Goaltending conundrum

[ZBBM]

I mused last night in the GDT that if I were the coach with a brand-new vote of confidence from my best friend, i would be tempted to give Gus a run of games as the starter.  This whole season Reimer has looked like a guy who should be in the AHL.

However, Gus has been only marginally better IMO.

So I would keep starting Reimer for the next 3 or 4, but if he doesn't pick it up I'd switch to Gus as the starter and see if he can establish.

 

[Optimus Reimer]

I mused last night in the GDT that if I were the coach with a brand-new vote of confidence from my best friend, i would be tempted to give Gus a run of games as the starter.  This whole season Reimer has looked like a guy who should be in the AHL.

However, Gus has been only marginally better IMO.

So I would keep starting Reimer for the next 3 or 4, but if he doesn't pick it up I'd switch to Gus as the starter and see if he can establish.

To me its as if Gus needs to play 3 or 4 consecutive games before he starts to play well.  IMHO, a decent goalie can come in cold and play well, but yes.  I would like to see Gus play a bit more and do well.  It may jump start Reimer if he has some competition.

 

[Zee]

Hopefully last night was a blip.  Reimer played 2 good games last week, followed by a so so game as the Isles and terrible last night. 

*sigh*

 

[Stickytape]

It was one game, coming back from the Christmas break.

 

[Optimus Reimer]

It was one game, coming back from the Christmas break.

It didn't seem to affect the Panthers.

 

[bustaheims]

It was one game, coming back from the Christmas break.

It didn't seem to affect the Panthers.

Did you watch the game? The Panthers were pretty awful, as well. Lots of bad turnovers, poor defensive play, etc. They just had fortune on their side last night.

 

[Zee]

It was one game, coming back from the Christmas break.

It didn't seem to affect the Panthers.

Did you watch the game? The Panthers were pretty awful, as well. Lots of bad turnovers, poor defensive play, etc. They just had fortune on their side last night.

The Panthers were also missing a large portion of their lineup and were playing AHL players.

 

[Bender]

It was one game, coming back from the Christmas break.

It didn't seem to affect the Panthers.

Did you watch the game? The Panthers were pretty awful, as well. Lots of bad turnovers, poor defensive play, etc. They just had fortune on their side last night.

Yeah for sure, I mean, what are the chances the guy fans on the breakaway shot? Reimer was in position to take the shot, I don't think I've ever seen someone fan as much as the shooter did on the shot ever, and was unlucky on that one.

And I know we hear this all the time but last night really seemed to be one that came down partially to luck. The other half is we really need to be more defensively sound. We gave up another breakaway chance and are always caught on 2 on 1s.

 

[bustaheims]

The Panthers were also missing a large portion of their lineup and were playing AHL players.

And guys like Boyce, Crabb, Aulie, Frattin, etc are proven NHL regulars? Both teams played badly, plain and simple, and both teams had borderline NHLers and rookies filtered throughout their line-up.

 

[LuncheonMeat]

The Panthers were also missing a large portion of their lineup and were playing AHL players.

And guys like Boyce, Crabb, Aulie, Frattin, etc are proven NHL regulars? Both teams played badly, plain and simple, and both teams had borderline NHLers and rookies filtered throughout their line-up.

+ Kadri and Gardiner.  I thought the Leafs played a stronger game than Florida and probably should have won.  Unfortunately, Reimer had a rough start.  I'm sure he'll be back on his game Thursday.

 

[Tigger]

The Panthers were also missing a large portion of their lineup and were playing AHL players.

And guys like Boyce, Crabb, Aulie, Frattin, etc are proven NHL regulars? Both teams played badly, plain and simple, and both teams had borderline NHLers and rookies filtered throughout their line-up.

+ Kadri and Gardiner.  I thought the Leafs played a stronger game than Florida and probably should have won.  Unfortunately, Reimer had a rough start.  I'm sure he'll be back on his game Thursday.

Yeah, a couple key moments where the Leafs made a push only to have a mental lapse hand it right back, some bad goaltending and bounces... the Leafs probably paid out some karma from the start of the season when they won some games they probably shouldn't have. It all balances out.

 

[Tigger]

Looking back at that first goal last night it was a pretty fair tip, though Lupul was a bit weak on the boards, have to give Reimer a break on that one.

 

[Tigger]

Also, in spite of Schenn's gaffe, it looks like the last goal against Jonas went off Gunnars stick too.

 

[Highlander]

As much as I have come to love Reimer, I think the Monster has challenged and looks like he deserves a shot for several games. We gotta remember that he won 7 games in a row two years ago, when these were not the same "Loafs".  He has the skill-set and to be honest, Reimer is starting to sound like he is getting a bit of a "big" head.  It certainly will not hurt him and will probably serve us a good dose of humility so recently lacking.  By then we will ultimately know what we have in Gustavsson.

 

[WAYNEINIONA]

Reimer has not looked good at all in the last two games. It's time to give Gus a shot at it. We can't afford to lose games right now.

 

[LuncheonMeat]

As much as I have come to love Reimer, I think the Monster has challenged and looks like he deserves a shot for several games. We gotta remember that he won 7 games in a row two years ago, when these were not the same "Loafs".  He has the skill-set and to be honest, Reimer is starting to sound like he is getting a bit of a "big" head.  It certainly will not hurt him and will probably serve us a good dose of humility so recently lacking.  By then we will ultimately know what we have in Gustavsson.

I may have missed it, but when did Reimer start to come off as having a big head?  He always seems so humble when I've heard him speak before.

 

[Arn]

I think I would run with Gus at the minute too to be honest. I thought when he came in last night he was very good. His diving poke check, for example, was a top class save.

But then I'm not an NHL coach and just have a soft spot for everything Gus has been through

 

[Tigger]

I guess the argument is that Reimer is your number one, he seemed to start playing well and probably needs the work. I don't have a problem with Jonas getting a couple starts but goaltending has to stop being a negative issue if the Leafs want to make a push.

Reimer had two pretty solid games there, hard not to go with him on that basis but I thought the decision to pull him was a pretty good one at the time and it almost worked.

If Reimer got hit hard enough in the head with a puck or a player I guess he might have a big head but I don't get that comment otherwise.

 

[L K]

I guess the argument is that Reimer is your number one, he seemed to start playing well and probably needs the work. I don't have a problem with Jonas getting a couple starts but goaltending has to stop being a negative issue if the Leafs want to make a push.

Reimer had two pretty solid games there, hard not to go with him on that basis but I thought the decision to pull him was a pretty good one at the time and it almost worked.

If Reimer got hit hard enough in the head with a puck or a player I guess he might have a big head but I don't get that comment otherwise.

Here's the problem though.  Gus had a 22 game stretch of .915+ SV% between his heart ablation and falling apart in November last year.  Reimer had a .920+ SV% for 26 games last year.  Gus did that with a weaker team than the post-Phaneuf trade, post-Lupul trade Leafs.  I fail to see what exactly Reimer has done to become the infallible #1 goaltender.  To me, he showed signs of doing that last year, but it took a shaky few games in November for Gus to lose his job to a mediocre Giguere with a bum hip.

Reimer has not looked good save for the two starts he had post-Christmas and I don't think anyone is advocating benching him for weeks, but Gus was coming off a great stretch where he had gone something like 7+ games with a .926 SV% and had won 5 of 6, only to be sat for two weeks while Reimer worked off rust, that most guys who have half a season in the pros would probably do in the minors. 

Gus' play has been equal to Reimer's and at this point, the Leafs shouldn't be playing the "maybe Reimer will get it together this period" game on a guy who hasn't played in the NHL long enough to have that kind of job security.

 

[maplesyrup]

Just throwing this out there... Rather than go back and forth over who the number one guy is, is it possible the answer lies behind curtain #3... Neither. I mean, there were folks at points of the off-season here (myself included) who felt an upgrade at the position was required. Now with that said, I personally feel Reimer is the best option we have right now and I'm fine with continuing this journey with him but perhaps there's a better option out there somewhere?