There Must be a Change in Goal Kyle

 

Photo From NHL

 

Yesterday afternoon the Leafs and Buffalo Sabres met in the Heritage Classic at Tim Horton’s Field, Craig Anderson would start for Buffalo and after getting pulled the other night against Arizona Petr Mrazek was given the start and a chance to redeem himself. Honestly for forty minutes Mrazek was ok but with the game tied 2-2 the most important period of yesterdays game, the third saw Petr Mrazek give up without a doubt the worst goal I have ever seen at any level of hockey. Buffalo’s Vinnie Hinostroza scored a goal from the right corner of the rink and beat Mrazek clean on his blocker side. Of course, I have never played a game of hockey in my life, but I have been around long enough to know that there is absolutely no excuse for that goal to go in at the NHL level let alone any level. Throughout this season I have tried to defend the signing of Petr Mrazek by Toronto, but I am done defending him I am baffled as to how he has managed to win ten games this season because Petr has no idea at all where his goal posts are he over commits on literally every shot his faces, the second Arizona goal the other night is a perfect example. He is getting paid 3.8 million dollars for the remainder of this season and next, I have seen Dubas get criticized for this signing and maybe it’s warranted but at the same time everyone needs to understand that he would have gotten a deal like that elsewhere. I completely understand the thought process behind signing Mrazek during free agency, despite battling injuries in 12 appearances Mrazek posted a record 6-2 with a goals against average of 2.06 and a save percentage of 923. He is a goalie that is capable of posting respectable numbers so I can understand Kyle Dubas thinking this would be a decent addition but sadly Leaf fans have seen a goalie that really should be riding busses in the American League because at no point this season have the Leafs gotten NHL quality goaltending from Mrazek so something needs to change and after seeing the reaction of Dubas after seeing his team lose the outdoor game 5-2 I believe a change will be coming. So, who should the Leafs get in replacement of Petr Mrazek?

Well, there are a few options, first is Marc Andre Fleury who lately has had his name mentioned a lot and if Dubas can pull off a trade for this goalie if he can make it fit under the cap then it’s his team and his decision, but I really don’t think he is the right goalie to bring in. MAF is getting 7 million dollars this season and I am likely repeating myself because I know I have talked about this in previous blog posts, but I need Leaf fans to wake up, make sure their eyes are open and look at the entire picture. IF Toronto trades for Fleury the team would not be getting a goalie performing like he did when he won multiple cups the team would not be getting a goalie that took Vegas to the Cup Finals in their inaugural season. The Toronto Maple Leafs would be getting a goalie who is 38 years old and has a record of 19-20-4 with a goals against average just under 3 (at 2.92) and a save percentage of 906. Yes, those numbers are better than Petr Mrazek but that’s stating the obvious. My issue with potentially trading for Fleury is the fact that he is entering the end of his career is it worth giving up draft picks and prospects for an expensive rental goalie that likely won’t sign a new deal once this one expires.

A goalie the Leafs should consider is Anton Forsberg of the Ottawa Senators, now I know what fans are thinking reading this and you’re right Ottawa is bad this year but here’s the thing Forsberg has a winning record and better numbers all around compared to Fleury. Forsberg in 27 starts has a record of 13-11-2, a save percentage of 916, and a goals against average of 2.83 all better than Fleury and here’s a few more numbers that would favor the Leafs he is 29 and his contract has a value of $900K. With Ottawa having Matt Murray who is currently injured but under contract untill the end of the 24 season and Filip Gustavsson under contract for the rest of this season and next at $787,000 it is believed that Forsberg is available for a trade. The Leafs would benefit huge from acquiring him they don’t need a Vezina award winning goalie they just need someone to help keep this team afloat while Jack Campbell recovers from his injury. They have been in situations like this in the past. I remember Toronto being without Curtis Joseph in the 02 season, Trevor Kidd the backup wasn’t performing like the Leafs needed and the Leafs went and brought in Corey Schwab. Fans wondered if that move was going to work out and for the most part it did, Schwab posted a record of 12 wins 10 losses and 5 ties, and the Leafs would stay alive untill Joseph returned and the Leafs went on a playoff run that saw them reach the Semi Finals. All it takes is a goalie to instill some confidence in his team and anything can happen. I know Leaf fans are concerned because the Bruins are just two points behind Toronto now but relax this team will turn it around and the wins will return and they will make the post season, for now Leafs management needs to accept the fact that Petr Mrazek has not worked out for the Leafs like they had hoped and a change in goal needs to happen.

I know reading this makes the game yesterday sound like it was terrible from start to finish but there were some positives that happened as well. The Leafs did a good job defending despite the weather conditions and ice quality, we are aware Toronto’s defense has been an issue since Jake Muzzin has gone down with another concussion but yesterday Toronto in my opinion performed well in their end of the rink. Toronto managed to get secondary scoring with production from Ondrej Kase who opened the scoring with his 12^th goal of the season, Tavares and Nylander both collected an assist adding to their point totals, TJ Brodie, and Alex Kerfoot both hit career milestones yesterday as Brodie with an assist reached 300 career points and Kerfoot collected his 43 point of the season a new career high for him. Toronto was a very dangerous team when they played shorthanded registering at least five threatening scoring chances against Buffalo’s Powerplay.

All those positives are wiped away after a poor performance in goal by Mrazek when his team needed him the most and the frustration of the loss boiled over when Auston Matthews who scored his 45^th goal of the season that gave Toronto the 2-1 lead, late in the final period Auston Cross-Checked Buffalo’s Rasmus Dahlin in the direction of his head in retaliation for a cross check from Rasmus. I need to mention that after the game the leagues department of player safety announced that Auston Matthews will have a hearing for the incident so he will likely miss a few games.

 The Leafs next game comes Tuesday night when the Dallas Stars pay a visit to Scotiabank Arena I personally hope that Sheldon Keefe gives Erik Kallgren a chance in goal but Petr Mrazek will likely be in goal once again and if Mrazek struggles once again then that would have to be it for Mrazek as a member of the Maple Leafs, whether that means he is traded or waived I don’t think the Leafs can continue with the Petr Mrazek experiment.

 

Kyle if by some miracle you happen to see this you said, “I’m not concerned about either of our goaltenders” and my response to you is simply this are you concerned now? And if not then when?

A small update: Auston Matthews has been handed a 2 game suspension for cross checking Rasmus Dahlin. He will miss tomorrow's game against Dallas and Thursday's meeting with Carolina

 

Thanks as always for reading.