Development of the Youth

[Fanatic]

The season is only a few games old, but there are some reasons to smile.

Given the Leafs current situation I subscribe to the thinking that if they are going to lose (and miss the playoffs) then they may as well lose big and draft really high. I would much rather finish 15th in the East than 9th. On the other hand, if they somehow manage to make the playoffs that could be useful in the development of the younger guys - some of whom have not seen playoffs in a while.

The reason to smile right now is that, while Gardiner remains in the wings, it is guys like Frattin, JVR and Kadri that are getting it done. On top of that, James Reimer, is making the case that he is absolutely a # 1 goalie.

Yes the season is just starting, but here we have 4 guys that are 25 and younger who are getting it done. Add in Reilly and Gardiner and you start to see a core that could be together for a few years to come.

Winning is always fun. Winning with the youth of this team is even more exciting.

 

[Bullfrog]

Don't forget Kessel is only 25 years old and only three months older than Frattin.

 

[Kin]

I'm not quite as on-board with how Reimer has played so far but I agree that Kadri/Frattin have been the brightest spots of the season.

 

[Fanatic]

Don't forget Kessel is only 25 years old and only three months older than Frattin.

True, but I left him off because right now the Leafs are competing without his production.

But I will say this. I have never liked Kessel, but his comments after last night's game were encouraging. I know it sounds cliche, but he said all that matters is that they won and that he knows the scoring will come. Nothing profound there at all, but something about his attitude as he spoke had me glad to hear it.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

Reimer made a tonne of errors lastnight. He gave the puck away behind his own net 3 times in the 3rd period alone and that 2nd goal was horrendous. Unless he can limit his mistakes, he'll always be wildly inconsistant and we'll never be sure what goalie we're getting.

 

[Fanatic]

Reimer made a tonne of errors lastnight. He gave the puck away behind his own net 3 times in the 3rd period alone and that 2nd goal was horrendous. Unless he can limit his mistakes, he'll always be wildly inconsistant and we'll never be sure what goalie we're getting.

So, unless Reimer can stop making mistakes right now he will always be doomed to make those same mistakes?

 

[bustaheims]

I like Reimer and his play has significantly improved from last season (so far), but, really, what he's shown so far is that he could be a fairly run of the mill #1 goalie, which, I mean, is nice and all, but, nothing to be overly excited about.

 

[Erndog]

I like Reimer and his play has significantly improved from last season (so far), but, really, what he's shown so far is that he could be a fairly run of the mill #1 goalie, which, I mean, is nice and all, but, nothing to be overly excited about.

Right.

It's not as if I sit back and say, "thank God we have Reimer going."  I think he's been decent for sure... but I still hold my breathe quite a bit watching him.  His 5-hole seems to have opened up a little this year (though it's early and may just be a small sampling of goals).

 

[bustaheims]

It's not as if I sit back and say, "thank God we have Reimer going."  I think he's been decent for sure... but I still hold my breathe quite a bit watching him.  His 5-hole seems to have opened up a little this year (though it's early and may just be a small sampling of goals).

He's played well enough to give the Leafs a chance to win every game he's started, which is what unspectacular, run of the mill starting goalies do. He still has his flaws and lets in some questionable goals, but, again, that's what unspectacular, run of the mill starting goalies are like. He doesn't look like the type that can carry a team on his back and make them more than they are, but, he's starting to look like a goalie a truly good team might be able to win with.

 

[nutman]

It's not as if I sit back and say, "thank God we have Reimer going."  I think he's been decent for sure... but I still hold my breathe quite a bit watching him.  His 5-hole seems to have opened up a little this year (though it's early and may just be a small sampling of goals).

He's played well enough to give the Leafs a chance to win every game he's started, which is what unspectacular, run of the mill starting goalies do. He still has his flaws and lets in some questionable goals, but, again, that's what unspectacular, run of the mill starting goalies are like. He doesn't look like the type that can carry a team on his back and make them more than they are, but, he's starting to look like a goalie a truly good team might be able to win with.

Lets hope he is just working out the bugs. We can judge him after 15 games or so, now is a bit early.

 

[Kin]

He's played well enough to give the Leafs a chance to win every game he's started, which is what unspectacular, run of the mill starting goalies do. He still has his flaws and lets in some questionable goals, but, again, that's what unspectacular, run of the mill starting goalies are like. He doesn't look like the type that can carry a team on his back and make them more than they are, but, he's starting to look like a goalie a truly good team might be able to win with.

I think you're kind of underestimating run of the mill #1's. Or, I suppose, I may be taking that phrase as more of a compliment than you're intending. I think that anyone who deserves the title probably should add a little more than just essentially delivering the sort of record that the rest of the team's talent would lead them to. I think that if you're going to rely on a guy as your number one he's got to legitimately win some games. Not to star level, where he's keeping them in every night regardless of how they play, but I'm still waiting for the game from Reimer that makes me think he's got the potential to be that higher end guy.

 

[nutman]

He's played well enough to give the Leafs a chance to win every game he's started, which is what unspectacular, run of the mill starting goalies do. He still has his flaws and lets in some questionable goals, but, again, that's what unspectacular, run of the mill starting goalies are like. He doesn't look like the type that can carry a team on his back and make them more than they are, but, he's starting to look like a goalie a truly good team might be able to win with.

I think you're kind of underestimating run of the mill #1's. Or, I suppose, I may be taking that phrase as more of a compliment than you're intending. I think that anyone who deserves the title probably should add a little more than just essentially delivering the sort of record that the rest of the team's talent would lead them to. I think that if you're going to rely on a guy as your number one he's got to legitimately win some games. Not to star level, where he's keeping them in every night regardless of how they play, but I'm still waiting for the game from Reimer that makes me think he's got the potential to be that higher end guy.

Lets hope he brings that game sat against Boston.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

It's not as if I sit back and say, "thank God we have Reimer going."  I think he's been decent for sure... but I still hold my breathe quite a bit watching him. His 5-hole seems to have opened up a little this year (though it's early and may just be a small sampling of goals).

Yeah, he needs to lock that down, as it may become widely known in the league, if it's not already. He improved his glove hand, so maybe he can remember to keep his stick upright and on the ice. It will be worse if it doesn't get it fixed and it starts costing us game after game.

 

[louisstamos]

It's not as if I sit back and say, "thank God we have Reimer going."  I think he's been decent for sure... but I still hold my breathe quite a bit watching him.  His 5-hole seems to have opened up a little this year (though it's early and may just be a small sampling of goals).

He's played well enough to give the Leafs a chance to win every game he's started, which is what unspectacular, run of the mill starting goalies do. He still has his flaws and lets in some questionable goals, but, again, that's what unspectacular, run of the mill starting goalies are like. He doesn't look like the type that can carry a team on his back and make them more than they are, but, he's starting to look like a goalie a truly good team might be able to win with.

Lets hope he is just working out the bugs. We can judge him after 15 games or so, now is a bit early.

Agreed.  And we do have to remember that he hadn't played competitive hockey in nearly a year, and is only 4 games in, but he does look decent...way better than last year, at the very least.

I echo Erndog's sentiments, though, about the 5 hole.  He seems to be very slow, or completely ignoring, getting his paddle down to cover it.  But I can only assume that St. Croix and Reimer will work out those kinks as time goes on...he's a much better goalie coach than I am.

 

[pmrules]

I think what I want to see from the Team's goaltending this season (read : Reimer) this season is in and around average goaltending.  What I mean by that, is in and around that 12-18 mark in the key goaltending stats (SV%, Wins, GAA etc.) out of the games 30ish number 1 goalies.  I also want to see consistency and dependability, which I take to mean the ability to make that key save when the team needs it the most.  We have not seen consistent goaltending by this team since the days of Cujo/Eddie, save for that short run that Reimer had, so I know he can do it (i know its a small sample size).  I think slowly moving from the bottom 10 to the middle of the pack, that would be the stepping stone for him to be hopefully be a regular in the top 10 out of 30 in those stats in a few years which is what I am hoping he becomes.

If he is not good enough to lift the team to even these middle of the road expectations of mine, then I seriously got to reconsider his future here.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

He's still got to get his SV% on the PK up higher, and really his even strength SV% too, but I think he can do so (at least in terms of the latter).

 

[Zee]

He's still got to get his SV% on the PK up higher, and really his even strength SV% too, but I think he can do so (at least in terms of the latter).

Hey Reimer is better than Cory Schneider so far this season!!  Heyoooooooooooooooooooooooo, hi Mike Gillis!

 

[Corn Flake]

I think it's a really encouraging sign to see the young players moving up from the farm team after a few years of development and actually establishing themselves as players who will contribute.

So many people blew their brains out over Kadri not being up but he is clearly at a place where he is ready for a pretty significant role on this team.  He was NOT this player in the previous years he was called up.  He has gone from a one dimensional puck hog who thought he could deke out 3 defenders on his own to a much more complete player, far less selfish with the puck and seems to understand how to make it work offensively in the NHL vs. what worked in junior. 

I think Reimer deserves our patience like the other young players do.  He's going to make mistakes and have bad goals - as much a product of inexperience as any other forward or d-man prospect.  He is clearly playing at a level far higher than he was last year.. the confidence level is night and day.  I think he should be given some time to see whether he can become a legit #1 who is almost impossible to beat vs. what he is now, which is solid but will have a gaffe or two per game that can cost the team at times.

 

[Kin]

I think Reimer deserves our patience like the other young players do.  He's going to make mistakes and have bad goals - as much a product of inexperience as any other forward or d-man prospect.  He is clearly playing at a level far higher than he was last year.. the confidence level is night and day.  I think he should be given some time to see whether he can become a legit #1 who is almost impossible to beat vs. what he is now, which is solid but will have a gaffe or two per game that can cost the team at times.

The issue for me is much less about the occasional gaffe than it is the lack of the occasional moment of brilliance.

 

[Fanatic]

I think Reimer deserves our patience like the other young players do.  He's going to make mistakes and have bad goals - as much a product of inexperience as any other forward or d-man prospect.  He is clearly playing at a level far higher than he was last year.. the confidence level is night and day.  I think he should be given some time to see whether he can become a legit #1 who is almost impossible to beat vs. what he is now, which is solid but will have a gaffe or two per game that can cost the team at times.

The issue for me is much less about the occasional gaffe than it is the lack of the occasional moment of brilliance.

I think that is fair. I recall seeing some of that from Reimer about 2 years ago, but not really since then. I still get a feeling he is just finding his way. If he gets more playing time and stays healthy then I would agree that sometimes he needs to be able to steal a game here and there.