Ducks and Leafs Have Goalie Issues

by  Brandon Warnes… Its funny how Burke’s previous team, Anaheim, and his current team, Toronto, both have their fair share of goaltending issues.

However one is more of an issue and the other is more of a gift, really.

Much was said of how Burke left his old team (cap issues etc.) but not much was said of what he left there. Anaheim has two solid NHL-capable goalies in Hiller and Giguere, and one of those two is most likely to be dealt at some point this season.

That’s where the idea of it being a gift comes into play. Goalie surplus is always a good thing.

Say a team like Chicago came calling for a goalie, as Huet may not be the guy to carry that team. They would need to first address the Huet situation either through trade or waiving him.

Still a deal could be worked out that sees Chicago getting Hiller or Giguere and Anaheim might receive a few guys from Chicago (say Sharp, Versteeg, or Barker).

That would allow Chicago to get some cap room (Hiller is a free agent after this season) as well as getting a No. 1 goalie. Anaheim would be receiving a solid forward or defender from Chicago.

Either way, the door is open for Anaheim to make some moves and should improve the club after it is all said and done.

Now for Toronto and their goalie issues, which are more of a problem for Burke and his coaching staff. Surely Burke would like to have two goalies who are capable of being the No. 1 guy and trading one of them for some prospects.

But that’s not going to happen for them.

Goalie problems are the norm for Toronto, at least post-lockout. Belfour, Raycroft, Pogge, Tellvquist, Aubin, Toskala, Joseph…the list goes on. Not having a go-to guy each night is all part of why this team hasn’t made the playoffs four years in a row.

It’s still a little early to be writing off Toskala as the No. 1 guy but he appears to be carrying the same play from last season. Even if he shows up, no one will want to take a chance on him through trades because of his injury history and poor play.

Gustavsson still hasn’t been given enough of a chance as his groin injury has stopped him from playing. If he plays to his potential, Toronto won’t want to trade their only goalie who can win games for them.

Throw in the fact Toronto has to use McDonald and Reimer while Toskala and Gustavsson rest their injuries, it’s just more goalies who don’t appear ready to take this team far.

All of which only has to make Burke even more angry and concerned. After trading first rounders for Kessel this season, having a proven goalie who’s expendable because you have another capable NHL goalie could allow you to get a few picks back.

As this season progresses it will be interesting to see how both stories unfold.

Boy wouldn’t it be something too if Pogge ends up playing Monday night against his old team after being dealt after last season?

Time Off Might Just Be What The Doctor Ordered For Toronto

by Brandon Warnes…

So far this season, things aren’t working right in Toronto. While its only seven games in, and despite missing the playoffs four years in a row, they haven’t stumbled this badly out of the gate.

The goalies have looked weak and defensive play has been poor. Adding to the issues has been a lack of offense. Last season Toronto got points from unusual places and they found themselves able to score goals each night.

After a busy preseason schedule that saw the team win most of their games, they haven’t  been able to carry that play over to the regular season. So maybe that little time off caught up to them.

Other than last Saturday’s game against the Rangers, this team has looked awful in each contest. They couldn’t hold the lead against Montreal opening night and haven’t scored enough goals since to even have a lead.

Last game they looked different though, they seemed to get the message that coach Ron Wilson was trying to convey. They crashed the net and took several shots creating plenty of scoring chances. Joey MacDonald, while not making overly huge saves, made enough key saves to get the team some confidence.

After hitting the net hard with both shots and bodies, nothing came of it and they found themselves down a few goals about halfway through the game. Whatever confidence they had vanished as they weren’t the same team after that. They stopped shooting and throwing the body around and it allowed for New York to pull away.

So currently Toronto is sitting at 0-6-1 to start the season and looking for answers. Can the offense carry over the play from the early parts of last game and can the defense hold off opponents long enough to get a lead. Most of all can the goalies play well enough to win/steal a few games in the process.

All of this certainly won’t happen overnight, but with a week off since their last game they have time for improvement. Most importantly this could allow Toronto to have four healthy goalies able to play by Saturday. Three at the very least. Gustavsson has been out since playing against Ottawa with a groin injury and is most likely the first one to return to action. Toskala meanwhile is still nursing a knee injury and may need another few days to rest up.

All these days of practice might just be enough to turn this season around for Toronto. And everyone from the coach, to the general manager to the fans is hoping that will be the case.

Survivor Toronto: Who Will Be the Sole Maple Leafs Survivor?

by Brandon Warnes… Alright, so Survivor isn’t coming to Toronto anytime soon. Nor will a player win money for being the only not being moved at the trade deadline on March 4. However the only player who appears to be untouchable is rookie Luke Schenn.

Burke is keeping his cards close to his chest at the moment but admits talks have heated up over the course of the week. He has said a few times now that everyone won’t like the moves he makes but they are moves that he views are helpful to this club.

So who goes and who stays exactly? Well if this rebuilding process is really underway, surely Burke isn’t considering trading some of the better young players they have right now like Grabovski and Kulemin.

What about some of the veterans who weren’t moved last year? Well it turns out that those players are the best assests Toronto has at the moment if any deal is to be made.

Both Tomas Kaberle and Pavel Kubina have said time and again that they have no plans of leaving this team but would be open to the idea. Kaberle has given his agent 10 teams he’d be willing to get moved to if deal was to happen, all are believed to be from the east.

Kubina now has said he has no intention of waiving his no trade clause but both players can get traded no matter what once summer rolls around if they miss the playoffs this year.

Likelihood:

Kaberle - 50/50, Burke has said that Kaberle is a good player he’d love to keep around. He would have to find a defender that plays his style anyways if he does get moved and Burke has to be blown away by any offers in order for it to be considered. Ideally a young player in the NHL, prospect and high draft pick.

Kubina - Not moving at the deadline, may get traded this summer. Little to no interest for Kubina and he appears to be willing to ride this season out with Toronto.