Toronto Maple Leafs' Gustavsson Becoming "The Monster"

Some time ago, I wrote that Jonas Gustavsson reminded me a little of what would happen if you put goalie equipment on Nik Antropov.

He seemed to have good eyes and could see what was happening, but his body couldn't catch up to his mind. It seems as though the Monster is starting to come into his own as an NHL caliber goal tender.

Gustavsson has gone 7-2-1 in his last 10 starts with two shut outs, a goals against average of just 1.6 and a save percentage of almost .943.

Ladies and gentlemen, that isn't just good. That is the best in the league right now.

One can't help but wonder what the season would have been like for the Leafs had the Monster found his form a little earlier. While it certainly isn't fair to place that kind of burden on his shoulder, it certainly does make for interesting fodder.

One thing that will be interesting to see in the off season is just how this kind of performance is going to affect contract negotiations.

While he is proving that he likely has what it takes, it is still a fairly big risk to sign him to a big money long term deal.

JS Giguere, may not have been the saviour most of the the Toronto Maple Leafs fans thought he was going to be, after starting with two consecutive shut outs upon his arrival, he has posted a three and six record along with two shoot out losses.

On the flip side, perhaps he is the saviour. Although he has a goals against of 2.92 and a save percentage of .903, he seems to have been exactly what the Monster and the rest of the young team needed.

All of the credit of course for the turn around of the Toronto Maple Leafs, can't be Gustavsson's alone. The obvious leadership provided by new comer Dion Phanuef, and the calming, steadying presence of a true veteran goal tender have gone a long way as well.

Ron Wilson is obviously another factor to be considered. A great many Leafs fans aren't so much Wilson fans. He was chastised early in the season for his unorthodox method of trying to break the Leafs out of a long and painful winless streak.

Then once again, when his team had started winning games but seemd to not show up to each game. Then it happened.

We all woke up one morning to discover half of the team had been traded away .

The consequent arrival of new younger talent, that included penalty killing specialist Fredrik Sjostrom has rippled through whole organization like a breath of fresh air to a drowning man.

Ron Wilson has a team that he can mold, and one is young enough to listen and learn. The Toronto Maple Leafs have been eliminated from the play offs for the fifth consecutive season, It certainly doesn't look like there will be a sixth.