• For users coming over from tmlfans.ca your username will remain the same but you will need to use the password reset feature (check your spam folder) on the login page in order to set your password. If you encounter issues, email Rick couchmanrick@gmail.com

Goaltending conundrum

Busta Reims said:
Sarge said:
Kypreos at the intermission says the Leafs are looking around for goalies... Suggested (among others) Hiller.

Unless he's coming with Bobby Ryan, no thanks.

Seconded.  I hardly regard Hiller as an established #1.
 
Zanzibar Buck-Buck McFate said:
Seconded.  I hardly regard Hiller as an established #1.

Yup. Thanks largely to recurring vertigo issues, he's only had one season where he started more than 46 game. He also has a pretty hefty contract attached to him and has been pretty bad this season. No appeal there.
 
Busta Reims said:
Zanzibar Buck-Buck McFate said:
Seconded.  I hardly regard Hiller as an established #1.

Yup. Thanks largely to recurring vertigo issues, he's only had one season where he started more than 46 game. He also has a pretty hefty contract attached to him and has been pretty bad this season. No appeal there.

At this point Reimer versus Hiller is no contest to me, agreed.
 
Hockeycentral pannel has no idea what they are talking about.  I wouldn't mind harding if we could get him at low cost (we can't) but trying for hiller or nitimakki is just retarded.  Goaltenders are still young and have untapped potential, and as young goaltenders need to develop consistancy.  Plus the horrid penealty kill is putting a number on their save % and gaa.
 
Yeah, I'm inclined to improve other areas (like secondary scoring) first but if I can improve the goaltending somehow, I do it.
 
Sarge said:
Kypreos at the intermission says the Leafs are looking around for goalies... Suggested (among others) Hiller.

I like the Kipper.  He seems to have a decent head on his shoulders, but that comment bothered me as well.  The problem is not in the goaltending, but rather in the defensive strategy employed by RW.  A lot of GA against the Leafs are coming from point shots because the d-man has time to unload a shot, not just on the PK but on even strength as well.  If the Leafs improve their defensive system, the GA will go down. 
 
I'm not shocked that Burke would be looking at a goalie as the Leafs certainly aren't getting strong-enough goaltending to bail out their poor defensive play, but I think it is funny that the 1st goalie they name is a guy from his last team.  It's the Eklund school of rumour-managment.  Find a weak justification (Burke had him at one point) and there you go, Burke wants him.
 
L K said:
I'm not shocked that Burke would be looking at a goalie as the Leafs certainly aren't getting strong-enough goaltending to bail out their poor defensive play, but I think it is funny that the 1st goalie they name is a guy from his last team.  It's the Eklund school of rumour-managment.  Find a weak justification (Burke had him at one point) and there you go, Burke wants him.

It's not that weak of a justification.  Burke and Anaheim have a history of making trades now.  He seems to be on good terms with Anaheim management and able to work trades with them.  How we ever unloaded Toskala to them is a mystery to me.  We also don't know who Kypreos is talking to, whether he's heard anything from an agent or a source close to either team.
 
It wasn't really even a rumour IMO. He just stated that Burke said before that if things weren't going to plan that he had a plan B, that included looking for a veteran goalie. He's just mentioning a few that might be on the block, Hiller happened to be one of them. That's how I saw that blurb anyway.
 
BlueWhiteBlood said:
It wasn't really even a rumour IMO. He just stated that Burke said before that if things weren't going to plan that he had a plan B, that included looking for a veteran goalie. He's just mentioning a few that might be on the block, Hiller happened to be one of them. That's how I saw that blurb anyway.

True enough but it would make sense for him to look where he's familiar and comfortable.  Burke and more importantly, Francois Allaire both come from Anaheim.  Wasn't Hiller an Allaire prodigy as well?  He would probably love to be reunited with him.  If Allaire thinks Hiller still has something left in his game (I realize he's been very bad this season), he would probably recommend trying to get him.
 
IMO, I think you stick with these two guys, as I think they are still young for goalies and have much more to give. I take the view that it's the Leafs overall defensive play that needs to tighten up and things will go better. Also, I think Reimer just needs to play a bit more to get his confidence back up. Goose is playing well, so I agree with riding the hot hand, that Wilson was talking about today, it's the prudent move I think.

It sounds like Burke and Wilson have talked about what moves Wilson would like to make and things are getting done. More pressure is coming towards the players I think, they just need to make it work or somebody is hitting the door I think.
 
BlueWhiteBlood said:
IMO, I think you stick with these two guys, as I think they are still young for goalies and have much more to give. I take the view that it's the Leafs overall defensive play that needs to tighten up and things will go better. Also, I think Reimer just needs to play a bit more to get his confidence back up. Goose is playing well, so I agree with riding the hot hand, that Wilson was talking about today, it's the prudent move I think.

It sounds like Burke and Wilson have talked about what moves Wilson would like to make and things are getting done. More pressure is coming towards the players I think, they just need to make it work or somebody is hitting the door I think.

I really think the Leafs made a huge mistake when Reimer was ready to come back from his concussion like symptoms in not sending him down for a conditioning stint.  They had a freebie there to get him to the Marlies and let him play a few games first before coming back up, but passed on it.
 
An with the shut out tonight Gus goes back over .900

All the way to .901!

But more importantly he's 11-7-0
 
Complete arbitrary but take out the games against Boston (and quite frankly, every goaltender should be allowed to do that this year, they have destroyed far too many teams) and his season numbers are:  .911 SV%

And once he pulled back in front of Scrivens in the middle of November in 10 appearances (9 starts) he has a .920 SV%.  Over that stretch he has 7 wins and 3 losses.
 

About Us

This website is NOT associated with the Toronto Maple Leafs or the NHL.


It is operated by Rick Couchman and Jeff Lewis.
Back
Top