What else happened in 2006? Oh ya, the Leafs traded Tuuka Rask to the Bruins for Andrew Raycroft. Likely a worse deal than the Kessel trade, giving away Tuuka Rask has set the Leafs back a decade. And it was a puzzling move even at the time. The Leafs had drafted Rask the year prior, 21st overall (high for a goalie, but not as high as Carey Price), Rask had just put on a show at the World Juniors tournament, and the Leafs were not vying for a Stanley Cup quite yet. Well we all know how this deal worked out. It worked out so well that the next year, John Ferguson Jr. traded their first round pick (9th overall) to San Jose for Vesa Toskala, a pick the Sharks used to take Logan Couture.
Then it was supposed to be Justin Pogge - remember that guy? The guy that played OK at the World Juniors? Well that didn't last long either, because then it was supposed to be Jonas Gustavsson, bolstered by some old vets in Curtis Joseph and Marty Gerber. That didn't work out so well either with Gustavsson eventually being chased out of town with a damaged ego that has never recovered. Ironically now backing up Rask in Boston, the Bruins are dining on the Leafs stupidity. But then, in 2010-11, with the savvy vet role now being played by J.S. Giguere, James Reimer entered the scene. Making an impressive run at the end of the season and earning the nickname "Optimus Reim," no one expected him to amount to much. For some reason, even still, after 5 seasons are paying his dues, no one expects him to amount to much.
Yet, Remier continues to be turned to when all else fails, in this case, Bernier.
Yes, his numbers are not stellar, there's no denying that. But the Leafs suck, and have sucked, almost the entire time he's been in league. He has more than one season with a GAA north of 3 and a save percentage floating around the .900 mark - numbers that are not good for the NHL, in fact they're pretty bad. But still, almost 10 years later, James Reimer has been the only constant. Yes, trading Rask was a mistake - a colossal mistake. But then the mistakes compounded and got worse. Rather than being patient with a position that cannot be rushed, predicted or bought, the Leafs did all of the latter and are left dancing with the same partner they had when they started this mess.
Over the past few years, it would have taken a superhuman effort to have good numbers in the Leafs crease. It was simply not possible to play behind that team and not let in goals...lots and lots of goals. I mean, if Dion Phaneuf is your number one D-man, and your captain, you have problems.
Yet, James Reimer has worked his way up the ladder and now, at 27, the age most goalies come into their own, Reimer is starting to deliver. Only now, now that the Leafs are no longer epically bad (they're just bad,) now are you seeing the potential of what James Reimer can be. So, while the Leafs didn't sell the farm getting Bernier, did they really need him to begin with? Did they need Pogge? Did they need Gustavsson? Right now, when the going is tough, who's there? Reimer. Of the 8 points the Leafs have this year, Reimer has 7 of them.
So while the Leafs could have had Rask, the insurace policy of Reimer deserves a chance. He's been a hell of a policy and hasn't complained much behind spotty D, faithless management and scrutinizing fans. Bernier has had plenty of opportunities and has shown he has a talent for getting injured and allowing untimely bad goals. It seems obvious: It's Reim time.
Then it was supposed to be Justin Pogge - remember that guy? The guy that played OK at the World Juniors? Well that didn't last long either, because then it was supposed to be Jonas Gustavsson, bolstered by some old vets in Curtis Joseph and Marty Gerber. That didn't work out so well either with Gustavsson eventually being chased out of town with a damaged ego that has never recovered. Ironically now backing up Rask in Boston, the Bruins are dining on the Leafs stupidity. But then, in 2010-11, with the savvy vet role now being played by J.S. Giguere, James Reimer entered the scene. Making an impressive run at the end of the season and earning the nickname "Optimus Reim," no one expected him to amount to much. For some reason, even still, after 5 seasons are paying his dues, no one expects him to amount to much.
Yet, Remier continues to be turned to when all else fails, in this case, Bernier.
Yes, his numbers are not stellar, there's no denying that. But the Leafs suck, and have sucked, almost the entire time he's been in league. He has more than one season with a GAA north of 3 and a save percentage floating around the .900 mark - numbers that are not good for the NHL, in fact they're pretty bad. But still, almost 10 years later, James Reimer has been the only constant. Yes, trading Rask was a mistake - a colossal mistake. But then the mistakes compounded and got worse. Rather than being patient with a position that cannot be rushed, predicted or bought, the Leafs did all of the latter and are left dancing with the same partner they had when they started this mess.
Over the past few years, it would have taken a superhuman effort to have good numbers in the Leafs crease. It was simply not possible to play behind that team and not let in goals...lots and lots of goals. I mean, if Dion Phaneuf is your number one D-man, and your captain, you have problems.
Yet, James Reimer has worked his way up the ladder and now, at 27, the age most goalies come into their own, Reimer is starting to deliver. Only now, now that the Leafs are no longer epically bad (they're just bad,) now are you seeing the potential of what James Reimer can be. So, while the Leafs didn't sell the farm getting Bernier, did they really need him to begin with? Did they need Pogge? Did they need Gustavsson? Right now, when the going is tough, who's there? Reimer. Of the 8 points the Leafs have this year, Reimer has 7 of them.
So while the Leafs could have had Rask, the insurace policy of Reimer deserves a chance. He's been a hell of a policy and hasn't complained much behind spotty D, faithless management and scrutinizing fans. Bernier has had plenty of opportunities and has shown he has a talent for getting injured and allowing untimely bad goals. It seems obvious: It's Reim time.
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