Should Raygan Kirk Be Toronto's Starter?

The Toronto Sceptres have 14 points on the season, and half of those have come with Raygan Kirk in the crease. Considering the netminder has only started four of Toronto's 12 games this season, it is a considerable contribution.

So far this season, Raygan Kirk, who won an NCAA national championship last season with the Ohio State Buckeyes, has defeated the Boston Fleet, fell in overtime to the Montreal Victoire, and picked up her biggest win to date in front of 19,102 fans at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. Her 17 save win in font of the PWHL's most attended game of the season, also sparked another question: should Raygan Kirk be Toronto's starter?

Unlike some rookie goaltenders, this question is not about the future, it's about the present.

Kirk has been an aggressive presence in Toronto's net, challenging opposing shooters, pushing rebounds out of harm's way, and most importantly, making timely stops. Her ability to steal a save at a moment that by all regards should have been a goal is what Toronto has needed.

Kristen Campbell Opens The Door

Raygan Kirk is as much a benefactor of her own play as she is of Kristen Campbell's continued struggles. Campbell struggled to open the year last season, and this year is in a similar funk. She's reportedly battled injury, and lost her spot on Team Canada for the upcoming Rivalry Series to New York's Corinne Schroeder. If her play doesn't rebound, as it did last year, Campbell may also lose her starting role in Toronto. With potential expansion coming, choosing who to expose in an expansion draft could see Campbell's future in Toronto in jeopardy if Kirk takes over.

Right now the Sceptres are desparate to string together a few wins, meaning Toronto will almost certainly ride the hot hand in hopes of finding themselves in a playoff spot.

Does Kirk Have What It Takes?

Right now Toronto's netminders rank 7th (Kirk) and 11th (Campbell) in the six team league statistically. Every team in the PWHL has a netminder ahead of Raygan Kirk statistically, and the Ottawa Charge have two. Every team in the PWHL aside from Minnesota has two netminders ahead of Kristen Campbell. To ask Kirk to step in and carry the load 100% may feel unrealistic, but it's not impossible. If Toronto can pull through to win a few toss up games while she settles in, it's only experience at this level holding the rookie goalie back. Kirk has been on Hockey Canada's radar for years and was nearly unbeatable at the NCAA level last year, including her stunning 1-0 shutout over Wisconsin in the NCAA final. The only other option the team has is CJ Jackson who they have yet to give ice time to. If Toronto does not feel comfortable down the stretch, they could pursue a trade or look to add a goaltender who declared for the 2024 PWHL Draft, although that list is thin.

For now, Toronto will likely ride whichever goalie is hotter in the moment, which could lead to Raygan Kirk taking over as Toronto's starter.