Report: Leafs and goalie Sparks nearing contract extension

According to a report from NHL insider Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, the Toronto Maple Leafs are expected to sign backup goaltender Garret Sparks to a contract extension.

The deal is expected to be just a one year pact worth $750,000. 

Check it out:

The 25 year old net minder has had an up and down season in his first full NHL campaign, putting up seven wins in 14 starts. His 3.09 goals against average and .902 save percentage are among the worst stats in the NHL, but there’s reason to believe that he can put up better numbers. Last season with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies, Sparks put up a remarkable 1.79 goals against average and .936 save percentage.

UPDATE: And the deal is done!

Read below for the official announcement from the team:

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced today that the team has signed goaltender Garret Sparks to a one-year contract extension. The contract will carry an average annual value of $750,000 in 2019-20.

Sparks, 25, has posted a 7-5-1 record with a 3.09 goals-against average, a .902 save percentage and one shutout in 14 appearances with the Maple Leafs this season. In 2017-18, Sparks won the Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award as the American Hockey League's outstanding goaltender after leading the AHL in goals against average (1.79), save percentage (.936) and wins (31) while helping the Toronto Marlies capture the 2018 Calder Cup championship.

Sparks was originally selected by Toronto in the seventh round (189th overall) of the 2011 NHL Draft.