Vegas Golden Knights: Garret Sparks eager for fresh start in Sin City

Garret Sparks is determined to turn his back on recent history and instead focus on making the most of his opportunity with the Vegas Golden Knights.

The goalie found himself on the move earlier in the week as part of a bizarre trade that saw the Vegas Golden Knights send a fourth round pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft along with David Clarkson‘s hefty contract to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Sparks.

It was a move that was layered with intricate complexities but it also served multiple purposes, including clearing some much-needed cap space for the Golden Knights as they continue to pursue a return for Russian stud Nikita Gusev, while it gave the Leafs flexibility in their ongoing battle to thrash out a new contract with Mitch Marner, who led the team in points last year with 94 (26 goals, 68 assists).

Not only did Vegas get some cap relief but they also bolstered their depth chart when it comes to the netminding department, acquiring a player in Sparks who still has plenty of potential to be tapped into. At 26-years-old, he’s not yet hit his prime and still has time to iron out some obvious wrinkles in his game.

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He’ll likely start 2019-20 in the AHL as competition for Oscar Dansk with the Chicago Wolves, but he will also get the opportunity to challenge Malcolm Subban for the backup role to Marc-Andre Fleury during training camp. Competition can only be a good thing as they say.

It was a smart move by the Knights however you look at it, though, given that should Fleury or Subban go down with injury at any point next year, they can at least fall back on someone in Sparks who has a chunk of games in the NHL under his belt. Plus, with Subban due to become a restricted free agent again next summer and harbouring aspirations of winning a starting job, Vegas will have the chance to assess Sparks for a whole year and work out whether or not he is good enough to become a full-time backup in the majors.

On last year’s evidence you would have to say that Sparks is probably more suited to the AHL, given the struggles he endured when given a chance in the NHL with the Leafs. In 17 starts, he posted a 8-9-1 record with a 3.15 Goals Against Average and a .902 Save Percentage. That was in stark contrast to his exploits with the Toronto Marlies where he backstopped them to the Calder Cup Finals in 2017-18, going 14-5 with a 2.22 Goals Against Average and a .915 Save Percentage.

In addition to the above, Sparks also won the Aldege “Baz” Bastien Memorial Award as the AHL’s most outstanding goaltender after carving out a spectacular regular season record in 17-18, putting up a 1.79 GAA and a .936 Sv%.

However, that success hasn’t translated to the NHL as of yet and, after winning the backup job with the Leafs prior to the start of last year, big things were expected of the 190th overall pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft as an understudy to Frederik Andersen.

But, despite showing flashes of promise here and there, it turned out to be a tough and disappointing year for Sparks who, in addition to his struggles on the ice, also attracted criticism for some of his comments to the media in relation to his team-mates.

Not only that but he also suffered a concussion after being hit in the head by a wayward shot from team-mate William Nylander during practice on Jan, 3, before coming back and posting a poor record of 2-7-0 with a 3.30 GAA and a .899 Sv%. Sparks was assigned to work before the postseason following that poor run of form, and he only returned for Games 1 and 2 of the Eastern Conference First Round matchup against Boston Bruins due to the fact that backup goalie Michael Hutchinson was on a leave of absence ahead of the birth of his child.

Now his time in Toronto is over, Sparks is looking to resurrect his career and in an interview with Tracey Myers at NHL.com, the goaltender is now excited about making the most of his new opportunity with the Vegas Golden Knights.

“All I’ve wanted is a fair opportunity, come (training) camp, to try and make the team, and I think that I’ll get a better opportunity (with Vegas) than I would have in Toronto. At the end of the day, that’s what you’re looking for as a player.”

Vegas now have solid depth in the crease with Malcolm Subban having proven credentials as a capable backup to Marc-Andre Fleury, going 8-10-2 with a 2.93 Goals Against Average and a .902 Save Percentage last year, in addition to one shutout. They also have Oscar Dansk who went 27-13-2 with a 2.46 GAA and a .913 Sv% with the Chicago Wolves in the AHL in 2018-19, and Sparks is relishing the competition he will face to win the backup job in Sin City.

“They’re both guys I’ve played against in the (Ontario Hockey League). Two guys I’m familiar with, two really good goalies and great competition.”

That is a good sign for the Golden Knights who should now see a more determined Sparks turn up for training camp. It is clear that a fire has been lit beneath him and he appears to have that burning fire in his belly judging by these quotes.

“I just think that it’s going to take another level from what I’ve even done in the past to be the goalie that I say I want to be, to move the way that I say I want to move, and that’s just going to take a lot of work. I’m in the middle of that process now and I think I’ll enjoy that process a little bit more and really take to heart.”

Sparks also spoke to Tracey Myers about how tough it was in Toronto in the latter stages of last year from a mental aspect, but he’s focussed on now fulfilling his dream of making it in the NHL with the Vegas Golden Knights.

“I mean, you realize your dream of playing in the NHL, and then you know, as the season goes on, it gets harder day by day. It’s a grind, physically and emotionally. You could be on the best team in the league, but you’re still going to face adversity at certain points. The guys in Toronto that I’ve talked to since being moved, I’ve had nothing but positivity and keep on the objective that we had. I hope they realize their dreams. But now I’m trying to realize mine somewhere else.”

It was a year to forget for Sparks overall but he’s now got a chance to start afresh in new surroundings on another Stanley Cup contender and battle to prove that he truly belongs in the NHL. Training camp will give Sparks the first opportunity to impress the Vegas Golden Knights coaching staff, who now have plenty of competition among their goalies which can only be a positive going forward.