Posted by After only two regular season games, the Toronto Maple Leafs are already mired in a goaltending controversy.
Time to step up your game, Frank!
Why?
I understand that Vesa Toskala has not been the goalie that he was meant to be when he signed with the Leafs, but I really don’t think he is to blame for the two losses incurred this year.
Sure, the loss against the Habs was a tough one, but the Washington Capitals? This is a team that has legitimate playoff contenders shaking in their skates, forget about an on-the-cusp team like the Leafs in the opening week of the season.
Shouldn’t the defense hold some accountability? The new acquisitions have been far from responsible. It’s not like they are rookie defensemen struggling to get their bearings: these are proven–if not highly-touted–veterans. They have looked scattered and undisciplined, the opposite of how they are supposed to be performing.
It is not my intent to take away from “The Monster”, Jonas Gustavsson. He has proven himself to be a stellar phenom in the Swedish Elite League and it has even been said that he was the best goalie outside of the NHL. But he has yet to start in the Big Show. If he does and, hypothetically, he lets in three goals on eight shots, what happens then? Who is left to blame?
The scrutiny should start to direct it’s attention elsewhere. It is unfair to a goalie to pin the entire onus of a loss on him. Some fans are already calling the season a lost cause if Toskala remains the starter.
I hate to break this to you, Leafs Nation, but you want Vesa to be your starter. You want him to be a solid goalie that earns the $4 million he’s being paid. He’s already starting to lose his confidence, in part because no one seems to have any confidence in him.
Without Toskala mustering up some wins, we are left with Gustavsson: an inexperienced goalie with the POTENTIAL to be a great one. Nothing is set in stone.
If the blue-liners don’t start stepping up and playing how they are supposed to with their big, shiny, new contracts, then what are we left with?
Not a whole lot, that’s what.
Tonight, the Leafs face off against the Ottawa Senators. It is a crucial game for both Vesa Toskala and Jonas Gustavsson, regardless of who ends up starting.
It’s time for the big shutdown D to start shutting down the opposition.
Do the Leafs need to go to school?/Photo by jbcurio - Flickr
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This isn’t about just two games (http://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/2009/10/1/1057116/the-maple-leafs-goaltending-dilemma) it’s about two years and 121 appearances of mostly mediocre goaltending.
It’s hard to play proper shutdown defence when you’re worried that 40 foot wrist shots are going to flutter in or when the 1st, 5th, and 7th shots of the game go in.
Gustavsson might not be the saviour but we need to find out as soon as possible because if he’s not the Leafs need to do something to solve the problem in net. They can’t hit the lottery when Boston owns their pick.
I concur 100%