Goalie competition tops Maple Leafs' five questions

[Budsfan]

By Sean Farrell - NHL.com Correspondent

1. Who will be the Maple Leafs' No. 1 goalie? -- Odds are it will be Jonathan Bernier, though don't count out James Reimer yet.

It would have seemed Bernier was a lock for that job at the end of last season. He went 26-19-7 with a 2.68 goals-against average and .923 save percentage (eighth in the NHL).

2. What immediate impact will Dubas have on the Maple Leafs? -- The NHL neophyte brings a statistical analysis approach to Toronto's executive group.

3. What role will forward David Clarkson play? -- A rebound or not from a disappointing debut season in Toronto will tell the tale.

With the depth that the Maple Leafs have added up front, it may prove difficult for Clarkson to find playing time in the top six. That said, if Clarkson brings the kind of two-way game he is capable of, he would be a formidable third-line presence.

4. Can the Maple Leafs close the gap between shots on goal and shots on goal allowed? -- The Maple Leafs averaged 27.9 shots on goal per game in 2013-14, a differential of minus-8 per game. Even a slight improvement in puck possession will narrow this gap, a significant hole in Toronto's game last season.

5. Are the Maple Leafs a playoff team? -- They were two seasons ago, and only a late-season swoon prevented them from being there last season.

The elements appear to be in a place with solid offensive production expected from the top two lines; a mobile, young defense; and two goaltenders capable of winning games, but the competition in the Atlantic Division is likely to be fierce.

These are all good questions for this year..... my take

1. Bernier has established
himself as the #1 Goal Tender and Reimer will again be back-up but I also think Reimer can rebound from last season and they can be a very good 1-2 tandem.

2. Dubas will have good influence on the players and team as a whole, as long as Carlyle, Nonis and some of the other Coaches and Players buy into his Advanced Stats approach.

3. Clarkson definitely had an off-year but I think he will turn things
around, especially if as they do as the article is saying, move him out of the top 6 and on to the 3rd line.

4. This is the question, reducing shots on goal, I'm hopeful with an improved bottom 6 and instituting a new system with better backchecking and puck possession, it is very possible.

5. Are we a play-off team....Yes.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=728428

Click to read more...

 

[ACC1224]

My post vanished??

#1 isn't a question, let alone the top one.

 

[Budsfan]

My post vanished??

#1 isn't a question, let alone the top one.

I agree however I'm sure Reimer will disagree, he see's himself as the #1 Goal Tender and that is a healthy attitude, if Bernier can't play maybe an injury putting him out for while, Reimer hopefully can step in and do the job, without missing a beat.

I think reducing the shots on goal is the biggest problem but as I posted above, they may cut the shots way down with a new system and with a more veteran bottom 6 and everyone buying in to back checking and puck possession.

I believe we will be much improved this season.

 

[Kubus]

1. Who will be the Maple Leafs' No. 1 goalie?
I'm pretty sure it's Bernier at this point. He took the position last year, and I think he will be the guy that starts the season.

2. What immediate impact will Dubas have on the Maple Leafs?
Absolutely none. He might have some impact by trade deadline, but at this point I expect he is just getting his feet wet.

3. What role will forward David Clarkson play?
I think Clarkson is what he is, a overpaid 3rd liner. I expect him to have a better season, as last season was just horrible, but I don't see him as a true top 6 guy. I'm really hoping for 15 goals out of him, if he gets PP time. He does have good net presence.

4. Can the Maple Leafs close the gap between shots on goal and shots on goal allowed?
One would hope so. I think overall the team will be tougher to play against so I think that will help us prevent a few shots.

5. Are the Maple Leafs a playoff team?
Yes. The east is horrible and I think this team has improved, both through trades and the development of our players. I'm really not expecting another meltdown.

 

[Tyler Biggs*]

It's pretty easy to just blame Reimer for the Leaf collapse down the stretch, but obviously the Leafs have issues beyond their goaltending.

 

[Lebanese Leaf]

Why even acknowledge such a misinformed article... there is absolutely no question who the #1 goalie is, let alone the top question.

 

[Budsfan]

Why even acknowledge such a misinformed article... there is absolutely no question who the #1 goalie is, let alone the top question.

It's not really misinfomed, it's evaluating all the teams "30 Teams in 30 Days" and being read across the league by people that are not as informed with the Leafs as we are, they read all about Reimer asking for a trade and then when he signed he is saying he will be given a chance to become the #1 Goal Tender, so from that perspective, they are giving their evaluation of the situation, everyone here I'm sure, knows Bernier is considered #1.

 

[Darcy Tucker]

Clarkson having a rebound year is a big question and could really pay off big for our club. We need a mucker and grinder to perform for us and I doubt Frattin, Bodie or Komarov can perform to the level Clarkson is capable of.

Lupul being a star player or not is another big question. Same with our PK.

Booth is intriguing as well.

 

[p.l.f.]

Reimer will be the #1 if Bernier gets hurt for a month
Maybe he'll do so well he wins it

I think the 2nd line will be between : Lupul Kadri Booth Santorelli
Clarkson showed me nothing to suggest he can make the 2nd line
But there will be injuries

 

[Budsfan]

Clarkson having a rebound year is a big question and could really pay off big for our club. We need a mucker and grinder to perform for us and I doubt Frattin, Bodie or Komarov can perform to the level Clarkson is capable of.

Lupul being a star player or not is another big question. Same with our PK.

Booth is intriguing as well.

Reimer will be the #1 if Bernier gets hurt for a month
Maybe he'll do so well he wins it

I think the 2nd line will be between : Lupul Kadri Booth Santorelli
Clarkson showed me nothing to suggest he can make the 2nd line
But there will be injuries

The Questions put forward by nhl.com are valid but not as to point as the ones both of you have posted and this really the reason why I started this thread and you both have touched on an area that needs to be discussed.

When Bolland went down we were hard pressed to get supplimental scoring from the 2nd line and some of the players had a sub par year and they were not alone, lots of players did and so too, the 3rd and 4th lines were not producing either, can it all be coaching, I'm not sure and Lupul did have a bad year, so did Kadri and we released the one player that was doing well by not signing Mason Raymond.

We brought in a boat load of centers, can one of them be a replacement for Bolland and spark some extra scoring, can Lupul and Kadri rebound and who plays the right side.

 

[Duke Silver]

It's pretty easy to just blame Reimer for the Leaf collapse down the stretch, but obviously the Leafs have issues beyond their goaltending.

Don't get me wrong, the Leafs' team defence did not help.... but some of the goals Reimer let in down the stretch, early in games, were inexcusably weak. We were constantly playing from behind because he couldn't make a routine save when we needed it.

 

[Portse91]

1. Who will be the Maple Leafs' No. 1 goalie?
Bernier, no question. Now in his 2nd season as the guy in charge, he knows what to expect and i anticipate his numbers will reflect that.

2. What immediate impact will Dubas have on the Maple Leafs?
I dont see much impact here. Unless you are a die hard Marlies fan and follow them religiously. He will have his hands full managing them and probably wont have a significant impact at the NHL level. In some ways I almost see Shanny asking him to prove his theories at the AHL level first.

3. What role will forward David Clarkson play?
Due to the amount he makes. He will get every opportunity to grab that second line spot. But I cant see him beating Booth for that spot. I see him on the third line, But if you're a glass half full type of person. I cant see how he cant top his dismal goal totals of last year. So an improvemnt seems inevitable.

4. Can the Maple Leafs close the gap between shots on goal and shots on goal allowed?
I say yes. Polak and Robidas should help this issue big time.

5. Are the Maple Leafs a playoff team?
Yes. Better defence, better bottom 6. Weak east.

 

[Duke Silver]

4. Can the Maple Leafs close the gap between shots on goal and shots on goal allowed?
I say yes. Polak and Robidas should help this issue big time.

Plus taking the shackles off our puck-rushing d-men and having a bottom-6 with good possession numbers.

We may not turn it into a positive trend, but we should hopefully be near break-even.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Don't get me wrong, the Leafs' team defence did not help.... but some of the goals Reimer let in down the stretch, early in games, were inexcusably weak. We were constantly playing from behind because he couldn't make a routine save when we needed it.

When we needed it? Like as when the opposing team gets 6 awesome scoring chances in the first 10 minutes of the game, and the 6th one goes in ...

Look, Bernier is the #1 no doubt and Reimer did let in some bad ones but still, I say Reimer's season on balance was better than most of our other players.

We we're constantly playing from behind because our team defence was bad. It's hard to find words to explain just how bad it was but blaming our woes on Reimer is like letting the rest of the guys off the hook and that is just wrong.

 

[FerrisRox]

I think the 2nd line will be between : Lupul Kadri Booth Santorelli
Clarkson showed me nothing to suggest he can make the 2nd line
But there will be injuries

And Booth has?

 

[Duke Silver]

When we needed it? Like as when the opposing team gets 6 awesome scoring chances in the first 10 minutes of the game, and the 6th one goes in ...

Look, Bernier is the #1 no doubt and Reimer did let in some bad ones but still, I say Reimer's season on balance was better than most of our other players.

We we're constantly playing from behind because our team defence was bad. It's hard to find words to explain just how bad it was but blaming our woes on Reimer is like letting the rest of the guys off the hook and that is just wrong.

I already qualified that with saying our defence did not help.

I'm talking about games late in the season where he let in at least one stinker per game. Off the top of my head, Montreal, Tampa Bay and New Jersey spring to mind.

All I'm saying is that, yes, while Reimer isn't solely to blame, he needs to shoulder his share of the blame for simply not being good enough when it counted. He doesn't get to hide behind the "our defence wasn't good enough" excuse, much like our defence doesn't get to hide behind "our goaltending wasn't good enough".

 

[Gary Nylund]

I already qualified that with saying our defence did not help.

I'm talking about games late in the season where he let in at least one stinker per game. Off the top of my head, Montreal, Tampa Bay and New Jersey spring to mind.

All I'm saying is that, yes, while Reimer isn't solely to blame, he needs to shoulder his share of the blame for simply not being good enough when it counted. He doesn't get to hide behind the "our defence wasn't good enough" excuse, much like our defence doesn't get to hide behind "our goaltending wasn't good enough".

It was this sentence:

We were constantly playing from behind because he couldn't make a routine save when we needed it.

that made it sound like accorind go you Reimer was the main culprit which I don't think is fair (though of course he deserves his fair share of the blame).

 

[Maple Leaf]

Clarkson should be on the 4th line until he can show he can actually contribute

 

[Duke Silver]

It was this sentence:

We were constantly playing from behind because he couldn't make a routine save when we needed it.

that made it sound like accorind go you Reimer was the main culprit which I don't think is fair (though of course he deserves his fair share of the blame).

That wasn't meant to attribute 100% of the blame, but I can understand why you would take it that way. I just wanted to hammer home the point that he definitely didn't help when he let in those clunkers all on his own.

 

[Budsfan]

This is another good article about the team as a whole and goes the heart of the #5 question.

5. Are the Maple Leafs a playoff team? -- They were two seasons ago, and only a late-season swoon prevented them from being there last season.

Maple Leafs Relying On New Faces To Spark Turnaround

http://mapleleafs.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=728527&navid=DL|TOR|home

After losing 12 of its final 14 games last season to miss the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the eighth time in nine years, Toronto will be looking to return to the postseason with a revamped lineup. Roman Polak and Stephane Robidas were added to shore up captain Dion Phaneuf's defensive corps, which features young talents Morgan Rielly and Jake Gardiner; the latter was signed to a five-year, $20.25 million contract in July.

"We liked our defense individually, but we didn't necessarily like how they fit together," Nonis told the National Post. "We feel it's a better mix."

Forwards Matt Frattin and Leo Komarov are back for a second go-around in Toronto while other additions up front include David Booth, Petri Kontiola, Mike Santorelli and penalty-killing specialist Daniel Winnik.

Phil Kessel's 37 goals and 80 points last season provided consistent offensive production while James van Riemsdyk had 30 goals and 31 assists. Joffrey Lupul and Nazem Kadri were 20-goal scorers and Tyler Bozak had 19 goals and 49 points in 58 games. So the personnel on the top two lines is well established in Toronto.

And though it looked like Jonathan Bernier would have the No. 1 job in goal locked up, the Maple Leafs signed James Reimer to a two-year contract worth $4.6 million. Reimer struggled in 2013-14 and will be returning with what he understands to be a legitimate shot at claiming the lion's share of the goaltending duties.

"That's pretty much what I've been told," Reimer told the Toronto Star. "That's all a guy can ask for. All you want is a chance, and I intend to make the most of it.

"My goal is to go in there and be the No. 1 guy. Worst-case scenario: me and Bernier push each other and we get great goaltending."

 

[Tyler Biggs*]

How about we support both goalies? This whole Bernier Vs Reimer debate is complete pointless. I have confidence in both guys. Go Leafs Go!

 

[Tyler Biggs*]

The way I see it is we have 2 #1 tenders between the pipes, just a matter of who will be consistent through the season...Go Leafs Go

 

[TheThrill81*]

The way I see it is we have 2 #1 tenders between the pipes, just a matter of who will be consistent through the season...Go Leafs Go

No, you have to take sides. And you have to exaggerate the flaws either goalie may have depending on which side you take.

 

[-DeMo-]

The way I see it is we have 2 #1 tenders between the pipes, just a matter of who will be consistent through the season...Go Leafs Go

the way I see it is neither goalie has had back to back 60+ games played and played at a high level to suggest either are #1's at this point.

 

[Leafidelity]

Bernier is the starting goaltender of this team. I just hope Reimer took the time this summer to train in a way that he can handle starts a week or more apart and not look cold as ice.