By HOWARD BERGER
TORONTO (Nov. 9) — Every so often, the honesty and candor with which Brian Burke so refreshingly speaks becomes nothing more than hot air. Such an occasion was earlier today, when Burke addressed what appears to be a crystal-clear goaltending situation with the Maple Leafs.
It took almost a month of the 2009-10 regular season for the Leafs to resemble a professional hockey team, and they’ve done so the past 10 days almost solely because of Jonas Gustavsson — their poised rookie netminder. Gustavsson has provided the Leafs instant credibility and fortune between the pipes, and the club has fed off his brilliance to begin reversing a record cold streak at the start of a season. Yet, when Burke was given the opportunity today by my FAN-590 colleague, Alex Seixeiro, to laud the Swedish goalie he moved heaven and earth to sign, the GM put more b.s. into one answer than most would consider possible.
“Vesa’s our starter,” Burke apparently said with a straight face. “We made it clear this summer that we signed The Monster to play in 25 or 30 games.
“…Jonas is playing very well for us right now, but we expect Vesa to battle back and re-gain the net.”
I haven’t yet spoken with Alex about his reaction to that comment, but if he wasn’t rolling on the ground in hysterics, he showed considerable restraint.
Vesa’s our starter??!
If you’re a fan of the Leafs, you’d better pray that double-B was piling on the manure in some wayward attempt to bolster Vesa Toskala’s flagging confidence. Otherwise, he needs a check up. How else can you figure such a ridiculous statement from the GM? If not for Gustavsson, the Leafs would almost surely be winless after 15 games and looking up at Carolina in the Eastern Conference standings. You could put 15 Phil Kessels on the ice and it still wouldn’t supply the team the necessary backbone of a legitimate first-string goalie. That’s what Gustavsson has provided the Maple Leafs and it’s the reason Burke spent much of his summer in trans-Atlantic flights attempting to secure the lanky Swede. How Brian could say that Toskala is the club’s starter — even in jest — is a mystery.
Leafs’ coach Ron Wilson spent much of his post-practice gathering with reporters today talking about the marvel that Gustavsson has quickly become. As I mentioned in this space on Saturday, it’s been more than 30 years since a freshman goalie stepped into the breach and began rescuing the Leafs the way The Monster is right now. Mike Palmateer was the last to turn the trick, and you’ve got to be in your mid-40s to remember it [I’m much beyond that, thank you].
Wilson also tip-toed around the obvious fact that Toskala isn’t about to see the net any time in the envisioned future, though he did evoke the names of goalies that routinely play in the neighborhood of 70 games per season.
“Marty Brodeur plays every night, as does [Evgeni] Nabokov,” said Wilson, leaving out others such as Roberto Luongo, Henrik Lundqvist, Marc-Andre Fleury and a healthy Cam Ward. “There’s a half-dozen-to-a-dozen teams that play one goalie almost exclusively. I don’t have that as a plan right now. We monitor Jonas all the time — make sure he’s eating right, his weight [is at the proper level], and that there’s no recurrence of his groin issues. This is his first year — he’s a rookie. He’s on a high right now but he’ll plateau at some point and that’s when Vesa will get his opportunity.”
When asked if he has a number in mind as to how many games Gustavsson can play consecutively, Wilson snapped, “No, I don’t have any numbers… I have nothing like that. This is strictly [a case of] if you win and you’re playing well, you get back in there.”
Precisely.
And, it’s the reason Gustavsson will indisputably continue as the Leafs’ No. 1 goaltender until he either gets tired, suffers an injury, or somehow begins to “plateau”, as Wilson put it. There is no conceivable circumstance — as of this moment — in which Toskala can be given anywhere close to the amount of playing time for him to be considered the Leafs’ “starter”. And, that’s why Burke’s comment today was disingenuous at best; absurd in every other way.
“[This situation] is exactly what you want,” Wilson said of his netminding. “There’s no controversy here, or anything like that. Jonas has been playing well. Sure, Vesa wants to get in there but this kid deserves the shot to play, and we’re playing well in front of him. So, we’ll keep it going [this way] until I need to make another change.”
If that sounds like “Vesa’s our starter”, the coach and GM better have a chat. And soon.
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Toskala might be a starter at a Burger Joint. The Monster has proven himself that he is the Starter. He is a much better Goalie then Vesa. Ride the Hot Streak.
- JoeYou have to expect Burke to try and build up Toskala, given that he’s trying to trade him.
- Paul McDougallHoward are you really that surprised? BB has done everything in his power to manipulate the media for the benefit of the club. All he is trying to do is restore Toskala’s trade value by saying he is still a # 1 goalie in the NHL. When in reality he has been at best a mediocre back up.
Burke is just hoping that Words speak Louder than the play of Toskala. I believe Burke is just trying everything he can to get Toskala’s name back on the trade market in a positive light. Toskala’s confidence can’t get any lower so why not throw him a bone…….. even if it is a lie.
Burke is just playing the game.
- MikeMaybe it’s a case of a GM trying to bolster the trade value of a player?
- Belligerent BurkiePeople are being naive if they think Burke’s comments are just to help improve Toskala’s trade value.
Do you think that every other GM makes trade decisions and do player research based on newspaper and sports radio quotes? Believe it or not, they watch games on tv, send scouts to games, and study stats. Don’t think for a moment that every other GM knows what a poor goalie Toskala has become in the last season and a half, and they certainly don’t want to take on his contract.
The only way Toskala will be traded is if it’s to a team looking to unload an even worse contract than his and make some cap space. It’s all about money with #35, not skill.
- MurI,m in my early 40s Howard, and Palmy is my all time favorite goalie. Wonder what he’s up to now?
- rickUnfortunately, such is Burke’s inflated ego that he actually believes his own b.s.
- TimboDoes anyone remember when he said that he was going after the top pick in the amateur draft and would be bringing Tavares to the Leafs? I think that he acutally believed that it would happen. Uhh, a funny thing happened though: The Islanders wanted the kid for themselves. Go figure.
I’m only 38, but I remember the popcorn kid well enough to say he inspired me to put on the pads as a youngster.
- coryI don’t mind management supporting a guy who’s lost his way. It’s just polite.
As for whether Burke actually believes Toskala is his “starter,” he had Hiller and Giguere in Anaheim, and spent his summer pursuing Gustavson. He doesn’t want the kid’s head to get too big, but he sees what we see….a kid who has the chance to be a legitimate game-breaking difference-making star in this league.
And his name’s not Vesa.
- DavidOne of the weaknesses of radio was that you couldn’t see Burke in that interview.
I wonder if he had his chewing tobacco and his styrofoam cup that he carries around to spit the juice into.
To borrow a line from Grapes, “He’s a beauty!”…although not of the endearing kind.
- Rob MMason was absolutely stellar in his first year and played 61 games. It is not far-fetched to assume that if the Monster plays well enough, that he would also play approximately 60 games and become the number one goalie in Toronto, rather than wasting valuable game experience on a goalie that will not be back in the Blue and White next season…
- El MonstruoWell, there goes the leafs season.
- JohnFrom what I gather Burke does make bold moves in his bombastic ways but whats refreshing about him is that he doesn’t just ride the media wave like Fletcher on Potvin, or like Quinn on Joseph and Belfour, or maybe even Fergie to Belfour/Toskala. Media wave you ask? It was the best phrase (thesaurus-lontana) I could think of. To elaborate on it, I always felt like our goalie was never the type to big-save us into places we weren’t supposed to be; a la Canadiens or Devils or Sabres (Vs. Dallas) kinda goaltending. The media-fan love affair rides a wave of political correctness in Toronto far too long and the layered brass at MSLE read the papers and bye into it. Contrary to popular belief, I think Potvin may have been the only reason we lost in 93. (Props Kerry Frasor) He didnt make any saves that I can still remember today. And thats the difference my friends. Big big saves are just as important as big goals.
Thank you Brian Biurke for not fearing a long term expensive contract and going acrosz the Atlantic to turn over stones for gems. Im not 100% sold on Gustavson but so far this kid has shown poise and hunger. Hasek proved that sound fundamentals matter little. What matters is that the puck stayed out. In some strange way, I think Jonas brings us some Hasek.
Two firsts still kills me though. Keep bleeding blue and white fellow fans.
Vince
- Vincegive toskala a break….carey price went to montreal a few years ago and stole the show….look where he is today…on the bench. so before we totally hand the starter job over let gustovsson get some nhl experience and wait a bit before handing him the crown.
- Phil (Oshawa)I don’t know who I’d award the title for “most full of it” this week - Brian Burke or Alex Ovechkin?
- sb1978Howard,
I think you’ve got to give BB a bit of leeway on this one.
He can’t say what most fans & reporters are thinking, “Holy crap does Toskala stink. Fergie gave up how much for this stiff? How could anyone, even for a moment think a 30 year old career back up with a premier defensive team could possibly be a hidden gem of a starting goalie? Idiotic doesn’t scratch the surface. I hope he can play close to 40 games and win about half so we don’t kill the young guy but I’ll sure be glad to see the back of him this summer.”
I don’t think that would be a good way to manage your personel.
- joelFor those claiming Burke is trying to restore Toskala’s trade value, not likely.
Toskala is making too much money to be tradable. Rather, I think Burke is trying to restore Toskala’s confidence because the Leafs need all the points they can get to make the playoffs, it’s a long, long season and Gustavsson, excellent though he is, has already had injury problems. At some point Toskala will go back in and when he does, better that he do so with a good, hopeful attitude. Regarding Wilson’s comments, of course he’ll go with the hot goalie. He always has, including times in San Jose when that goalie happened to be Toskala. This is how pro sports has always worked.
Toskala has struggled and maybe at some point he doesn’t. It’s up to Toskala to determine what happens next but Burke isn’t wrong to support his athlete in public. It’s not as if Burke has declared that Toskala will be the top goalie regardless. He’s saying he believes Toskala can step up and be a quality goalie again. What’s wrong with that?
- CarmCarm,
You say “It’s not as if Burke has declared that Toskala will be the top goalie”, but how else would you interpet the comment that Toskala is the starter? Starter = Top Goalie, so I think Howard is quite correct to say this is a pile of manure. It’s one thing to say what Wilson said regarding riding a hot goalie and Toskala eventually playing, but Burke should’ve chosen his words more wisely.
I’m a big fan of Burke and what he’s done with this team, but I am getting a little tired of Burke and Wilson’s approach to the media. I thought they were both straight-shooters, but they’re really just BSers with an attitude. Sometimes I wish they would just keep their mouths shut…a little “I can neither confirm or deny” wouldn’t be a bad thing from time to time.
- sb1978Hey maybe send vesa to the farm team for conditioning,let him play every minute down there.The whole season!!!!!Trade,Trade,Trade,BAIT.
- dougieI don’t know whether or not I’m writing to the right place (I actually wanted to contact Berger directly, but your website doesn’t allow that…) Anyway, please, please address my contention here. I’ve never seen a NHL team that was more in need of a REAL shot-blocker, someone who would compare to a Mckey, whose performance in Buffalo solidified him, in my mind, as one of the most valuable types of defensive assets. I’m writing this in the first intermission of the Minnesota game, after being compelled to join the FANCLUB in order to be able to voice my major complaint with the current defensive malaise. The tipping point was watching the first goal of this game, which has not deviated from what I’ve witnessed from the start of the season. Had Stempniak gone down to block the shot on that first goal, instead of hoping for the puck to hit him in the shin pads (which seems to be the blocking theme with this version of the Leafs), that goal would have had a much smaller chance of ever coming to fruition (and the Leafs would potentially be up 1-0 after the next minute). Somebody’s got to get these guys to sacrifice for the shot-block; AND buy into the fact that these sacrifices pay off!!!!
- caseAnd last night shows that a good goalie cant salvage a bad team.
Toskola may not be a Vezina trophy winner but he is better than he is given credit for. The Leafs need him to play well if only so the Monster doesnt get burned out. We wouldnt want an article saying that Leaf managment and Leaf Nation were so short sighted they burned out their future in a fools rush for a bottom end playoff spot.
And Burke and Wilson showing respect to a veteran is a good thingm given that they will be in the UFA market next year.
Not a big controversy, the Leads atrocious play last night, that is worth a controvesey, its not that they lost, its that they played bad.
- StephenLook Howard. Weather or not you are a Toskala fan or not we Leaf fans need him to play and play well. Firstly to make sure we don’t have the Monster fall to injury because he’s been swimming back there for 50 games stopping everything he can. Secondly and maybe more importantly the ability to move Toskala for his sake and the sake of the team. The better he plays the better the chances of moving him at deadline and the better player or draft picks we get in return. 4 mil a year is a lot to spend not to get something back in return. Toronto is obviously not his cup of tea so lets hope to move him but lets hope to get something back in return that will help the team out moving forward.
- Otis