Gustavsson
- Thread starter ZBBM
- Start date
BlueWhiteBlood said:
Certainly not at this juncture of his career.
Unfortunately, not as many will remember this game when examining his stats weeks from now. Just like many forgot how well he played at the start of last season - when the team couldn't score and then they opened up like the second Jagr goal tonight and he got lit up.
Hopefully, for his sake and his team's sake, he can find a way to keep it going.
I have to give Goose his props. I've been very critical of him but tonight
he played quite well with the exception of what I think has been his achilles heel since he came over - the breakaway/shootout. He seemed
a lot more confident and made some nice saves. He's certainly earned the next game if Reims can't play.
he played quite well with the exception of what I think has been his achilles heel since he came over - the breakaway/shootout. He seemed
a lot more confident and made some nice saves. He's certainly earned the next game if Reims can't play.
GhostofPotvin29
New member
Going back to the Boston game, I think he has looked better each time out. Which I guess should not be surprising considering the length of time he had between regular season starts.
L K
Active member
Potvin29 said:
I'm starting to think, that for this reason, he might not have much more time as the backup in Toronto. It seems like he plays better the more he starts, but if Reimer is for real, I think he just isn't going to get that opportunity. I do think Wilson could have done a better job managing his starts though. It was absolutely stupid of him to make him sit for 2-3 weeks and then play him cold against the Bruins as his first start, knowing full well what his confidence was at the end of last season.
Where I do see a problem is that Gustavsson seems to give up a disproportionate amount of "you can't blame him for that" goals. I know sometimes there is a tendency to say the players just don't trust the goaltender and that is why things always fall apart, but the players really need to be held accountable. Far too many defensive breakdowns because they don't get the puck out of the zone, and the forwards, after three years with Wilson still don't understand the concept of covering for the defenseman when someone pinches.
Redleaf
Active member
Gus easily played his best game of the year last night. He closely resembled 'a Monster' at times throughout the game. I believe he's secured the back-up spot for now. I still think we need to see what Scrivens can do between the pipes sometime this season. Like LK said, if Gus can only play well with lots of ice time, he may not be the ideal back-up goalie behind Reimer. Hopefully its just a confidence thing, and he can come in cold more often and start to win some games for us.
Mikhail Bloodnovsky
New member
You want your back up to win? Don't give Jagr three breakaways, seems like a no brainer.
maplesyrup
New member
You know who HASN'T sucked of late where the Leafs are concerned? Damien Cox. Here's a great article from him this morning on the Monster.
http://thestar.blogs.com/thespin/2011/10/montrous.html
I love how he ends it... "In Gustavsson's case, the only one who can really change the perception is him. Stop more pucks. Allow fewer goals. Put up the numbers.... Otherwise, there's really not much to talk about here."
http://thestar.blogs.com/thespin/2011/10/montrous.html
I love how he ends it... "In Gustavsson's case, the only one who can really change the perception is him. Stop more pucks. Allow fewer goals. Put up the numbers.... Otherwise, there's really not much to talk about here."
Zee
Active member
Floyd said:
That's a pretty sound argument and what I was trying to say yesterday. Especially when he lays out the last 17 starts where his save % was over .900 only twice. It is strange that the Leafs didn't give him any extended time with the Marlies to build up some confidence. They're bringing Rynnas along the correct way, they should have started Gustavsson's career the same.
Kin
New member
From Cox' article referenced above as being "great":
Yeah. The guy who took a below market deal to be Washington's starter would have been all over signing on to play 20 games as Toronto's back-up. This is the same sort of ignorant trolling nonsense that is Cox' stock in trade these days. Anyone who just looks at the stats last night and says "Below .900 save percentage = bad goalie!" is being ridiculous.
Still, any port in a storm.
Yeah. The guy who took a below market deal to be Washington's starter would have been all over signing on to play 20 games as Toronto's back-up. This is the same sort of ignorant trolling nonsense that is Cox' stock in trade these days. Anyone who just looks at the stats last night and says "Below .900 save percentage = bad goalie!" is being ridiculous.
Still, any port in a storm.
Zee
Active member
Saint Nik said:
Cox point is there are far too many excuses made for each of Gustavsson's starts. If the team doesn't play well enough in front of him, don't play him. It's far easier to switch one player than an entire team mentality. Whatever the reasons, they need to win more games when Gustavsson starts, and over the last little while it hasn't been happening.
ZBBM
Active member
Saint Nik said:
Agreed. Cox is the cherry-picker of all cherry-pickers. And a fabricator as well. I haven't heard Burke or Wilson "coddle" Gustavsson. They've parked him pretty firmly on the bench, as a matter of fact.
What Cox is trying to say in his long-winded and look-how-witty-I-am way is that Gus has been mediocre. Which everyone knows. And that he has to play better if he's to stay on the team. Which everyone knows. And that he needs to do it quickly.
Which everyone knows.
Zee
Active member
Zanzibar Buck-Buck McFate said:
I don't think "everyone knows" that as you say. Many Leafs fans keep insisting Gustavsson has been the victim of poor Leafs play and is a much better goalie than his numbers show. Maybe he isn't? Take last night as example, yes there were 3 breakaways for Jagr resulting in 2 goals, but at the other end Brobrorky had a couple of 2 on 1 breaks that he managed to stop. It's saves like that at key times that can win or lose a game.
Kin
New member
Zee said:
There's a ton of difference between a 2 on 1 and letting a player as talented as Jagr walk in alone. Trying to pass them off as the same doesn't speak terrifically to your argument.
Which, and let's be real, isn't really strong to begin with. Nobody is satisfied with Gus' play here. Nobody has said that Gus can keep playing at his current level and be successful. But after a game where most of the Leafs fans here said he was the team's best player trying to say it was indicative of his problem reeks of fans who bought into their "optimism" desperately seeking a scapegoat so they don't have to face the realities of what this team is right now.