Monstrous

At some point, the Maple Leafs are going to have to start dealing in facts when it comes to The Monster, goalie Jonas Gustavsson.

Pretty much every game Gustavsson plays, he gives up a whack of goals, almost always three or more. Every game Ron Wilson and Brian Burke and many Leaf fans go out of their way to say it wasn't his fault, that he could have sued his defence for non-support, that you can't pin this one on him.

The latest episode in this exercise came Monday night in Philly when the Leafs lost 4-2. Gustavsson gave up the four goals on 30 shots, not considered a terribly onerous burden for an NHL goalie to bear. He was busy, sure. He made two or three very good saves. He stopped Jaromir Jagr on one of three breakaways. And he allowed four goals, which means the Leafs had very little chance of winning the game because it's very difficult to score five in most NHL matches.

At the other end, Sergei (Bob) Bobrovsky faced 28 shots, let in two. He did the job a backup goalie is supposed to do. He made as many good saves as Gustavsson, and gave up no easy ones.

The best job of a backup in the NHL on the night was delivered by 21-year-old Jacob Markstrom of Florida, a 6-foot-6 giant who won his second game in three starts with a spiffy 40-save performance against the Montreal Canadiens in which he allowed just one goal.

Now that's a monster of a kid delivering the kind of performance worthy of a good nickname.

The Leafs have paid Gustavsson well, they've taken care of his medical needs, they've coddled him, they've kept him in the NHL when should have been in the minors. It was generally acknowledged Ben Scrivens was better in the pre-season, but he went to the AHL Marlies and Gustavsson stayed up.

As a free agent, the Leafs pursued The Monster with vigour, and won the race. But that's meaningless now. Fabian Brunnstrom had a lot of teams believing in his talent once, too.

Fine. The Leafs apparently believe Gustavsson, although at 27, he's not so young any more. In his last seven appearances, a reasonable sample size, he has allowed 31 goals. In his last 17 appearances, only twice has his save percentage in a game been above .900, which is sort of the bare minimum these days to be regarded as a bona fide NHL goalie. The argument has been that the team plays badly in front of him every time out. Well, the numbers show that in his last 26 appearances, Gustavsson has faced more than 30 shots on only eight occasions.

The part that's truly mystifying is that while Gustavsson has played 68 NHL games, he has only played five in the AHL where he might have been able to build up the kind of professional confidence and momentum that could be converted into quality NHL play.

The Leafs could have gone after a veteran NHL backup last summer. Tomas Vokoun was there if they wanted him. They chose to believe in Gustavsson, and while he's capable of making good to excellent saves in any game, he just doesn't stop enough pucks to give the team a chance to win on most nights. The stats don't lie.

The excuse-making surrounding this netminder, meanwhile, is remiscent about how excuses were once made for Andrew Raycroft. And Vesa Toskala. In both cases the Leafs tried to convince you that what you thought you were seeing wasn't really what you were seeing.

Well it was. In Gustavsson's case, the only one who can really change the perception is him. Stop more pucks. Allow fewer goals. Put up the numbers.

Otherwise, there's really not much to talk about here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[John Deere]

"Tomas Vokoun was available if they wanted him"

Do you proofread your work? Please explain to us minions why Vokoun would sign to be a backup for a team that will scrap to get into the playoffs or sign to be a starting tender for a team that arguably is a Stanley Cup contender?

[Hertha]

I must say, I really like Gustavsson.Just a good guy thats been through a lot and is a true fighter to keep himself where he is.
But i have to agree with Cox on this one.I desperately want to like him, but his numbers just arent great. You see the potential he has, but hes not 22 or 23, and the defence does lose out on him sometimes, but sometimes you just have to learn to deal. I would condemn any other goalie on another team as such, so i need to do it for the leafs aswell! I think, and desperately hope that he can turn this preconception of himself around!

[ktownboy]

I agree with lunker, He did not net in any soft goals. The defense let him down, the shootout is not supposed to happen until after the overtime.

[Victor]

I agree with Cox. What I think though, is Gus reminds me of one of those late bloomers. Remember when goilies came into their own in their 30's? Tim Thomas any one. I don't want to call him Tim Thomas but he just reminds me of that late bloomer. Unfortunately we don't have the time to wait so put him back to the Marlies or trade him. He is a nice guy but even against bad teams he gives up bad goals.

[TBO]

Agreed ... trade him

[moe green]

"The Monster" doesn't have to go, he just has to go down to the Marlies for a spell. Bring up Scrivens to be backup and all will be right with the world. This team can't afford to give games away. The Flyers will undoubtedly be a good team thisseason but last night they were very beatable. Not with Goose in net.

[Laura]

Agree wholeheartedly. He looks out of control on all shots. He can't control the rebounds either. He made a few good saves last night, but other then that he is generally unimpressive most of the time.

[Al T.]

I still don't want to give up on the Monster, but I do think that he should be sent down to the Marlies. A player with a lack of confidence, and perhaps, skill, needs a lot of frequent practice, and being a backup goalie won't do. He needs regular playing time, but if he's not ready for the NHL, then he should spend time working things out in the AHL.

[moe green]

Much is about confidence in the NHL especially true with goalies. I agree with Damien and the posters here that the Leafs have done little to bolster this kid's confidence. Why not let him finish the Season with the Marlies and put up NHL numbers. That is one of the problems in Toronto. They will burn how many points on an experiment that doesn't have to happen. We better not be short of the playoffs by a couple wins this year.

[Glen]

I think the Leafs organization hurt the Monster's confidence and he hasn't recovered. In his 1st year he went 16-15-9 on a team that was 30-38-14. A winning record on a team with a losing record. How was he rewarded? By being made a backup to Giguere the following season. Then when Giggy goes down injured in the new year he plays backup to Reimer, who came in a played great. But it's no wonder he has no confidence.

[Chad]

bottom line with Gustavsson is that he's never really had a solid opportunity to prove himself. his heart problems over the last two years have kept him out of regular duty, and then when he finally was healthy last year we were riding the hot hand of Reimer until the end of the season.
now that he's healthy you expect him to come off the bench every 4th or 5th game as a back up and be sharp? he's not, n'or has he ever been, a back up goalie. he's used to playing on a regular basis.
and never mind the fact that the team seems to play completely different when he's in net.
the unfortunate part for Gustavsson is that the Leafs, like every other team, are trying to win games. and they just can't seem to do that when he's in net. so what's gonna happen is that his contract is going to expire at the end of the year and the Leafs are going to let him walk. and unless any other team is willing to take a flyer on him, he'll probably head back to Sweden.

[Mike]

Hello Mr. Cox

I always thought the media was supposed to be impartial and show ppl all the FACTS when writing. I understand that in this day and age of the great world of blogging this supposedly no longer applies. The blog is now used to get away from stating all the facts.

Monsters NHL SV% is .896 over 68 NHL games including this season. In 42 games in his rookie year his SV% was .902 with a 2.87 GAA playing behind the worst team in the Eastern conference in 2009/2010. And Since then he had 2 surgeries and had Reimer come in and play out of this world and has taken giguere job and gustavssons. Write what you want but if your gonna say someone's good vs bad at least use all the facts and don't just use the one's that best support your story.

[The J]

I tend to side with Cox on this one over those defending the Monster. Sure the defense was bad, but it's rarely great, and Reimer still wins games (last year and so far this year). At some point to be considered a solid option in the NHL, whether that be a back up or a starter, you have to steal a game or two. I don't remember the last time I stepped back and said "wow" when discussing the Monster. In fact, I don't think I ever have. You can excuse a game here and there, and yes, last night is a good example. But on the whole, he doesn't make the saves, he doesn't steal games, and he is not giving them a true chance to win. Hopefully that changes.

[Scott]

Did Damien actually watch the game, or was he just looking at stats. The Monster was solid last night, unfortunately however the defence took too many naps, gave up too many breakaways, and made the Monster responsible for making the first, second, and third save.
Agreed he looked questionable in Montreal on Saturday, but he was definitely solid last night. Maybe Damien had the story was already written pre-game and didn't feel like changing it to match actual events.

[John]

Give me a break Cox.........how about you stop making excuses for crappy defense and defensive coaching........the Monster had to make many big saves last night, many should never occur. Their defensive system has to count on a goalie making double the saves on quality chances.

Is the Monster the best goalie, of course not, hes a back up, does he have talent you bet, but he requires some defense. We have a starter and a few in the minors so who really cares about the Monster per say the article should be why the coaching staff cant correct the issue. Best D on the paper is worth nothing if your coaching staff doesn't know how to use their abilities properly and match the best system with those abilities.

[Golly Wog]

For the love of God, stop calling him that stupid name "The Monster." Any Leaf that I've ever heard of has EARNED a nickname through a great NHL career. Examples include Felix "The Cat" Potvin, Doug "Killer" Gilmour and Curtis "Cujo" Joseph. This guy stinks, plain and simple. He has not even remotely earned any type of nickname since he has been in the NHL. So can this "The Monster" nonsense already and kick this guy to the curb.

[Lil' Leigh]

I feel that Cox is being way too harsh on Gus based on last nights game, I thought Gus played much better than the score suggests. I don't know of too many BACKUP goalies that are going to be able to stop a veteran sniper like Jagr three times on a breakaway, let alone all of the odd man rushes. If the guys in front of him hadn't stopped moving their feet, he wouldn't of been peppered with shots for the better part of the second half of the second period. I was actually thankful to come out of that period with a score of 1-2. I will agree that Gus does not have stellar stats but it is hard to lay onus on just him, I feel the team never plays to their ability with him in net plus he gets hung out to dry against the more difficult teams, I think if Reimer were to have played in Boston and Gus in Winnipeg his stats might be a little bit better.

I would also like to hear what Cox would have said had we have gotten Vokoun, I am sure he would have been whinning that he shouldn't be a backup or if he was our number 1 about how unfair it is to not let Reimer have the number 1...I find Cox will ALWAYS have a negative comment regarding the Leafs!

[bill]

I agree fully with what has been said here.The leafs management have to wake up or it will be another wasted season.

[Matt K]

sometimes an apparent low shots on goal total in a given game is because the goalie is letting the first one in. when a keeper makes a few in a row as players bang around at the puck on the doorstep that's where the 30+ games happen.

also, if scrivens is the next decent goalie, then he should be in the AHL getting experience. gustavsson is our backup and that's fine. and by the way, what age did Tim Thomas start looking like a bonafide NHL goalie?

[Kaz]

I usually don't agree with Cox very often but he is right on the money. Gustavsson was doomed from the beginning with a name like "The Monster" with no NHL or AHL experience. The Leafs made a huge deal about getting him and he couldn't live up to the hype. He should have had a year in the AHL. He does have flashes of brilliance, but a lot of times he is unsure of where the puck is and looks shaky. Puck goes into the corner slide to the left, puck goes into the other corner slide to the right. He looks too mechanical like he is working on technique during the game. I like Jonas, but it comes down to facts, Scrivens has been better in the last 2 camps and he looks like he should get a shot. He could be the next Reimer !

[arthur Bailey]

seems to me like Gustavsson played well before his ailement, okay after, and terrible after the second. I think he has the skill, we have seen it in flashes, but what he is lacking is the mental compenent, and that can be found. The minors might be where he finds it.

Any chance the Leafs resign him if his play does not improve this season? I don't think so.

[Enzo Mobilio]

I have to say I always respect your views...but find myself usually on the other side of the argument...This time however, I couldn't be more on your side...Yesterday was the only outing that I can remember that I wasn't screaming at my TV at how embarrassing the Leafs back up goaltender is...But because he had a good night for his standards last night, he will be given even more opportunities to justify his horrible contract (if its more then the minimum its too much) Scrivens I would imagine is being given more game time in the AHL so he can continue to gain experience and challenge Riemer for number 1 duty one day...but when Riemer goes down there is no excuse to not start Scrivens...thanks for letting me rant...

[GaryA]

wow Damien i got to say what game where you watching last night..if Reimer was in net i still say the score is the same but we will never know. i am not ready to give up on the monster yet i actually feel like he is looking better in the nets but he does still go down a bit early but so does Reimer. lets face it they play way better in front of Reimer than Jonas which is pretty sad i think

[Enzo Mobilio]

Come on...Jagr is not 24 years old anymore...he is no longer an elite player in NHL! He was allowed to move around yesterday without anyone checking him...except for Phaneuf for most of the 2nd period...Stop giving Jonas excuses! If you didn't notice yesterdays goals were his first ones of the season...He's 39 years old! Stop making him out as super man....

[Stuck in Jersey]

I completely agree with Cox. Reimer plays behind the same defense. Sadly, last night was probably the best Goose has played and still had 4 get by him. Like Damian said, when you look at his entire body of work, there are few bright spots.