Well the Maple Leafs made quite an improvement in goal this off-season. The obtained Vesa Toskala from the San Jose Sharks for draft picks. What was that again? Draft picks… again!? While I support the acquisition of Toskala, I do not support giving away our future. This has been the bane of the Maple Leafs organization for years now. This is why we don’t have homegrown stars. But, the picks are gone, and Toskala is wearing Blue & White, so let’s move on.

Toskala is an excellent improvement in net. It also raises the question of Raycroft’s future with the Leafs. Raycroft is slated to make $2 Million this season. Is he going to be a $2 million backup, or a $2 million goalie splitting the duties? Personally, I like the idea of the two goalies splitting the duties and seeing who comes out on top. However, was that the plan JFJ had when he inked Toskala? If not, then they have to get rid of Raycroft SOMEHOW and give Clemmensen the back-up role.

Vesa Toskala is 30 years old. They did not get a young goalie. But, as we have seen many times, most goalies do not mature into great goalies until their early 30’s. The Leafs may have signed a gem that can keep them in the games. Toskala played 38 games, platooning the job with Nabokov, with the Sharks last season. His numbers were 26-10-1, 2.35 GAA, and .908 save percentage. That’s good.

Time will tell if JFJ made a good move. I believe that Toskala will at least help the Leafs get into the playoffs. The missed by 1 point last year. That’s one shootout win, one overtime win, or one normal win. And I believe Toskala can get one more win.