Goaltending conundrum

[Andy007]

Well, Turco isn't playing so I think in this case he'd prefer to backup in the NHL than start in a weekly mens league.

Personally I think Turco is an interesting choice because A) he comes cheaply, B) he will have chosen to be in a reduced role (and not forced) and C) it's a chance to audition for a contract next year.

 

[cw]

If Burke caves in to pressure, it will be the ultimate sign that he's more beholden to his pal than to the long-term good of the team.

Burke's stated team design was to "Build from the net out". At the start of the season, I thought Burke's defence was the weakest link followed by the goaltending question (could Reimer carry on his level of play from last season).

"I feel I can put this group up one through six against any team in the league and say I'm comfortable with that," Burke says. "We've worked very hard to put this group together." 2010

Although it wasn't a large enough number of games to be very certain, including preseason, Reimer looked kind of ordinary to me - not the goalie I saw last season.

If this team fails to make the playoffs and the PK is 30th (with the goalie being the #1 Pker) and the team defence 28th (or thereabouts again), Wilson isn't going to be the only guy in trouble. Because the core building blocks Burke stated he was putting in place to build this club upon will have largely failed.

If Burke "caves into pressure", to some extent, it will be to salvage his own hide. In the best case, if they fail to make the playoffs this season, he's probably got one coaching change left in his tenure in the near term. If that fails next year, he'll be done for sure.

I like the guy. I don't think he's done a bad job. But he's not that far off from feeling significant heat in all of this if they fall short this season.

 

[Bender]

If Burke caves in to pressure, it will be the ultimate sign that he's more beholden to his pal than to the long-term good of the team.

Burke's stated team design was to "Build from the net out". At the start of the season, I thought Burke's defence was the weakest link followed by the goaltending question (could Reimer carry on his level of play from last season).

"I feel I can put this group up one through six against any team in the league and say I'm comfortable with that," Burke says. "We've worked very hard to put this group together." 2010

Although it wasn't a large enough number of games to be very certain, including preseason, Reimer looked kind of ordinary to me - not the goalie I saw last season.

If this team fails to make the playoffs and the PK is 30th (with the goalie being the #1 Pker) and the team defence 28th (or thereabouts again), Wilson isn't going to be the only guy in trouble. Because the core building blocks Burke stated he was putting in place to build this club upon will have largely failed.

If Burke "caves into pressure", to some extent, it will be to salvage his own hide. In the best case, if they fail to make the playoffs this season, he's probably got one coaching change left in his tenure in the near term. If that fails next year, he'll be done for sure.

I like the guy. I don't think he's done a bad job. But he's not that far off from feeling significant heat in all of this if they fall short this season.

Right, but you can only be as good or as bad as the alternatives. What kind of alternative moves would you have done to make this team better? Right now I don't feel like there were many moves that could really vault this team forward with the possible exception of either retaining Giguere or picking up a vet backup.

 

[Joe S.]

Nabokov, wasn't he around the same time Toskala was in SJ.  That would bring back too many unpleasant memories for me...

That's really stretching it to take a shot at Toskala.

 

[Mikhail Bloodnovsky]

Nabokov, wasn't he around the same time Toskala was in SJ.  That would bring back too many unpleasant memories for me...

That's really stretching it to take a shot at Toskala.

Toskala was very good in SJ.

 

[cw]

If Burke caves in to pressure, it will be the ultimate sign that he's more beholden to his pal than to the long-term good of the team.

Burke's stated team design was to "Build from the net out". At the start of the season, I thought Burke's defence was the weakest link followed by the goaltending question (could Reimer carry on his level of play from last season).

"I feel I can put this group up one through six against any team in the league and say I'm comfortable with that," Burke says. "We've worked very hard to put this group together." 2010

Although it wasn't a large enough number of games to be very certain, including preseason, Reimer looked kind of ordinary to me - not the goalie I saw last season.

If this team fails to make the playoffs and the PK is 30th (with the goalie being the #1 Pker) and the team defence 28th (or thereabouts again), Wilson isn't going to be the only guy in trouble. Because the core building blocks Burke stated he was putting in place to build this club upon will have largely failed.

If Burke "caves into pressure", to some extent, it will be to salvage his own hide. In the best case, if they fail to make the playoffs this season, he's probably got one coaching change left in his tenure in the near term. If that fails next year, he'll be done for sure.

I like the guy. I don't think he's done a bad job. But he's not that far off from feeling significant heat in all of this if they fall short this season.

Right, but you can only be as good or as bad as the alternatives. What kind of alternative moves would you have done to make this team better? Right now I don't feel like there were many moves that could really vault this team forward with the possible exception of either retaining Giguere or picking up a vet backup.

In terms of the goaltending, ignoring the benefit of hindsight to be honest about it, I would have done what they did: go with Reimer and sort out if Gus or Ben could be decent NHL goalies.

I haven't written off Reimer yet - he's been hurt. And I wouldn't write off Scrivens yet either though he may need more AHL time. If Gus got dumped, I couldn't protest at this point. But I think they were justified in taking the course they did. That is a part of working through prospects - not all of them make it.

 

[lamajama]

I'm starting to wonder how good Allaire is. I mean he may be good at attracting talent to the Leafs but am I just a typical Leaf fan and jumping the gun here? He's has 2 seasons to help Gus and I don't know how many would say he's improved. IMO he just looks rattled esp after the first shot where he seems to start panicking position-wise.

 

[Zee]

I'm starting to wonder how good Allaire is. I mean he may be good at attracting talent to the Leafs but am I just a typical Leaf fan and jumping the gun here? He's has 2 seasons to help Gus and I don't know how many would say he's improved. IMO he just looks rattled esp after the first shot where he seems to start panicking position-wise.

I think the rapid rise of guys like Reimer and Scrivens have more to say about Allaire than the struggles of Gustavsson.  Maybe his natural style just doesn't fit in well with Allaire's methods?

 

[Erndog]

The worst thing we could do would bring in a veteran goalie.

I don't think it is the worst thing at all.  I think it would be worse for a young team to have no faith in their goaltenders and have to be on pins and needles in front of him.  Who knows how long Reimer will be out?  If it is a concussion, it could be a long, long time.

I don't think, for the right price, it would hurt (or be considered a panic move) to try and solidify the goaltending position.

And Turco didn't seem to have a problem being backup last season in Chicago (not that I advocate signing him, but just saying).

I'm with you.

Look no further than Edmonton and Khabibulan.  He is giving those young guys a chance to win every night.  I don't think Hall/Eberle/RNH are looking back and saying, "but dammit, I wish you were 10 years younger."

He's really instiling some confidence in them. 

We've seen first hand that this Leafs team plays a lot better when they have confidence in their goalie.  For the further development of the team as a whole I think getting stability in nets, no matter the age, is paramount right now.

 

[Rebel_1812]

if a vet goalie can be had cheaply I say go for it.  The losses will ply up so long as we have goalies giving up 3 or more goals a game and having a bad save percentage.  We don't know how long reimer could be out and if we are going to make the playoffs we need to solve this situation asap.

 

[Bender]

I'm starting to wonder how good Allaire is. I mean he may be good at attracting talent to the Leafs but am I just a typical Leaf fan and jumping the gun here? He's has 2 seasons to help Gus and I don't know how many would say he's improved. IMO he just looks rattled esp after the first shot where he seems to start panicking position-wise.

At the same time what we've attracted are hail mary players. These players weren't drafted, and with all the scouting that goes on today I think there was a good reason: Most are late bloomers who may not be good enough to play at the NHL level. I think the thinking is eventually one hail mary is going to work.

 

[maplesyrup]

Seems Mirtle is down with the Nabokov idea...

mirtle James Mirtle
Certainly should be... RT @wyshynski: Is Evgeni Nabokov an Option for Toronto? #Leafs #Isles sbn.to/rR2J0k via @mlse
1 minute ago

 

[ZBBM]

The worst thing we could do would bring in a veteran goalie.

I don't think it is the worst thing at all.  I think it would be worse for a young team to have no faith in their goaltenders and have to be on pins and needles in front of him.  Who knows how long Reimer will be out?  If it is a concussion, it could be a long, long time.

I don't think, for the right price, it would hurt (or be considered a panic move) to try and solidify the goaltending position.

And Turco didn't seem to have a problem being backup last season in Chicago (not that I advocate signing him, but just saying).

I'm with you.

Look no further than Edmonton and Khabibulan.  He is giving those young guys a chance to win every night.  I don't think Hall/Eberle/RNH are looking back and saying, "but dammit, I wish you were 10 years younger."

He's really instiling some confidence in them. 

We've seen first hand that this Leafs team plays a lot better when they have confidence in their goalie.  For the further development of the team as a whole I think getting stability in nets, no matter the age, is paramount right now.

Signing a vet might stabilize the defense -- or it might allow them to think they can play sloppy and have the goalie bail them out.  That's pretty much the Q-era recipe, is it not?

And you haven't addressed my point about expectations.  Do you think this team is a serious contender?  Because if you don't, there's no reason to sign a vet.  If you do -- well, I'd let you explain that one. 

 

[Corn Flake]

Seems Mirtle is down with the Nabokov idea...

mirtle James Mirtle
Certainly should be... RT @wyshynski: Is Evgeni Nabokov an Option for Toronto? #Leafs #Isles sbn.to/rR2J0k via @mlse
1 minute ago

Don't trust him. He hates the Leafs.

 

[Optimus Reimer]

Seems Mirtle is down with the Nabokov idea...

mirtle James Mirtle
Certainly should be... RT @wyshynski: Is Evgeni Nabokov an Option for Toronto? #Leafs #Isles sbn.to/rR2J0k via @mlse
1 minute ago

Don't trust him. He hates the Leafs.

Nabokov was brutal last night.  It would actually be a downgrade for the Leafs. 

 

[Manson]

What about Huet?  I'm being serious.

His numbers in the Swiss A League this year are:

16 GP
.939 Save %
1.73 GAA

I know it's the Swiss League, but it's been a while since he's put up these types of numbers, even in Europe.

Would Toronto have to pay 1/2 his salary or whatever for Chicago?  It's the last year of his contract.

 

[Redleaf]

I'm starting to wonder how good Allaire is. I mean he may be good at attracting talent to the Leafs but am I just a typical Leaf fan and jumping the gun here? He's has 2 seasons to help Gus and I don't know how many would say he's improved. IMO he just looks rattled esp after the first shot where he seems to start panicking position-wise.

We can blame everyone for our recent woes from the GM, to the coach, the goalie coach, to the defence, to the forwards for not scoring enough, but to me it always comes back to the goaltending performances we've gotten of late. I really think Gus is on an extremely short lease right now. If he plays tomorrow, and turns in another poor performance it might be curtains for him. I'm pretty sure Burke has already started working the phones looking for other possible options. He could easily pull the trigger by the weekend if we see Gus continue to slide. Gus should be playing better by now, and Scrivens isn't ready for the big show just yet. And Reimer, well....it wouldn't hurt him to have a veteran goalie to share the duties and provide some healthy competition once he finally he returns. Maybe they should have kept Allaire's prized student another year?

 

[Kaberle15]

If Reimer status is Crosbie, the Leafs will have to bring someone, right now, Jonas is almost a 4.00 GAA goalie, and the suppose to be good D is &#!%?up.

Any move that BB makes, please do not include a 1st rounder, cause that is the Plan B this season!

 

[moon111]

What's Dominik Hasek doing these days?  He's not much older then Bower was when he retired.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Seems Mirtle is down with the Nabokov idea...

mirtle James Mirtle
Certainly should be... RT @wyshynski: Is Evgeni Nabokov an Option for Toronto? #Leafs #Isles sbn.to/rR2J0k via @mlse
1 minute ago

Don't trust him. He hates the Leafs.

Nabokov was brutal last night.  It would actually be a downgrade for the Leafs.

I don't think a guy with a 2.81 GAA and a .911 SV% is in anyway a downgrade on what we have right now.