status quo. I don't think it's a bad move but this is an area where the Leafs had potential for improvement and didn't find it.

True.  But this isn't a position I would have considered a priority in upgrading if it was going to cost too much.  Status quo is the right decision for right now.  Having said that, if they don't improve the D or underwhelm the rest of the way then in hindsight it might have made since to improve. 

I am very OK with this, and think it's the best move for right now.

 

[Kin]

Kind of surprised with the reaction.  This is great for the leafs.  Cap friendly and costs them nothing to cast off if Anderson gets hurt and they have to move in another direction.  This is a good start to the day.

At best it's the status quo. I don't think it's a bad move but this is an area where the Leafs had potential for improvement and didn't find it.

True.  But this isn't a position I would have considered a priority in upgrading if it was going to cost too much.  Status quo is the right decision for right now.  Having said that, if they don't improve the D or underwhelm the rest of the way then in hindsight it might have made since to improve. 

I think that's only true if you think Andersen's year cemented him as a guy with absolutely no question marks behind him and I'm not sure that it did. It's not a "priority" the way that improving the defense is or dealing JVR or anything but those aren't things that are best accomplished today necessarily. Finding a reasonably priced improvement, and I think it's safe to say that none of the options available would have broken the bank, would have been a good outcome for today considering the relative lack of impact players available as free agents.

 

[Bender]

Mirtle made a case a few days ago stating an upgrade on the backup is likely money better spent than an upgrade in 3rd & 4th lines.

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[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

Mirtle made a case a few days ago stating an upgrade on the backup is likely money better spent than an upgrade in 3rd & 4th lines.

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Indeed, trusting a quarter of your games to someone below average is not a smart decision.

 

[herman]

Mirtle made a case a few days ago stating an upgrade on the backup is likely money better spent than an upgrade in 3rd & 4th lines.

Indeed, trusting a quarter of your games to someone below average is not a smart decision.

If only we had 2.5M floating around somewhere.

 

[herman]

Jeff Veillette pointing out that the 2-year term is to help at least one of them go through waivers to serve on the Marlies.