Posted by Gayle Simone, Sun Staff
According to BostonBruins.com, Hannu Toivonen is going to get the start in net tomorrow night, this does not make me very happy...
Just look at the picture above and the easy goal he let in playing the Isles - again I have always said he goes down way to early and gives up the soft goals - He tries too hard to look good instead of making saves...
I had heard a rumor that Lewis was thinking about scrathing Toivonen for the opener and calling up Brian Finley ... who by the way has a 2-1 record, 2.67 GAA and .918 Sv% - better than both Toivonen and Tim Thomas - but there is a reason I write about hockey instead of coach it.
Ugh, I am not sure if I feel Lewis is putting the best team and lines on the ice for the home opener, team and fans - again JMHO
Who do you think deserved the start in net? Do you agree with me about Toivonen being too flashy?
The Bruins knew going in that this goalie tandem was a "wait-and-see". Thus not naming a #1,#2 like most teams do...honestly they have two legit back-ups. Now they need a number 1.
Mike O'connell's last duty was to give Thomas a good contract for a guy that played out of his head for half a season. Thus, ensuring the B's really "have" to keep him around. Toivo seemed more comfortable being the Mistress rather than the wife. Always in the wing waiting for the call.
There are plenty of goalies looking for a job. Better than Thomas - probably. Better than Toivo probably not. Like most seasons its going to take an injury to one of them to pull the trigger.
Well, a friend of mine (who shall remain nameless at this time) was telling me that if things don't change on the home stand that Chiarelli will pull the trigger sooner than later and make a trade.
And the likely candidate would be Joe Thornton's Sharks ... what I heard as the possible trade is Glenn Murray and Toivonen to San Jose for Evgeni Nabokov and either a draft pick or a prospect that's in Worcester.
Nabokov is a #1 goalie who lost his starting position to Vesa Toskala when Nabokov got injured, in the 2003-04 season he posted a 31 win season with 2.20 GAA and .921 Sv%; during the lock out he played in Russia for part of the season and last season he had 3.10 GAA and .885 Sv% - yes, I know his numbers dropped; but... most of that was due to injury.
With that said; it is no secret that Big Joe and Muzz would love to play with eachother again and San Jose would have a sniper line with Joe centering Muzz and Cheechoo and give the Bruins a true #1 and a solid back-up in Thomas...
Again; rumors are just that - rumors and may or may not happen.
If that were the case Muzz and Toivonen for Nabokov and someone else; what would you guys say to that?
I wouldn't be thrilled with Nabokov for Murray and Toivonen, that seems pretty steep. But the Sharks do have alot of goalie depth, they could easily call Schaffer up from Worcester, plug him into the backup spot and be ok. Personally I'd rather see them go after one of the Anahiem guys.
Young goalies are like rookie QB's, there are going to be alot of growing pains and they might never pan out. Personally I don't think it's time to give up on Hannu yet, but it's tough that he's been thrown into the #1 role when he's just not ready yet.