Tip of the Tower
Fansided

Toronto Marlies: Garret Sparks wins Baz Bastien Award for stellar season

By James Reeve

TORONTO, ON - MARCH 17: Garret Sparks #40 of the Toronto Maple Leafs warms up prior to action against the Montreal Canadiens in an NHL game at the Air Canada Centre on March 17, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - MARCH 17: Garret Sparks #40 of the Toronto Maple Leafs warms up prior to action against the Montreal Canadiens in an NHL game at the Air Canada Centre on March 17, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Toronto Marlies starting goaltender Garret Sparks has been rewarded for an exceptional season, being named the best goaltender in the AHL this year.

The Baz Bastien Memorial Award is named after the former Toronto Maple Leafs goalie and Pittsburgh Penguin General Manager. It is given to the most outstanding goaltender in the AHL each season and this season is going to Toronto Marlies’ netminder Garret Sparks.

Previous winners of the award include Matt Murray, Jake Allen, Ryan Miller and former Leafs great Felix Potvin.

The award is a fully deserved accolade for Sparks, who was also recently named as an AHL All-Star.

The 24-year-old has helped the Toronto Maple Leafs’ affiliate win the North Division with a league-high 106 points this season, posting a personal a record of 30-9-1-1.

During a 42-game spell this season, he led the league in goals against with 1.81 on average, had a save percentage of .936 and even tied for a league-best six shutouts.

More from Tip of the Tower

Sparks’ performances between the pipes this season has seen the Marlies also sport the best defence in the league, conceding just 162 goals in 73 games, six fewer than the Tuscon Roadrunners.

His 30 regular season wins have now set a franchise record for the Marlies, with only Bobby Perreault breaking the 30-win barrier as part of the Maple Leafs’ farm system (Rochester, 1967/68 season).

The team will now look ahead to the playoffs, with a real chance of winning the coveted Calder Cup this time around.

For Sparks, the Baz Bastien Award is the pinnacle of what could be best described as a real change of fortunes for the young American.

It wasn’t so long ago that Sparks was suspended by the Maple Leafs organisation for comments he made Facebook, and his future with the team looked bleak at best.

He was injured, lost his starting spot to Antoine Bibeau, and had failed to grasp the opportunity to stick around in the NHL.

Since then, Sparks has worked hard to prove he is capable of playing at the top level.

His rise from the depths of the ECHL, up to play sparingly in the NHL and now being named as the best goalie in the AHL is truly one that fans should be behind.

His performances for the Marlies this season will no doubt have helped his chances of becoming the Leafs’ backup in the near future, but a strong performance in the playoffs could all but guarantee that Sparks’ name will be called before the end of next season.

Next: Leafs Playoff Preview Podcast

What do you think, Leafs and Toronto Marlies fans? Will Sparks be able to make the jump up to the NHL next season? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Home/Toronto Marlies