Toronto Marlies Sign Cal Heeter to an AHL Deal
By Omar L
The Toronto Marlies shore up their depth between the pipes signing Cal Heeter to a one-year AHL contract for the upcoming season.
It may surprise many, but this was a signing the Toronto Marlies needed to make. Not so much for the player himself, rather than the circumstances of it.
Cal Heeter has spent most of his career outside of the NHL. The 28-year-old has a total of 89 AHL games to his name, including one with the Marlies on loan in 2015. His most recent stint was with the Grand Rapids Griffins. Heeter went 10-2-0 in 12 games sporting a .933 Sv%. He also had a brief stint in the NHL with the Philadelphia Flyers in 2014.
Heeter could start down in the ECHL with the Orlando Solar Bears this season or just remain with the Marlies as a third netminder. He’ll replace Kasimir Kaskisuo who is set to start the season with the Marlies after an impressive performance in the Calder Cup Playoffs. Kaskisuo along with Garret Sparks will be the goal tandem hopefully all season long.
Looking deeper into the signing
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Now we get into the other circumstances of this signing. Sparks has had a bad record with health lately. If he wasn’t injured, it would’ve been him playing in the playoffs last season ahead of Kaskisuo. Considering the fact that Antoine Bibeau is no longer with the organization, the Marlies have no other call up options.
The Solar Bears’ goaltenders Kris Joyce, Ryan Massa, or Mitch Gillam don’t have any AHL experience. However, Heeter does and would be a more confident option to step in. Additionally, there could be a situation in the NHL with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Say for example, Curtis McElhinney struggles and is not giving the Leafs an opportunity to win. Perhaps Toronto gives Garret Sparks another shot to be the back-up and send down McElhinney. If McElhinney clears, then there’s no problem. If a team decides to take a chance on him, like the Leafs did last season, and claim him, then there’s a whole on the Marlies. Fortunately Heeter would be able to fill that whole.
Overall, it’s a multi purpose signing. The Marlies are adding another piece who may have success with them, but at the same time the organization is covering their ends on both sides.
Next: Marlies Projected Roster
What do you think of this signing? Do you think will see Heeter play in any Marlies games? Let us know your thoughts in the comments