There's No Rush

Nobody likes the three-goalie system, at least not for long.

But until the Maple Leafs are sure they have a bona fide starter, doesn't it make sense for them to keep all the goalies they can get their hands on?

Let's be honest. Nobody, even super-confident goalie consultant Steve McKichan, can yet say for certain that Andrew Raycroft will bounce back from a sub-par season last year with the Boston Bruins.

Yes, the Bruins were awful. Yes, having Hannu Toivonen and Tim Thomas in and out of the lineup even when Raycroft was healthy didn't create a stable working environment.

Still, nobody knows for sure whether Raycroft is again ready to be a No. 1 goalie for a team that will need sterling goaltending to make the post-season.

And you won't know, realistically, until late November or early December.

So what if he bombs? Wouldn't it make sense under that scenario to have both Mikael Tellqvist and Jean-Sebastien Aubin around, particularly since that tandem seemed to work fairly well for the club in the last weeks of the season last spring?

Neither Tellqvist nor Aubin is eating up a lot of salary cap room. The team can easily go indefinitely with 13 forwards, seven defencemen and three goalies.

And the possible returns in a trade for either Aubin or Tellqvist are likely to be no more than a mid-round draft pick at best right now, particularly since neither is a proven backup, let alone a proven starter.

It's not like dealing one or the other is going to patch another hole in the Leaf lineup.

Remember when San Jose figured it had to get rid of a goalie, figuring three was too many? The Sharks kept Evgeny Nabokov and Vesa Toskala, and dumped Miikka Kiprusoff to the Calgary Flames for a second round pick.

This, of course, is not to compare either Aubin or Tellqvist with Kiprusoff. But the point is the Leafs need more information on all of their netminders before they feel the need to dump one. Geez, they only gave Aubin a shot at all last season because they had no choice, and look what they found out about him.

Moroever, this is a bit of a phony debate since the Leafs don't have to make a decision. The only people left uncomfortable in a three-goalie system are the No. 2 and 3 goalies, because they don't get enough work in practice, and the head coach, 'cause he's got to deal with long faces.

So let Raycroft establish himself and get comfortable. Once that has taken place, then it will be time to choose between Aubin and Tellqvist.

Comments

[Andrew Barrie]

What makes anyone believe Raycroft will perform like he did in his rookie season? Nothing in the pre-season was more than mediocre.

Aubin, after his late season heroics in a tragic season, should be starting, and if the leafs really were concerned about getting a starting goaltender in a trade for a brilliant prospect, they should have gone to Buffalo for Biron.

Biron will be in another city by the trade deadline, and JFJ could be shaking his head about making the wrong trade, if he weren't so oblivious.

[Scott]

I could not agree more. None of them have shown any weaknesses thus far in the pre-season. Dumping one of them at this point could turn out to be a very bad choice. Let's pray Raycroft plays the we all know he can.

[Andrew Barrie]

The preseason means nothing. I hear that alot, but its bull. lots of players have lots to prove, like Raycroft, and he is not doing it.

Yes, Belfour let in a lot of weak shots in his first pre-season as a leaf, but he has a cup win to his name, and is an undisputed future hall of famer.

Raycroft has one piece of hardware that is looking like it was not earned.

Tonight against detriot, 4 goals on 22 shots...

team defense might be suspect, but toronto Goalie has not had to make up for that in the last 8 years? Raycroft is not up to the task.

[Pete]

So having two other goalies around Raycroft in Boston wasn't a good workplace scenario, but having two in Toronto will allow him to thrive?

[Tom]

For once I agree...well, somewhat. All three goalies looked ok but at this time of year ok is good. I remember many times reading about how Belfour having slow starts then going on to win 30 games. So cut Raycroft some slack, let the other two wait in the wings - when did competion become a bad thing. I say if they want the job earn it. I like the additions this year and remember from last year, if Sundin didnt go down right out of the gate, McCabe didnt go down, even with Belfours aweful play they might have made those 5 or 6 points and made it under the wire....optimism.