Gustavsson on the IR
Despite a relatively solid showing in Tuesday night’s game against the Senators, Jonas Gustavsson will not get a chance to start again for the near future as he has been placed on injured reserve with a groin injury.
While management would have likely gone back to Toskala anyways for Saturday’s game, an even rotation would have likely occured for the next handful of matchups as the Finnish vet has done nothing to lock down his number one spot.
This will give Toskala the chance to get in some (hopefully) solid outings and secure his position on the depth chart. It does not look to be an extremely serious injury however and Gustavsson should be back after no more than a week on the shelf. There are indications that this has to do with the heart ablation procedure Gustavsson recently underwent. Not that there should be any worry of lingering injury problems, but as the surgery utilized the groin as an access point it’s quite likely that it was not quite ready for full time action. Joey MacDonald has been called up from the Toronto Marlies to fill in as the backup.
October 8th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
@TuckerThomas
I hope you’re right.
In that vein, here’s a question: When will the 09-10 Leafs first reach the .500 mark
a) October
b) November
c) December
d) January
e) Never
October 8th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
This season just gets better and better.
October 8th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
October
October 8th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
@the_cause2000 I sure hope so but its still an inconsistant message
October 8th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
November
October 8th, 2009 at 1:14 pm
This is a blessing in disguise people. This will allow Ron Wilson and the staff to get a good look at Toskala without the media creating a goalie controversy. Vesa will get to show what he can do for the next 3 games or so. If he doesn’t impress, Gustavsson will be our new #1.
October 8th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
@Almo I suspect that your point may have a lot to do with him going on IR.
October 8th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
@ rustynail
I agree.
October 8th, 2009 at 1:18 pm
@ Jordan
If Vesa gets a shutout anytime soon, it will most likely be with the Marlies, or in the KHL…
Wow, nice about face by Wilson… I think one of the most beneficial aspects of waiving Toskala to the Marlies is the message it will send to the rest of the players on this team that if they don’t perform they will be riding the bus in the AHL.
Could this all be an American (RW and BB) backed plot to destroy this once proud franchise in an attempt to gain hockey supremacy and take over the free world!!!
October 8th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
@never there are a few others that could be waived to the Marlies without the concern of a backup
October 8th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
@rustynail
Not sure there will be a lot of deals between now and December… I think most teams are trying to get a handle on what they have (prospects, young guys) and to assess needs for the future. Draft picks are becoming increasingly valuable as BB has stated, so expect a lot of 4th-7th rounders if we do move any of these sand bags.
October 8th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
@ rustynail
True. But only one other carries a $4million price tag.
October 8th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
@ Never Yup but do we need the 4 million right now? What do we do for a goaltender? If you are talking after Gus recovers its a fair possibility but until then I see no point.
October 8th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
Toskala will bounce back BOOK IT. EVERYONE remember I said this. I can feel it. Here we go.
October 8th, 2009 at 1:30 pm
HE IS AND WILL BE OUR #1. Everyone can razz me if I’m wrong too lol
October 8th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
@ Jordan
I hope you’re wrong. Because if he’s our #1, our Goose is cooked!
October 8th, 2009 at 1:34 pm
Look guys lets not do this ‘and the 1st selection overall in 2010″ Thats just a pile of bullshit and whining by us. If we were at the draft and were picking and we could say “And the Toronto Maple Leafs select from the Boston Bruins, Phil Kessel”, we would ALL be all over it.
Also this is still a key development year and we are all sitting here getting all worked up about this. Simply put your mind back to the same as you approached last year, new guys, learning the ropes, developing talent, etc. Spend some of your time looking at how the young guys are developing. We have a lot to be proud of over the past year and lots of hope.
I think I will change my attitude towards the older guys on this team as I think there is a plan in Burkes mind and we will find the young guys here a lot quicker than we think likely.
October 8th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
Id like to see some articles on this site reporting the progress of the Marlies, the draftees wherever they happen to be. Thats where hope and excitement also exists. Go Knights Go!!!
October 8th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
@ rustynail
Of course, it is contigent on Gus’ recovery, if and when that happens… Goalie and groin injury in the same sentence do not inspire confidence.
October 8th, 2009 at 1:38 pm
@ peterbleafs
Good point. News about the Marlies and the other prospects (CHL, College, etc.) would be welcome.
October 8th, 2009 at 1:38 pm
Anytime I have a doubt about the Kessel trade I watch a clip of him undressing the Habs and Price. I can’t wait to see and cheer for that!
October 8th, 2009 at 3:00 pm
@peterbleafs
The only one really with an update would be Kadri…he has 2 goals in 3 games, but i actually think hes played 4 or 5 and has about 5 pts.
Other than that, the marlies have only played 1 game thus far…
October 8th, 2009 at 3:25 pm
wow…what a depressing start to the season…I hope Gus doesn’t turn out to be one of those ‘keepers who is always hurt…
October 8th, 2009 at 3:25 pm
@Jordan:
It’s great that you can “just feel it”, but considering the Leafs have missed the playoffs for the past 4 years, and have traded away their 1st round picks for the next 2 years, you’ll forgive me if I need more before I can agree that Toskala will bounce back.
.
The facts are, he was terrible last year, and so far this year, he is still just as terrible, if not more terrible. Other than a steadfast loyalty to the Leafs, why would anyone realistically think that Toskala will magically get better?
.
Or put another way, if the Senators were banking on a guy who was 3.26, .891% last year, and had started this year 4.97, .800%, wouldn’t you be making the drive to Ottawa to laugh in the face of Senators fans?
October 8th, 2009 at 3:26 pm
Our season is going to hell in a handbasket!!!
October 8th, 2009 at 3:27 pm
Well put Wedgie…
I concur…Tosks is toast in this town, in this league…Off to Siberia…Really crappy timing for Gus to get hurt.
October 8th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
@Jordan- Im on your side for this.. Toskala isnt as bad as everyone is saying!!!
October 8th, 2009 at 3:36 pm
I don’t think they should play Macdonald now because if he plays well then he will more than likely get claimed if we try and bring him back up on re-entry waivers. I say ride Toskala until Gus is ready. If he plays well then we may have a good goaltending tandem for the season or have the ability to trade Tosk for more than a bag of pucks later. If he plays bad then waive him and send him down and take the chance Macdonald will not be cliamed as no one will have seen much of him to grab him.
I realized that when I started to look at moving Grabovski to the wing we really are short of centres. In the past if you remember we had lots of centres playing out of position on the wing but it seems now we don’t have that luxury. Just wondering out loud what do you think a line with Poni as the centre with Grabo and Kulimen would be like. Poni might be our answer for a big centreman?
October 8th, 2009 at 3:37 pm
@lonsmos2 Poni could hardly be worse on faceoffs than Grab.
October 8th, 2009 at 3:42 pm
rustynail
I agree and he is a big body, skate pretty well, responsible defencively, good hands and shot.
Not sure if he has a centre’s mind set though but might be worth a try
October 8th, 2009 at 3:47 pm
If this doesnt turn around and we do end up with a top 5 pick…Brian Burke is going to have a city of angry fans knocking at his door…
Kessel better hurry the fuck up and heal lol
October 8th, 2009 at 6:43 pm
ive been all for Goose..but wow do ppl have a different tune about Toskala..he was argued for by many for being a top 10 in the NHL, just on an off year (i wasn’t one of them, but wow a couple games and he’s a fly on a car window)..G-buz lol. BTW, what happened to “Vesku” lollll.
October 26th, 2009 at 10:20 am
concentrations gases…
relatively late globe number national relative…