Being in the shadow of a Monster.

Being in the shadow of a Monster.

With the exhibition games coming to a close you have to wonder how the young kids and veterans alike feel right now. Guys Like Kadri returning to the Junior team in London, Hanson, Frogren to the Marlies and even Andy Rogers who I thought played well being released, to mention a few.

I guess the real young kids/draft picks know that on a club whose roster has reasonably strong NHL’ers signed to contracts their days are numbered. They would basically have to walk on water to make the line-up. But there are exceptions, I really like the fact that Viktor Stalberg is sticking around for a longer look, it’s been a real long time since the Toronto Maple Leafs have had a player with his speed and goal scoring ability and hockey smarts coming up the ranks. As a matter of fact I can’t really think of one.

Now my main concern is the goaltending. Vesa Toskala’s save percentage of .891 and a GAA of 3.26 in the 2008/09 season did not exactly shine. The explanation for his poor performance was due to a groin injury; OK I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt on that one. Now that he has had the surgery and has “fully recovered” over the summer I now expected big things from him, this was his time to shine and take the team to another level with a much improved defence. But his light has been dimmed by a poor performance in the prelims by letting in some pretty soft goals. He didn’t exactly shine. Is he just an average goalie that has reached his potential? I would have to say yes at this point, he hasn’t shown that he will ever be any better than he is right now, shame really.

In comes Jonas (The Monster) Gustavsson he’s young, big and fast, he’s been described as the best goalie outside the NHL, and even though he had a setback with minor heart surgery he has shown why he is considered “the best.” He’s played 60 minutes of scoreless hockey and made a fantastic save on a two on nothing bringing the crowd at the ACC to their feet in a standing ovation. Although we’ve only watched him on the international scene and just glimpses of him in practice and NHL game time, he looks like he has the potential to be a young Patrick Roy.

I’m sure Toskala see’s him a real threat to his #1 spot, and a real confidence killer, he really is standing in the shadow of a monster.