By HOWARD BERGER
TORONTO (Oct. 17) – Given how frightfully the Maple Leafs are performing in the first month of the season, it would seem almost absurd to focus the electron microscope – as Ron Wilson puts it – on a single player, or position. The entire team has bought into this decay and the wide turn toward respectability won’t be made unless the overwhelming majority of those wearing blue and white find vast improvement in their game.
That said, there is an undeniable and debilitating factor tearing at this club, and it has no chance of recovering without dramatic reversal. The Leafs, quite simply, haven’t gotten a big, important save from one of their goalies in the first seven games. Well, maybe one… Vesa Toskala made a difficult pad stop in the waning moments of regulation against Montreal, lengthening the season opener to extra time. Otherwise, it’s been an absolute horror show between the pipes for the Maple Leafs, and there isn’t a team at any level of hockey that can overcome disability at that key position.
In blog after blog this past summer, I insisted that all of Brian Burke’s trades and free agent signings would be offset by a continuation of futility in goal. Toskala appeared to provide some genuine encouragement for Leaf fans after undergoing a course of off-season surgery, but his biggest problem could be north of the shoulders. Joey MacDonald is a friendly, confident chap that held the No. 1 role with the National Hockey League’s worst team last season on Long Island. If he sticks around long enough with the Blue & White, another 30th-place finish isn’t out of the question. As such, it may well be that the Leafs’ 2009-10 fortunes are squarely on the shoulders of a virtual unknown to the NHL
Rookie Jonas Gustavsson – aggressively lured from his native Sweden over the summer – appears to be the club’s only hope right now.
The Monster, as he is known, has been rather sickly in the early going. A scary bout of arterial fibrillation in the first week of training camp led to a cardiac procedure that shelved him for 10 days. He then replaced a staggering Toskala after one period of the Leafs’ first road game in Washington, only to aggravate a groin-muscle pull. In his ever-so-brief appearances, however, Gustavsson showed the poise and maneuverability that made him the top-ranked goalie in Europe last year, and that lifted Burke to elite status on SAS Scandinavian Airlines over the summer. Given the psycho-trauma that Toskala has encountered, and MacDonald’s rank as a desperation stop-gap, The Monster would appear to be all that’s left between an upswing for the Maple Leafs and a terrible humiliation at the NHL Draft next June.
As it stands, Gustavsson will not be fit for action until part-way through the Leafs’ up-coming road trip to Vancouver, Anaheim, Dallas, Buffalo and Montreal. MacDonald will almost certainly face the Canucks next Saturday, with Gustavsson possibly being ready for the club’s visit to Disneyland two days later.
Another option would be for Burke to put in a call to old pal Jean-Sebastien Giguere, who has twice appeared for Anaheim this season, but could ultimately find himself rotting on the end of the Ducks’ bench in favor of Jonas Hiller. To accommodate the bulk of Giguere’s $6-million salary – assuming he can work out a deal with Bob Murray, his former assistant – Burke would first have to waive Toskala and, perhaps, underachieving veteran Jason Blake. Both contracts, should they survive the waiver process, could then be transferred to the Marlies of the American Hockey League – paid in full by the Maple Leafs, but no longer a burden to the club’s cap arrangement. After all, such a move – though cold-hearted – was repeatedly threatened by Burke over the summer months.
Whatever direction he chooses, the Leafs’ GM has to know there is zero chance for his club to make in-roads with its current lot between the pipes. There may be few legitimate reasons for highly-paid athletes to lapse into despair before 19,000 on-lookers, but crappy goaltending in hockey is certainly among them. Henrik Lundqvist beat the Leafs and their fans into emotional submission on Saturday night, as others have before him. It was clear in every tentative move the Toronto players made against the Rangers, and it induced vitriolic chagrin among the normally-sedate denizens of the Air Canada Centre.
This doesn’t completely absolve the position players. Forwards have rarely been within radar distance of opposition nets so far this season. And, the Leafs’ best defenseman has been Mike Van Ryn.
But, the overall trend will continue, unabated, until Burke finds himself a man that can effectively move between puck and mesh.
The gangly Monster would seem to be his only salvation.
Click here to subscribe to Berger's blog
Now you’re talking Howard.
Goaltending.
We can’t win without goaltending.
The players won’t call them out, and they’re not bad people, but without better goaltending, we will not have any success.
- DavidIt’s not just making a big save, although that is important. It’s more about “weak” goals that go in with wrist shots from the blue line, wrap around shots etc.
These are the types of goals that you just don’t see elite NHL goaltenders give up. Right now, Toskala and MacDonald are the Maple Leaf equivalent of Wells and Rios.
- BrentWhen Matt Stajan is your first line centre you really know where the major problem arises. This collection of forwards ( first three lines) with the exception of Hagman and Stalberg wouldn’t draw flies on the trade market. Your idea of shipping players to the Marlies and eating their contracts is a good start. I’d much rather see Bozak, Hanson, Tlutsky, Kulemin playing regularly and choose any of the top three line players to demote. This will also free up more cap space as the young players will all be making close to minimum salaries. Stajan, Blake, Stempniak, Ponikarovosky contacts would be close to 9-10 $Million and the replcements would be under $4 Million. I’d much rather see the younger players getting on the job training. They can’t do any worse than the players on the roster currently.
- Bill Stefaniuk‘The gangly monster…’ love it.
- ChrisJohnny Bower could have won as many games as this crew has.
- JimIf Burke didn’t make the trade with the Bruins we would be salivating the # 1 future draft pick. The fans would be hoping for a last place finish,
- Domenic Caputowelcoming it with open arms.
Instead we have a disaster looming on the horizon, similar to GM’s of the “GLORIOUS” past. For a highly intelligent and educated man I feel he made the “BONE HEAD” move of at least the half century in Leaf land.
God I hope I am wrong, maybe Burke can pull a rabbit out of a hat. But I am afraid it would be a dead one ,,,,,,,,,,,just like the Maple Leafs hopes of ending up in the playoffs.
Near the end of last season when winning didn’t matter and a lottery draft pick loomed, Martin Gerber arrives and the Leafs start winning. Now when winning matters and their potential lottery pick lives in Boston, no one can stop anything. Let the chant begin: Bring back Gerber! Bring back Gerber!
- davidThe Leafs’ shortcomings in most respects are greatly exaggerated. The Leafs are by no means a top-tier team minus a goalie. But neither are they one of the worst teams in the league on paper either. Lots of teams would gladly exchange their defence corp for Toronto’s. Up front, no major stars, to be sure, but an above-average number of 20-goal scorers, which is not to be underestimated. Good coach. Check. Decent prospects. Check. Proven GM. Check.
The goaltending has faltered, the losses mounting, and that’s pretty much all there is to it.
Are the Leafs in a position to challenge for a playoff spot if the goaltending comes around? Absolutely. Will it happen? Nobody knows. In the meantime, the more knowledgeable fan will have the good sense to recognize why the team is where it is, rather than use what is happening as an excuse to find fault where it doesn’t exist.
- CarmIs Manny Fernandez a cheaper option? I don’t think he signed with anyone. He was 16-8-3 last year with a .910 sv%
- LTHamiltons NHL team is only 1 point behind the beloved Leafs. Raptors win their first before the leafs
- Ron DykmanAbsolutley dumbfounded how two proffesional
’s like Toskala & Mcdonald could be so bad..this new goalie coach we got this year , does he exist? If he really does , and the goalies are following his instructions ,get rid of him.
He is not helping , but regressing the play of his students.
MapleLeafer
- maple leaferHey Carm, please list for us all the above average number of 20 goal scorers. You might need one hand.
- Gary OEverybody blames the weakness in the goal. Burke and Wilson might be the real weakness,
Wilson does not seem to be able to lockeroom in order, he calls his staff (they are staff) out in public and they just do seenm to want to play for him. Does take any of the responsibility for this, none!
Burke or jurk is more interested in the media than the net minders.
I say trade Wilson and Burke, the best GM’s and coaches are in the office and on the ice not in front of the cameras or the microphones.
David
- DavidNot only has the goaltending been brutal, but this club’s got no heart. I’m really disappointed, but still hoping that at least they won’t finish in that bottom 5…get a bad cramp in my belly when I think of what might be. Let’s hope for the Leafs sake they don’t finish there.
Brendan
- BrendanTrade Stajan for any good goalie, he’s only so good at talking to the media then he is as a player on the ice.
John
- JohnWhile I am in general agreement I worry that the rest of the team is blaming the goaltending. Look it isnt like ANY of the goalies won them a game. The Leafs are playing terrible..for at least 30 minutes of each game. It would be great to have a goalie steal a game but that doesnt change that they all have issues, except Stalberg and Stempniak.
Grabo is unengaged, Komisarak has been undisciplined, Schenn has been making mental mistakes galore, Orr has been playing like a 70’s Flyer. The list could go on. All of them show moments, but when they do the rest of the team is effed up. Simplify the game. The fact that NO goalie is keeping them close says everything, it would be no different with Giguere. Not that I mind habing him here. It is a multiple variable problem.
- StephenBack to the defence - a writer in Montreal made the interesting observation that Komaserek misses Markov as much as the habs do.
- elteeMy 10 yr old son had jersey day at school on Friday and he told me that he didn’t want to wear his Leafs jersey…Now thats sad
- ROB“Lots of teams would gladly exchange their defence corp for Toronto’s”
Sorry Carm, that’s wishful thinking (I wish it were true too).
This team doesn’t seem to gel. You’ve got a collection of parts but no cohesion.
As I said to a friend of mine, unfortunately the leafs are a talent-free zone. No scoring, run of the mill defenders with minor league goaltending; a team of 3rd and 4th liners. You can’t even hang your hat on the idea that they will outwork their oponents, they’re still prone to lackadasical play and the lazy penalties.
I expect they’ll win some games, but that draft pick will definitely be a top seven, and maybe a top five.
This season is compressed because of the Olympics. The longer they stink the quicker they sink in the standings and the farther away from the playoffs they get.
- joelI think the biggest problem with the leafs are the players if you look at their plus minus almost all of them are deep in the minus level. Also why sre the Atlanta Thrasers coming out so well? Is it coaching? The leafs do not know how to play defence that would give goalies a chance
- tom mitchellMLSE is going to pay Wilson and Burke their money one way or the other. They need to cut their losses and replace both. Consider it similar to a drunken weekend in Vegas and erase them from the memory bank. Forget losing the 2010 first overall pick and start focusing on the 2011 first overall pick going to Boston as well. Not only is there no evidence to suggest Burke can build a team from scratch… I would argue that there is sufficient evidence to prove that he cannot build a team. Trading 2 first round picks???? Elliotte Friedman did his homework. Did Burke?
- LEOIf Gustavsson cannot play 60 games a year this team still has no goaltending going forward.
- KellyTime to hire a coach. Teddy Nolan might be able to do something with this pile of mediocrity.
- KotterBurke won’t do anything untill he sees what Gustavson can do..Toskala,Blake and Mayers will soon be getting streetcar tickets to Ricoh.
- j.i.Reason’s to accept the start
* half the defense is new, and we are expecting great chemistry already!
* Most of the offense is the same, teams are prepared for us. It should be time for Ponikarovsky to find a new home and let Bozak or Tlusty to play and earn their spots.
* It’s not all Toskie’s fault, the defense is not in sync and the forwards were not helping in the beginning of the
* Blake spends more time cycling and passing then shooting. When he’s not confident, he doesn’t produce. season.
Reasons for Optimism and Possibilities
* Once Kessel comes back, offense will pickup. Hagman should be center between Stalberg and Kessel. He’s got the hands and the speed.
* Since the checking lines are doing their jobs and providing energy, inject them into scoring lines 2-4. The skilled forwards won’t have to watch their back and the winning puck battles along will be easier with Primeau, Rosehill and Orr.
- nelsonIsn’t Toskala a free agent at the end of this year? If so, trading the Finnish colandar for Giguere straight up, or even with a draft pick coming to the Leafs, makes sense. Its only $, and MLSE is rolling in it.
- Bearits not the end of the world, just a bad start to the season. it’ll get better… if not we can trade our decent guys for picks. I wouldn’t mind having two 2nds next year and 2 or 3 thirds the following. It’s not how high you draft it’s who you draft. With burkie’s connections to U.S. colleges, we’ll snag another 1 or 2 1st round equivalent players. It’s not the end of the world, it’s just a bad start to roller coaster like season. And for those that boo at leaf games, ask yourself if you had a bad game, you you appreciate some coming down on you and saying you suck. This fan base needs to understand that now is the time where the Leafs have a GM that will “eventually”‘ lead us to the promised land. We have already forgotten all the hard work during the off-season. He did well, other player around the league all praise burke for this resourcefulness and determination to build a winner. He wants to make the playoffs, don’t we all want our leafs to make it as well. Have faith, Burkie knows how to use the money, he’s already hired a bunch more scouts to increase the size and quality of prospect search. Things will be awesome in a couple of years!
Just quit nagging the team already!
- nelsonIf I were MLSE, I would cut a cheque to every reporter to tell them to take a hike and leave my players alone for the next two weeks!
- nelsonCarm, regarding our prospects, good coach and 20-goal scorers, kindly come back to earth and UNcheck!
- Timberlea Tomthis blathering apathy that leaf nation misrepresents as undying passion will only be solved in the following way
demote the bottom 3 teams to the AHL, just like in soccer
the hockey gods would laugh heartily as toronto, montreal and new york descend into the halls of hades
- rabbidflytoronto always has to have their “whipping boy”, the past several years it has been the goalie. the goalie does not score goals, toronto will not win many games with their forwards scoring at the pathetic rate they have been.
- pete