Garret Sparks played in three different leagues this season. He had just one game in the ECHL with the Orlando Solar Bears, 21 games in the AHL with the Toronto Marlies, and most important of all: he played 17 games in the NHL for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Save percentages varied throughout his time in the NHL: some games were good, same games were bad. But until he posted his farewell message on Instagram with the accompanying picture, I'd completely forgotten just how good it started off.
All the way back on Nov. 30, 2015, Sparks made his NHL debut. With it, he picked up his first ever NHL shutout.
In the 99 years the Leafs franchise has existed, no goaltender had ever made his NHL debut with them a shutout - until Sparks did. And upon learning that fact, an already-emotional moment cemented itself as one of the best moments of the season.
No, the Leafs didn't have a lot going for them on NHL ice this year. They weren't supposed to. but they had that - and that was beyond cool.
Sparks is a restricted free agent, but it's easy to see the Leafs bringing back the 22-year-old. Here's to a great 2016-17 season - may it be just as incredible.