Before we get into the details something must be addressed.
There is speculation over the post MLSEL is contemplating on creating, with prominent names such as Scotty Bowman and John Muckler heading the list.
One prominent name could essentially be stricken off the list.
Not because the man is associated with the San Jose Sharks. Not due to lack of experience. The already established relationship with John Ferguson Jr. would have made this candidate ideal.
The problem is the man is on his death bed.
John Ferguson Sr. suffering through bone cancer lies waiting for the inevitable, while his son is tormented between doing his job proper, caring for his terminal father, trying to satisfy the board, the club and the fans.
For those bashing JFJ on the constant, as of today, in this blog, there is NOT to be any bashing. It is simply unfair to the man, and I will personally lay my wrath on to those that have the audacity to bad-mouth someone dealing with this situation. Say whatever about the organization, players etc. JFJ is off limits.
Respect is mandatory and I won’t stand for negative comments on the man himself.
I witnessed my own father taken by cancer. At the same time, my girlfriend’s dad suffered the same fate. Existence while waiting on a terminal family member is the most excruciating form pain, more so than a dagger straight through the heart. Both men died within a month of each other in 2005.
Death is final. The process of dying is torture, not only for the terminal, but for those surrounding. Standing there … totally helpless … limited in nothing but tears and grief. Don’t believe me? I have proof.
http://www.alzheimers.ca/english/creativespace/writingroom-blessing.htm
Yet, John Ferguson Jr. went to the draft in Columbus. He worked the phones, worked the floor with one eye, while watching his communication device for news of a more important nature, and listening to organizations at the podium cascading their respect to ‘Fergie’ over the mike prior to making their first round picks.
If the emotion of landing a major goaltender wasn’t enough of a high, listening to those pay tribute to his dying father could be nothing short of heart-wrenching. A mixed emotion of love, respect, and anguish.
Out of respect for what the man is dealing with on the personal side of his life, JFJ bashing is off limits, no exceptions.
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On to important matters.
The deal was a 1st round pick (with conditions that didn’t materialize so the pick was utilized), a 2nd round in 2007 and a 4th rounder.
Prior to this deal, I wrote a blog indicating that the most important element for the Leafs in 2007-08 would be a better showing between the pipes.
It Starts With Raycroft http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=7980
With the acquisition of Vesa Toskala, that has been achieved.
There is the pre-conceived notion that he is nothing more than a ‘back-up’ just another stop-gap measure. So let’s look at the facts starting in the 2005-06 season.
In the first half of the season, October to January the majority of work in San Jose belonged to Evgeni Nabokov.
Nabokov �" 35 games played, 2.77 GAA, .886 SV%, with a 13-13-6 record
Toskala �" 14 games played, 2.57 GAA, .857 SV%, with a 5-5-1 record.
Then something happened as of February 2006. The roles were switched. From that point on, there was a distinct reversal between the pipes.
Nabokov �" 10 games played, 3.60 GAA, .866 SV%, 2-6-1 record
Toskala �" 23 games played, 2.26 GAA, .917 SV%, 13-2-3 record
In the 2005-06 postseason, Toskala was the starter with a 6-5 record, 2.54 GAA, .902 SV%.
Of the 45 games Nabokov played for San Jose, 35 came within the first half of the season. Of the 37 games Toskala started, 23 were towards the end of the season.
Nabokov, making $5 million played 11 minutes of Game 4 against the Oilers. Toskala was indeed the go-to goaltender, but making $1.375 million was back up money. The Sharks quietly and unsuccessfully shopped Nabokov.
The Russian goaltender is worth every penny of his contract, of that there is no doubt, but it leaves the impression that he is the legitimate number one starter on the Sharks, when in fact, to start the 2006-07 season, it was Toskala.
In other words, had it not been for the gigantic - and justified - contract, it is feasible to deduce that Toskala would have been the starter in San Jose, with Nabokov on the move.
In 2006-07, Toskala set a franchise record with two assists in a game against the Blackhawks, indicating how he handles the puck fairly well, a necessity for effective beginning to the transition game.
He also tied the franchise single-season mark of wins in a row, with a seven-game win streak in late December to the end of January. He sported a sparkling 1.62 GAA and .931 SV%.
So what did the Leafs get in return for what has been hammered through to me as ‘mortgaging the future’ for stop-gap measures?
They received a prime goaltender. An upper-echelon puck-stopper that will not only reduce the amount of soft and deflationary goals, but could do something Andrew Raycroft was not able to do.
Steal a game, or many, for Toronto.
This team missed the 2006-07 postseason by a measly point. I’ve stated repeatedly that injuries can’t be used as an excuse because the depth of the organization should buoy the club through this type of adversity.
But how does one stop the persistent softie when the squad in front is pushing and pushing. Sooner or later, that softie is a back-breaker.
That, my friends, is no longer the case. The Leafs can trumpet the ‘tandem’ approach all they want, the bottom line is Toskala is a legitimate goaltender, and will be able to backstop Toronto not only into the postseason, but with a few shrewd moves, could make them into a much more competitive club.
Which brings us to the secondary part of the deal, the throw-in, the salary dump, St. Paul, Ontario native, Mark Bell.
The add-on to the deal could be one of the biggest surprises. Despite the knock, Bell started the season scoring a goal in his first three games, and was a physical presence. The six-foot-four, 205 pounds winger is the prototypical big winger praised in the Anaheim Ducks run to the cup. For every team that is a truth, but for Toronto it’s a mistake?
Wasn’t that it? Big, banging wingers to create havoc in the offensive zone? Wasn’t this the reason the Leafs signed Nik Antropov and Ponikarovsky?
Bell has scored 20 goals twice in the NHL, 26 in 2005-06 with the Blackhawks. Imagine the line of six-foot-four Bell, with six-foot-six Antropov, and six-foot-four Alexei Ponikarovsky. Does that line have the potential for three 20-goal scorers? (I dub them the Triple Towers Line if it comes to fruition). Could Darcy Tucker not score another 20?
The lower end of up-front talent is in place, with the likes of the Kilgers, Newburys, etc, but the addition of Bell leaves a specific spot open on Mats Sundin’s flank. The line of Kyle Wellwood, Mats Sundin and ??, with a legitimate scorer, in addition to the Triple Towers Line, with a power play that features Tomas Kaberle, and Bryan McCabe, with secondary Pavel Kubina, and Ian White/Carlo Colaiacovo on the point, and this is not the same team that missed the postseason by a single point.
The main issue with the Leafs now is finding up-front talent to augment an up-tempo, grinding style of game, similar to that of the Ottawa Senators.
What the future holds for Raycroft is a possible deal to clear cap-space. If not, as a back up, playing 20-30 games is not out of the question.
Toronto gave up quite a bit in the form of the first two draft picks, but in speaking with scouts, they informed me of the third round pick Dale Mitchell. Playing behind John Tavares didn’t help his visibility, but if the diminutive winger can develop as they would like, the scouting staff implemented by the Ferguson regime could prove in hindsight that the draft picks in 2007 and the draft day deal for Toskala/Bell were both a success.
For the record though, draft picks are important and to trade away future picks would be fool-hardy. Tread with care.
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