My last few columns have concentrated on Toronto's goaltending woes this season and for the immediate future. To say it kindly, the position is in flux and at the core of the clubs decline since early February. Not to say that James Reimer, Jonas Gustavsson, Jussi Rynnas and Ben Scrivens are solely to blame for the Leafs two-month collapse, but one of the big differences between being perennial also-rans and playoff contenders is the presence of a studying influence in goal.
There is no doubting that the biggest risk that Brian Burke took going into this season was putting his money on two inexperienced goaltenders and the end result turned out to be the worst-case scenario, as one never fully recovered his confidence or his health from an early injury and the other had flashes of brilliance only to be drowned out by inconsistency.
Florida and Ottawa, who both missed the playoffs last season brought in veteran goaltenders to provide a stabilizing presence. The Senators brought in Craig Anderson to carry the workload while prospect Robin Lehner gained experience in the AHL and has played 61 games and led the Senators to the postseason promise land. The Panthers signed journeyman Jose Theodore to a two year deal for $1.5 Million per season and his 22 victories and sparkling .920 save percentage have been integral to winning the Southeast Division.
Rookie Ben Scrivens performed well in a 29 save performance against Buffalo Saturday night, earning his third victory of the season and along with his impressive year with the Toronto Marlies, is making a case for being part of the goaltending equation next season.
The 25-year-old may give Leafs management more to think about if he leads the Marlies on a deep run in the AHL playoffs, as he is a restricted free agent at the end of this season.
With Gustavsson likely departing via unrestricted free agency, there are too many questions and doubts for Toronto to go down the same road they went this season.
The safe road may be to sign a UFA like Tomas Vokoun, Martin Biron, Johan Hedberg or Marty Turco to play 20 to 25 games, but if Reimer’s concussion symptoms persist, those goaltenders are not capable at their advanced age to play the bulk of games. Barring the unlikely scenario that Burke will drop an offer sheet on Carey Price or Corey Schneider, the likely course of action would be to trade for another team’s backup who is ready to take on the job of a number one goaltender.
A prime target could be Nashville's Anders Lindback, who is just 23 years old and a restricted free agent in July. The Predators will likely be spending most of their available dollars in trying to lock up Ryan Suter and Shea Weber and may be willing to trade the young goaltender as they have starter Pekka Rinne locked up for the rest of the decade.
The downside is that Lindback has about the same amount of experience as Reimer or Scrivens and has not been exposed to being a number one in a major hockey media market like Toronto.
Another possibility is Calgary’s Miikka Kiprusoff, who is one of the only reasons why Calgary had any chance of making the playoffs this season, winning 34 games, with a 2.36 GAA and .920 save percentage. With the Flames falling short again, it is speculated that GM Jay Feaster may approach Jarome Iginla and Kiprusoff to see if they want to remain in Calgary while the team goes through a rebuilding process. At 35 years old, Kiprusoff is still one of the best goaltenders in the league and is paid like one, with two years remaining at nearly $6 million per season.
There'll be other decisions made over the summer that will affect Toronto's fortune positively or negatively next season, but the most critical decision that Brian Burke will make is between the pipes.
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Leafs center Mikhail Grabovski’s status for the remaining three games of the regular season is in question as he suffered a skate cut above his knee in Saturday night's 4-three victory over Buffalo. Grabovski is definitely out for tomorrow night’s game in Buffalo and Joe Colborne has been recalled on an emergency basis from the Toronto Marlies.
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