Maple Leafs make a change in goal for the first time under Sheldon Keefe.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have just made a significant roster move and it represents the first time the organization has made a swap in goal under head coach Sheldon Keefe. I mention the connection to Keefe if only due to the fact that a large portion of the roster has appeared to be revitalized under the newly appointed Maple Leafs head coach, and I suspect that the Leafs may be hoping for a similar revitalization between the pipes moving forward under Keefe. 

First, according to a report from Joshua Clipperton of the Canadian Press the Toronto Maple Leafs have sent goaltender Kasimir Kaskisuo down to the American Hockey League on a loan to their AHL affiliate team the Toronto Marlies. I must admit that I feel more than a little bad for Kaskisuo who was only given just a single start in front of a lifeless Toronto Maple Leafs squad that completely left him out to dry. In his one appearance for the Leafs Kaskisuo recorded a 6.00 goals against average and a rather poor .842 save percentage, but again I don't think anyone would attempt to argue that the team in front of him did anything other than throw him right to the wolves. Hopefully the young man will get another chance at proving himself at the National Hockey League level somewhere in the not so distant future. 

The Maple Leafs of course have also made a corresponding move and that move will be to bring up veteran backup goaltender Michael Hutchinson.  Hutchinson has also had a rather poor performance in goal for the Maple Leafs this season with 6 appearances in which he has recorded a 4.44 goals against average and a rather ugly .879 save percentage to go with it. Obviously the hope here is that with the team playing better under Sheldon Keefe that Hutchinson will be able to get his groove back and there is good reason to suspect that he may very well do that. Since being sent down to the AHL to play with the Toronto Marlies Hutchinson has appeared in 3 games and has posted a 1.95 goals against average and a much improved .942 save percentage to go along with it. 

It is also worth mentioning that while he performed well for the Marlies Hutchinson was doing so under the guidance of their head coach who at the time was of course Sheldon Keefe.