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A Big Break

Written by: admin on 16th September 2009

PHOTO BY SCOTT VANKOUGHNETT

The Leafs hope that Jonas "The Monster" Gustavsson can be their goalie of the future after trading their last top two goalie prospects. | read this item

The Maple Leafs just can’t seem to win. I’m not just talking about their recent play on the ice, but everything from drafting, trading, and developing players. Of course, being in a pressure-packed environment is very difficult on the Maple Leafs’ players, the management, and the fans but one must believe that eventually this franchise will get its BIG BREAK.

That B.B. will hopefully come thanks to our very own B.B., Brian Burke. This piece comes in light of the summer events involving the trading of former top-prospect G Justin Pogge for a conditional draft pick and the signing of goalies Joey MacDonald and Jonas “The Monster” Gustavsson.

But this isn’t about the two signings. It’s about what could have been for the Leafs and their three former goalies: Andrew Raycroft, Tukka Rask and Justin Pogge.

Speaking of Pogge, so much for him being the savior of the Leafs. For years the media and Leafs’ fans have cried for more Canadian players on the squad, notably Don Cherry’s continuous rants on “Coaches Corner” about which Canadian player the blue and white had passed on in past drafts.

I’m saying this from a defensive stance as you cannot fault the Maple Leafs for having pulled the trigger on the Raycroft for Tukka Rask trade a few years ago. In doing so, the Leafs not only bet their money on one Canadian goalie in acquiring Raycroft but a pair who at the time were FULL of potential (Raycroft and Pogge). Of course there were Raycroft doubters at the time of the trade due to the poor follow-up season to his rookie campaign but we are still talking about a player who had just won the Calder. Think about how lucky a team would have been if they had been able to acquire Cam Ward after his somewhat poor sophomore season the way the Leafs acquired Raycroft. Of course there are flaws in comparing the Raycroft and Ward situations but simply take note of the argument in place, that the Leafs took a gamble on a good Canadian boy.

Of course Tukka Rask has not yet established himself. And yes his one shutout in his one game last season was impressive but at the time of the Raycroft/ Rask trade it was almost unanimous that Pogge was the untouchable. Right now one has to believe that going for the European goaltender would have been the right choice. When Pogge and Rask had their terrific World Juniors show, Ferguson was in a tight corner and pulled the trigger, giving up a top notch prospect….but remember that Pogge and his gold medal were going nowhere and Rask was still many years from hitting the big league.

With the luck of this franchise, Pogge will once again regain the form that had people speaking the name of Patrick Roy when referring to his potential. This potential was only really seen in the WHL and World Juniors where he marginally out-dueled Rask; but the kid is still young.

Did the Leafs make a mistake pulling the trigger on Pogge?

No one can say for certain, but trading Rask is something I believe was truly a mistake…wouldn’t a Pogge for Raycroft deal look like a Maple Leafs victory right about now? There is still hope for the very large Pogge in the NHL, a player that just couldn’t stand tall enough with the Leafs despite being 6’3.

The mistake in this dilemma would have been if Burke had not qualified Pogge, because out of this mess comes a conditional draft pick.

Maybe this mystery pick can be the future Wayne Gretzky…and that would be our Big Break.

For OpenIceHockey.com, I’m Kyle Raby

Topics: Andrew Raycroft, Jonas Gustavsson, Justin Pogge, Toronto Maple Leafs, Tukka Rask