So this is bad.

Both Michael Hutchinson and Kasimir Kaskisuo have been called up to the Toronto Maple Leafs from the AHL on an emergency basis ahead of today’s 2 p.m. game against the Minnesota Wild. Hutchinson is expected to get the start. He has already played four games in the NHL this season for the Florida Panthers.

Hutchinson was acquired in trade on December 29, and has started once for the Marlies.


Maple Leafs acquire goalie Michael Hutchinson


We were always expecting one of these two goalies to make the short drive up Lakeshore to Scotiabank Arena because of the fact that Frederik Andersen is still dealing with his Christmas groin injury. But both? Why both?

The answer came swiftly.

Garret Sparks, the Leafs de facto starter, is now also out with an injury. Sparks is in concussion protocol after taking a puck to the mask in yesterday’s practice. He’s going to be reevaluated soon, but it sounds like there was no chance he was making it back for today’s game.

Frederik Andersen has been placed on IR retroactive to December 23, which means he can be recalled at any time, since that’s already over 10 days. The move was necessary to add extra bodies to the roster for one day.

According to emergency rules, both Kaskisuo and Hutchinson will have to go back to the Marlies as soon as the game against the Wild is done. The Toronto Marlies play a back-to-back-to-back on the road against the Binghamton Devils, Syracuse Crunch, and Charlotte Checkers starting Friday, so one of them will need to be there to backup Eamon McAdam, who is still in the AHL.


Chris Mueller scores in OT to give Michael Hutchinson a win in his first Marlies game


If neither Sparks nor Andersen are ready to return to the crease in time for Saturday’s game at home against the Vancouver Canucks, expect the Marlies to have to call up Michael Garteig from the ECHL Newfoundland Growlers or sign a free agent to an AHL tryout. Considering the Growlers also only have two goalies available, it’s likely they go for an ATO goalie. It’s a shame Justin Peters is in the Czech Republic now, they could really use him.

UPDATE: Marlies have called up Garteig from the Growlers, who are in or heading to Florida for a couple of road games of their own:

This prevents the need to have one of Kaskisuo or Hutchinson travel right after the game today.

The Leafs are allowed to have goalies up with the team on an emergency basis for practice as well, so they might need one or both of these two for Friday as well.