Its Pronounced Vesa, NOT Vezina

   How good was Toskala last year really?    Was he worth , the 13th overall pick in 2007, the second ound leaf pick in the same year, a 4th to come and wayward, lead -footed Mark Bell's 2.5 per annum contract?

    While you ponder the larceny committed by Doug Wilson, whilst taking advantage of

Fergie Jr. , consider that he hired Fergie as his pro scout this year, perhaps out of pity,

       Toskala, played weaker teams in San Jose' as the back up, and had a great team in front of him.   At his zenith last year, he might have been traded, for something worthwhile, altho certainly not the kings ransom, Leafs paid to cquire him.

        Is he horrible? At that price, with tomas Vokoun and others available-YES.  At the cost of Leafs getting a higher draft pick -Yes.  Is he a readeable commodity now?-NO, Is he leafs goalie of the future-NO.    So while he's a streaky netminder, who finds his groove well into the season,the total retail package of his acquisition from San Jose' , is the kind that should have Leafs lobbying the senate for a bailout!

      A small goalie, who plays small ( back in the net)..a reflex goalie with a waning confidence. A goalie once pushed by Nabokov and Kiprosoff, but living without that pressure in Toronto, should go down in Leaf lore as one of the club's worst ever acquisitions.       Now, at another price, say, a third rounder, he'd be a fine add. Also, if if I'm him I take the 4 mill. per annum and term, and run like a  thief. After all he's a lot better than Raycroft.      

         On this team at this time. he's not a major commodity.   He's a goaltender who needs to get hot, and appreciate leading up to the trade dead line.  

      I admit what truly irks me about Vesa, is that he makes excuses, for his off games.

"wasn;t just me out there". " I thought I felt pretty good",   "Can;t save them all"..maybe he;s just a bit "too" cool.   Sad. I hoped the attitude around Toronto had changed.   So far Ron Wilson has not jumped on him like he has , Kaberle ( leafs most consistent defenseman over the past 5 seasons)   This seaso, his self-made excuses, bring to mind Andrew Raycroft's comments right after Leafs missed the playoffs yet again.    When asked how he felt about narrowly missing the playoffs, Raycroft responded defensively, "I won 37 games"......attaboy Andrew, you've got your prioritiies straight after all.

          Toskala will find the groove, as it appears he's coming out to challenge shooters and standing up just a bit longer, of late.    Late, is the operative word. It may just be too late to get into the playoff hunt , and just a bit too hot , too late to get a high pick.    Even if he's hotter than HADES, I'd trade him,  near

near the deadline regardless of where Leafs are in the standings.  He's not a top ten or 15 goalie, and A Jaraslav Halat, Tomas Vokoun, or a youngster like Kari Raimo, , even bringing back Ray Emery Fraught with foibles, Or , throwing Justin Pogge in between the pipes, is a far better move than hanging on to Toskala.         The price to get him was too dear, and Leaf Nation should hope he gets hot, for just a long enough stretch to parlay him into something worthwhile, cut our losses , and truly build for the future.    

     Vesa's not bad, but he "aint" George Vezina.

Joe Di Nardo