Toronto Maple Leafs: Will Calvin Pickard be claimed back?

Goaltender Calvin Pickard has been placed on waivers, meaning there’s a possibility the Toronto Maple Leafs will claim him back.

The Toronto Maple Leafs originally placed Calvin Pickard on waivers at the start of the season, in the hope of sending him down to the Toronto Marlies.

Pickard helped the Marlies win the Calder Cup last season, averaging 2.31 goals against and a save percentage of .918 in 33 regular season appearances.

With Garret Sparks stepping up to the Maple Leafs full-time, the starting job with the Marlies was effectively Pickard’s to lose.

However, the Philadelphia Flyers, in desperate need of help between the pipes, claimed Pickard when he was placed on waivers – leaving the Marlies with a precarious situation of their own.

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Now, the 26-year-old finds himself back on waivers after a largely disappointing spell with the Flyers – which saw the Leafs themselves light Pickard up for six goals.

In 11 regular season games, Pickard averaged 4.01 goals against and had a save percentage of just .863.

But with the Marlies still needing some more stability in the net, could it be possible the Toronto Maple Leafs try to claim him back?

With the Leafs being the team that originally placed Pickard on waivers, they will be able to send him straight to the minors if they are successful and are the only team to make a claim for him.

Although he had a difficult time with a poor-performing Flyers team, Pickard is a known quantity to the Leafs and would serve them well with the reigning AHL champions.

The one thing that might disrupt this potential scenario, is if a team such as the Arizona Coyotes attempt to claim Pickard.

The Coyotes are without both starter Antti Raanta and backup Darcy Kuemper, after both received injuries recently.

Rick Tocchet’s team could use some extra help in net, with Raanta already missing extended periods of time this season and last.

Pickard, who comes very cheaply at just $800,000 this season, could be the perfect short-term solution for a team such as the Coyotes.

For the Toronto Maple Leafs, the hope might still be that no other team attempts to claim Pickard and they are able to take him back and send him down to the Marlies without any further complications.

What do you think Leafs Nation? Will Pickard be claimed back? Or will he end up on another team for the short-term? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.