TORONTO (Mar. 29) — He is still 22 years of age and is playing only his third season of professional hockey. But, Justin Pogge is probably a lot farther down the line with the Maple Leafs. If Brian Burke and Ron Wilson didn’t come to town with preconceived notions about the goalie the club chose 90th overall in the 2004 NHL draft, it didn’t take long for either man to voice concern. Bluntly and accurately, Burke made it known on several occasions that Pogge has not earned a look-see in the NHL with his play in the minors this season. Instead, Pogge’s appearances with the Maple Leafs have come out of necessity to gauge whether the organization’s top goaltending prospect has made any progress toward becoming heir apparent to Vesa Toskala. The results are not overwhelming.
Pogge received a poignant, uncensored reminder of where he likely stands with the Leafs’ high command midway through the second period of Saturday night’s disaster against Boston at the Air Canada Centre. Low-scoring winger Shawn Thornton embarrassed him with a weak goal to provide the Bruins a 5-4 advantage. Wilson — as he is wont to do — called a 30-second time-out at a critical juncture of the game, purportedly to settle down his players. It’s a tactic he has used with success on several occasions this season. The difference here was that Wilson’s breather lasted no more than 10 seconds — the interval required for him to lambaste Pogge in front of his teammates and a nation-wide audience on Hockey Night in Canada. In fact, it was probably the shortest time-out ever taken by a coach in the NHL. Perhaps, also, the least-effective.
Pogge’s dreadful night ended just 1:14 later, when David Krejci tucked a backhand shot between his legs for a 6-4 Bruins lead. It finished off a three-goal eruption in a 3:43 span. Wilson immediately turned to his left and called for Curtis Joseph, who made his way onto the ice for the third time this week. Pogge sulked to the bench and sat with his mask on for a full five minutes before showing his face. Whether or not he planned it that way isn’t known, but you have to wonder if he’ll get another chance to ply his trade in a Leafs’ uniform.
Neither Burke nor Wilson have been pleased with Pogge’s development and work habits in the AHL. Prior to the season [and Burke’s arrival at the end of November], Cliff Fletcher hired former NHL netminder Corey Hirsch primarily to mentor Pogge with the Toronto Marlies. The Leafs were concerned that Pogge wasn’t attaining new heights in the minors, and had stagnated in his second pro season a year ago. Whether or not it hindered his advancement, Pogge was glued to the bench in favour of veteran Scott Clemmensen through the bulk of the AHL playoffs last spring; Marlies’ coach Greg Gilbert clearly believing he stood a better chance to win without the young prospect. Fairly or otherwise, Hirsch had a negligible affect on Pogge this season, and Burke knows he has some important decisions to make in the next year or so about the Leafs’ goaltending plans moving forward.
As it stands, Toskala will probably be given every chance to prove his dismal season was the result of groin and hip problems; the Finnish-born netminder recently underwent hip surgery in Vail, Colorado. Though he can no longer be entrusted with the starter’s role, it appears veteran Martin Gerber is capable enough to handle the No. 2 position behind Toskala next season. But, Toskala will be in the final year of his contract with the Leafs, and there is no conceivable way Burke will extend him until the goalie confirms whether or not physical damage indeed ruined his ‘08-09 campaign. In a perfect world, the franchise’s top young prospect would be waiting in the wings to step in for Toskala, but Pogge has given no indication that he’ll be of big-league caliber anytime soon.
A sub-par performance down the stretch — and/or in the AHL playoffs this season — could well seal his fate with the Maple Leafs.
E-mail
[email protected] 
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»