Is There A Method To The Madness? A Look At The Leafs Goaltending

Since I wrote my last post before the Christmas holidays, the Toronto Maple Leafs have dropped 3 straight games. Questions are once again arising about Vesa Toskala and the Leafs goaltending situation. Quite frankly, I am getting a bit tired of Ron Wilson rushing to Toskala's defense. It seems to me that he has given Vesa enough free passes. First there was the 8-2 pounding the Leafs took at the hands of the Dallas Stars right before the Christmas Break. According to Wilson, "none of the goals were his fault." Okay, I get that. The Leafs were dog tired having played in back-to-back games while Dallas was well rested. The whole team lacked energy and didnt show up to play. Free pass for Vesa.

The solution to that is simple enough right? Toskala just needs more rest. Unfortunately, after 2 days of rest and relaxation, the Maple Leafs were embarassed by the New York Islanders-current owners of the NHL's worst record. This time though, the team in front of Toskala was much better. The offense generated plenty of pressure, and Swedish shot-blocking machine Jonas Frogren was throwing his body in front of many a puck. However, a glaring difference in goaltending was obvious in this game. Rick Dipietro stood on his head all night for the Islanders, and even though the Leafs had the better scoring chances they were robbed countless times. At the other end of the ice though, Toskala was rather forgetable. A few weak shots bounced in and the end result is a 4-1 loss for the Leafs. Had Vesa been able to match the play of Dipietro at the other end, this game probably would have seen overtime and the Leafs may have stolen a point. Surely Wilson would bench him now right? Nope. Another free pass!

So that brings us to tonight's matchup against the Washington Capitals. Wilson was quoted before the game as saying that "Toskala is our number one goalie and we will stick with him." So with two free passes under his belt from his previous sub-par showings, surely Toskala will wake up right? He almost did-for one period. But after giving up a weak goal from Alex Ovechkin in the 2nd, the Leafs were deflated of all life, and cruised to another 4-1 defeat. I know Ovechkin is feared by all the leagues goaltenders, but Vesa had the angle on his shot and he was able to get a piece of it. All he had to do was control the puck once he had it. Those are the kinds of saves a team needs from their goaltender to keep them motivated. Will Vesa get a free pass for this one? Im guessing yes.

(Justin Pogge was excellent after being called up from the Marlies. Unfortunately, he wont get his shot until Toskala has played well enough to be taken in a trade.)

So this begs the question, why? It doesnt take an expert to see that Toskala does not have what it takes to be the Leafs number one goalie. This isnt an observation made after a few bad games. He has been inconsistent since the beginning of the year, and the Maple Leafs are nearly halfway through the season. So what are Ron Wilson and Brian Burke thinking when they continue to play Toskala over Justin Pogge, who was excellent in his NHL debut last week (which the Leafs won by the way)? Clearly, Pogge is not intimidated by the NHL, and the team seemed to get a boost from his big saves. Funny how that works eh? When the goalie can rob the opposition with a save he has no business making, his teammates are spurred on by this to turn their game up a notch. When Vesa is in net, you can almost see the life being drained from his teammates when he allows an easy goal on the first shot of the game.

I can only assume Brian Burke is thinking trade. Right now, the Leafs wouldnt be able to give Vesa away for free. He has zero trade value, so they are stuck with him and his big contract. The only way to sucker some poor unsuspecting team into taking him in a trade would be for him to improve his play. He has to show that he is capable of making the big save. Unfortunately for the Leafs-this means they have to play him. It seems like a long shot that he will actually turn his play around, but if he does-Brian Burke wont hesitate to pull the trigger on a trade. He knows that in order for the Leafs to move Toskala and give the reigns to Pogge, they have to find a way to get him playing decent hockey again.

So for those of you who are up in arms over Toskala continuing to start in goal for the Toronto Maple Leafs-just relax. Watching him play is a neccessary evil we must go through in the hopes he will create some actual trade value. I have no doubt that the moment he shows he knows how to stop the puck, Brian Burke will trade him for whatever he can get. There is a method to the madness, and Pogge will have his shot.

Ian White-Could He Be The Leafs Replacement For Kaberle?

I will be honest. Like most fans of the Toronto Maple Leafs, I did not expect Ian White to even be a part of this team back when Cliff Fletcher was cleaning house in the summer. The Leafs were over crowded with defencemen at the time-almost all of whom were ahead of White on the depth chart. Ron Wilson vowed to turn the Maple Leafs into a better defensive team, and well, lets be honest: Ian White's defensive play at that point was rather hideous at best.

In fact, Wilson thought so highly of White's defensive play in the preseason that as soon as the regular season rolled around, he was benched for 10 games or so. And when the time came to finally give White the chance to redeem himself-he was inserted in the lineup as a forward and not a defenceman. Of course, hockey is a physical sport, and by November injuries on the Leafs blue line began to mount. 2 key injuries combined with the trade of Carlo Colaiacovo meant that the once crowded Maple Leafs defence corps was in shambles. This lack of personnel forced Wilson to place Ian White back on defence-and the Leafs havent looked back since.

(Leafs defenceman Ian White-seen here pre-mustache)

Since his return to the Maple Leafs lineup, Ian White has tallied 5 goals and 4 assists, but whats more surprising is that he leads all Leafs players with a +6 rating (tied with Alex Ponikarovsky). I dont usually put much stock into plus/minus ratings, but at the same time there is no denying that White has made dramatic improvements to his defensive play. I no longer cringe when I see him killing penalties. Or battling for the puck in his own zone. He has improved so much, that right now I would say only Jeff Finger and Luke Schenn have clearly outplayed him defensively-and those two guys are specialists in their own end.

So here is the dilemma for the Leafs: If Tomas Kaberle is to be traded by the March trade deadline (as most analysts believe he will) who do the Leafs use to replace him as their offensive specialist on the blue line? In my opinion, Ian White is looking like the best candidate so far. His play has surged while the Leafs other young puck moving d-man (Anton Stralman) has been demoted to the minors.

Ian White has all the right tools to fill this void in the Leafs lineup. Not only can he move the puck up the ice very well, but he has a great shot to round out his offensive skills. (as his 5 goals would suggest) He has seen more time on the powerplay recently as well-which leads me to beleive Wilson is grooming his as the next powerplay quarterback! Not only does he have the offensive skills to take on this role, but his fast-improving defensive play means he could bring more to the table when he hits his prime than Tomas Kaberle can right now. He isnt a big guy, but he has played a noticeably physical game and has shown hes not afraid to use his body on the play-something Kaberle does not do very often, if at all. His versatility is also a HUGE plus. Teams dont often find a player who can play well as both a forward and a defenceman. That versatility is rather handy when the roster becomes depleted with injuries.

I think all that is needed for Ian White to really break through is to bulk up a bit in the offseason, and keep improving his defensive play under Ron Wilson. His offensive skills are already there though, but I would expect those to get even better as well. White deserves all the credit in the world for working so hard to prove that he belongs on the Toronto Maple Leafs and show his doubters (including me) that they were wrong. If Tomas Kaberle is in fact dealt to another team, Ian White is the man I see stepping in to fill his shoes.

Its truly amazing what growing a mustache can do for some players.

Blake Finally Gets His Turn To Be A Leafs Hero

He has been much maligned since his arrival to the Toronto Maple Leafs. From accusations of soft play, to selfishness, and even lack of work ethic, Jason Blake has endured some harsh criticisms from Leafs fans as well as the Toronto media. But tonight-for one glorious moment-Jason Blake got his chance to be a hero loved by all of Leafs Nation.

Let me set the scene:

The Toronto Maple Leafs are at home hosting the New Jersey Devils. The game is tied at 2 goals apiece. Overtime has failed to produce a winner, so the game has gone to a much feared shootout. Leafs fans know their team is now almost certainly doomed-the Maple Leafs have won just one shootout so far this season.

Lee Stempniak takes the ice as Toronto's first shooter. He tries to go five-hole, but is easily stopped by Scott Clemmenson in the New Jersey net. The Devils then get their chance, but Vesa Toskala gets his stick on the shot from Zach Parise. It is still scoreless-so far so good. Up next for the Leafs is Tomas Kaberle, who tries the same shot as Stempniak. He gets the same result-stopped, no goal.

New Jersey once again gets a chance to drive a steak into the heart of Leafs fans. However, Vesa Toskala easily stands his ground, and stonewalls Patrik Elias. Each team has now gone two shooters and the shootout is still scoreless. Jeremy Williams steps onto the ice next. Just over a week ago Williams was a minor leaguer. Since his NHL callup, he has 3 goals in 3 games, and now has the weight of Leafs Nation on his shoulders. He is Toronto's final shooter, and he comes through with a sniper-like shot. That could be the winner, but the Devils have one last gasp. Jamie Langenbrunner steps up as New Jerseys last shooter. Toskala finally lets one through, and he scores. It's all even now.

The shootout is tied at one goal a piece after 3 shooters, and now goes into sudden death mode. Just the name "sudden death" should give you an idea how much pressure the next poor soul to take the ice will be under. He will either be the game's hero or a dud-all depending on one shot. Ron Wilson chooses Jason Blake. The beauty of what happens next cannot be explained in words. So I have posted the video so you can see for yourself:



And that is how Jason Blake went from a whipping boy to a King. Quite possibly the most beautiful shootout goal I have seen all season. In case you dont know how the story ends, Brian Rolston goes in next for the Devils, and misses the net by a longshot. Leafs win! Credit also has to go to Jeremy Williams and Vesa Toskala. Toskala made the big saves all night long to keep the Toronto Maple Leafs in this game and Williams scored a goal in both regulation time and the shootout.

It may not last long, but for one December night Jason Blake got his chance to be the hero.

Signs Of Encouragement From Tonight's Leafs Victory

The Toronto Maple Leafs don't usually win two games in a row, so a 2-1 victory tonight against the Buffalo Sabres was a pleasant surprise. With the win, the Leafs are quietly creeping back into playoff contention-they are now just 3 points back from the final spot. While the Leafs do have a tough schedule ahead that could easily knock them back into the basement, there are some signs they are beginning to improve as a team. Here are five interesting points from tonight's game that should make Leafs fans feel pretty good:

1.The Strong Play Of Jeremy Williams And Jamie Sifers.
After watching these two guys get their shot in the NHL after being called up from the Toronto Marlies, I find myself wondering if they should be made permanent players on the Leafs roster. Jeremy Williams scored a goal again tonight, with almost the same quick-release shot he used against the Islanders. This doesnt seem like a fluke to me. Williams shot is deadly accurate, and with 3 points in 2 games, I have a feeling he will be replacing one of the Leafs current forwards. If so, look for a trade to happen soon so that the Leafs can move some of their excess depth up front. The more I watch Williams, the more excited I get about his potential. Jamie Sifers also had a strong showing and was named the 2nd star of the game. What impressed me most about him was his willingness to throw some big hits. More than one Buffalo player was flattened by Sifers tonight, and it was fun to watch. His work on the PK was nothing short of excellent. Wilson will soon have some decisions to make on the blue line-with his injured d-men returning and Sifers playing very well, the Leafs are suddenly crowded on defense again. Depth never hurts, especially at the trade deadline..

2.Vesa Toskala Is Beginning To Look Consistent.
I dont want to get ahead of myself here. The last time Toskala looked like he was getting back into his groove, San Jose and Phoenix shelled him with a combined 11 goals in 2 games. However, after his good showing against the Islanders he had an even better one tonight against the Sabres-who happen to possess one of the leagues most explosive offense. All the goal scoring talent on the Sabre's roster was no match for Vesa tonight. He only made 24 saves overall, but many of those were incredibly difficult. All night long, he made the big stops when it counted. He kept the Maple Leafs in the game, and it almost seemed as though Toskala sapped the life out of the Buffalo shooters. After a frantic 1st and 2nd period in which they had all kinds of scoring chances, they looked broken and defeated in the 3rd period. Toskala deserves most of the credit for tonight's win, and got it as he was named the games 1st star.

(Vesa Toskala was the game's first star)

3.The Leafs Shut Down The NHL's Top Goal Scorer
Thats right. Thomas Vanek, who leads the league in goals, was completely shut down by the Leafs D. After a 1st period in which Toskala bailed them out, the Leafs settled down in their own end, and put together a solid defensive game. With Mike Van Ryn back in the lineup, they certainly looked like a much more capable defensive group. I hope this is the start of a more sound defensive game for the Leafs. Once Luke Schenn returns from his injury, there is no reason the Leafs cant play a more consistent game in their own end. They showed they can do it against the leagues top goal scorer, which is a good starting point if you ask me.

4. Jason Blake Is Playing A Team Game
And has been looking like a complete player recently. After a 3 point night against the Islanders on Monday, he followed up with another impressive effort. Though he didnt get on the scoreboard, Jason Blake came up with a couple key shot blocks late in the game that may have prevented a Sabres tying goal. He was also passing the puck most of the night, rather than go for a shot himself from an impossible angle. He came very close to notching a couple of assists. He has really turned his game around, and he is helping his team win. If the Leafs are going to continue their winning streak they NEED Jason Blake to contribute. Lately, he has been doing just that.

5. The Leafs Penalty Kill
Was outstanding. While it is still ranked 27th overall, recently the Leafs have iced one of the best PK units in the league. That was demonstrated tonight, when the Leafs killed off 3 consecutive minor penalties in the 3rd period-17 seconds of which had them playing with only 3 men on the ice. Lee Stempniak took a high-sticking penalty with 10 seconds left in the second period, that resulted in a 4 minute double-minor. This was essentially Buffalo's chance to take control of the game, but the penalty killing unit turned them back at the blue line every time they tried to cross. Just before that penalty expired, Jeff Finger took a tripping call that left the Leafs in a 5-on-3. While most teams would have nothing left after killing off a 4 minute penalty, the Leafs dug deep and killed that one off too! This was by far the most impressive part of the game, and is what changed the momentum in the Leafs favour. When your penalty killing is that good, it frustrates the opponent-and the frustrated Sabres failed to get any offense going after that.

Great effort by the Toronto Maple Leafs! Hopefully they can continue to build on all the good things they did tonight.

Jeremy Williams Shines In A Rare Maple Leafs Victory

It doesnt happen very often, but the Toronto Maple Leafs faced a team in even worse shape then them tonight at the ACC. Jeremy Williams and Jason Blake-yes, Jason Blake-carried the Leafs to a 4-2 victory over the New York Islanders. Williams, who was called up from the minors as a result of the injury to Niklas Hagman, tallied a goal and an assist for the night. This impressive showing may have caught the attention of the coaching staff and it will be interesting to see if he will get his shot at a permanent roster position on the Leafs. After watching him tonight, I would personally love to see this guy up in the NHL on a more permanent basis. Offensively, he seems to be the total package.

At only 24 years old, Jeremy Williams is a perfect fit for the state of the team right now. He is young enough to develop with the Leafs as they work through their rebuilding process. Over the next couple of games I would like to see Wilson give some quality ice time to Jeremy Williams. There is of course, one key benefit to doing so-if Williams can prove himself a capable goal scorer on a more regular basis than he makes one of the Leafs current top 6 forwards expendable in a trade. Im thinking Alex Ponikarovsky or even Matt Stajan could then be placed on the trade block without sacrificing depth up front.

If one of them is packaged in a deal with one of the Leafs veteran defensemen (Kaberle or Kubina) they could fetch a decent return. Im thinking a solid goaltending prospect (Jaroslav Halak or Cory Schneider?) and a couple of high draft picks. So I will be watching the next few games with a close eye on Jeremy Williams-provided of course Ron Wilson does the right thing and gives him the chance to play. I think 2 points in his first game is certainly worthy enough for the Leafs to take a closer look at this kid.
(Jeremy Williams-called up from the Toronto Marlies-shined in his chance with the Leafs)

Jason Blake also deserves an honourable mention. He scored a goal and added two assists to round out a 3 point night, and was the game's first star. He is on hot streak right now, as he also had a 3 point night in last Thursday's game against the Phoenix Coyotes. 6 points in 3 games is impressive indeed. Im beginning to think it wont be as hard to trade him away as once thought. If he keeps up his current level of play, Jason Blake could have some real value by the summer which would help the Leafs avoid a costly buyout of his contract. Regardless of what happens to Blake though, it is good to see him finally start to find his game again. The Toronto Maple Leafs put forth a good effort tonight-albeit it against one of the league's worst teams.

In other news, the Atlanta Thrashers may officially begin the Ilya Kovalchuk sweepstakes sooner than expected. While the Maple Leafs probably dont have the assets Atlanta would ask for in a potential trade, I would still like to see them make a play for Kovalchuk. He is one of those rare players that can get your team 50 goals in a single season, and lets be honest, players of his calibre dont come around in every draft. And dont forget, he is only 25. He is young enough to produce at a high level for at least 10 more years. Even if the Leafs had to include a 1st round draft pick in a package for the Russian sniper, they likely wouldnt find a better player with that pick. In terms of sheer talent, he is right up there with Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin. People tend to forget he exists though because he plays for some team down in Atlanta that nobody watches.

I personally think Kovalchuk would love to come to a big market team like the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Leafs lack a superstar player, and they may not get the chance to land one like Kovalchuk for a long time. I would be disappointed if Brian Burke didn't at least try to acquire him. It would truly be an incredible sight to see Ilya in a Leafs uniform. The one advantage the Leafs would have over any other team if they were to enter the Kovalchuk sweepstakes is cap space. They will be one of the few teams capable of actually paying him the money he is worth. So I say lets give it a try. If some other more talented team outbids us, then so be it. At least the Toronto Maple Leafs will have made the effort to show they are serious about acquiring a franchise player.

Burke Still Has His Work Cut Out For Him

Thank God its over. The Toronto Maple Leafs have wrapped up a dismal 3 game road trip out West. After a promising 3-1 win against the LA Kings-a team in the same rebuilding situation as the Leafs-Toronto was then manhandled by the league leading San Jose Sharks. After a day of rest, they looked no better as a brutal 3rd period collapse led to another ugly loss against the Phoenix Coyotes. They finished with one win and two losses. Though the Maple Leafs never seem to do well on Western Conference road trips, these losses cant be blamed on travel time or jet lag alone. This team is obviously still missing quite a few pieces, despite the great work done by Cliff Fletcher in the offseason. Brian Burke has his work cut out for him if he is going to build this team into a legitimate playoff threat in the seasons ahead. Here is a breakdown of the areas where the Leafs are lacking, and what I hope Burke will try and resolve:

A Franchise Forward

The Leafs goal scoring has been a pleasant surprise this year. So far, they are among the top ten teams in the NHL in goals scored, with 78 on the season. While this is an encouraging sign for the Leafs as they move forward with the rebuild, the team is still lacking a game breaking forward. They are in need of that key player up front who is capable of breaking open a close game and putting the Leafs over the top. Just about every team who is serious about making a Stanley Cup run has a franchise player in their top 6 they can lean on to put up big numbers. While the Leafs are managing to score goals, they are doing it by committee, and rarely do they have a player who can get 3 or 4 points in a game-as Joe Thornton did when the Sharks steamrolled the Leafs on Tuesday. So what options do the Leafs have to acquire a franchise forward in the near future? Here are some young impact forwards (all in their mid-twenties) who could soon be leaving their respective teams.

#1 Rick Nash - Nash is slated to become an unrestricted free agent in 2010. It is believed that he does not want to re-sign with the Columbus Blue Jackets, but would instead prefer to play in a bigger market team. Being from Brampton, the Toronto Maple Leafs are his hometown team and he may be tempted to return home if Burke were to make him an offer. Some rumors suggest the Leafs may also try to trade for him before his current contract expires, though the asking price would be very high.

#2 Marian Gaborik - Gaborik is slated to become a UFA at the end of this season. This makes him the most immediately available player of the group. Add to that the fact he has vehemently refused to sign an extension with the Minnesota Wild, and its pretty much a sure bet he will be out the door. The Wild will likely try to trade him away for a return rather than let him walk away for free. His downside of course is his injury history. He rarely plays a full season, so the Leafs would be taking a gamble if they were to acquire him. However, this could also mean the asking price for him will be lower than market value for a player of his calibre.

#3 Ilya Kovalchuk - Like Nash, Kovalchuk's contract expires in 2010. He has recently made comments about his desire to play in a bigger market and his unhappiness with the empty arena in Atlanta. It is unlikely the Thrashers will try to trade him though, as they are trying desperately to hold onto him, lest their last few fans stop coming to games. If he makes it clear he does not want an extension however, Atlanta will have little choice but to start shopping him on the trade market by next year.

An Up-And-Coming Goaltender

The Leafs have struggled miserably in goal this year. Vesa Toskala has failed to live up to expectations, despite a few brilliant flashes. His backup is a 41 year old senior citizen in Curtis Joseph who has so far proved incapable of winning a game. The Leafs do have Justin Pogge who is developing in the minors right now, but with his lackluster play so far with the Marlies, it is beginning to look questionable as to whether or not he will be ready to take the starting job for the Leafs at the NHL level. The Maple Leafs need a backup plan in case Pogge doesn't pan out. For the rebuild to succeed, they MUST be solid in net. There are two young goalies right now destined for greatness that wont get a shot on their current teams. I would like to see Burke pursue one of them.

#1 Jaroslav Halak - The Montreal Canadiens are believed to be actively shopping Halak on the trade market. And for good reason. This 23 year old has shown the potential to be a solid number one goalie in this league, and given a starting role could easily turn into one of the leagues top young netminders. The reason he is destined to leave Montreal in the near future? Their other goalie is Carey Price. While Halak has serious potential, it is unlikely Price will be unseated, and if Halak wants a starting job he will have to go elsewhere. If Burke were to make a move for him I dont believe the asking price would be terribly high given Halak's lack of experience.

#2 Cory Schneider - Schneider has had the oppurtunity play at the NHL level following the injury to Roberto to Luongo in Vancouver. Like Halak, he also has the potential to be a number one goalie in the NHL. Just not with the Canucks. Luongo is king there, and will never be dethroned. He too will likely seek a job elsewhere so he can play the number 1 role. The advantage to trading for him instead of Halak? The Leafs wont have to give up anything that helps their arch-enemies in Montreal.

Another area that the Leafs need to address is toughness of course, but 4th line enforcers will be relatively easy to find. Burke will have no problem landing a couple of tough guys to rough up the opposition.

Of course, some of these areas can also be addressed through the draft in July as well. From the looks of things so far, the Leafs will be in good drafting position to land them a potential franchise player. Though it is only December and things can still change. As much as I would love to see my beloved Toronto Maple Leafs make the playoffs, every time I see them perform the way they did on this road trip, I just close my eyes, and think ahead towards draft day. That helps ease the pain-at least until the next game.