Rigamarole - A Foot In The Crease - Episode 4.23

www.afootinthecrease.com

After seeing Justin Pogge for the fourth time in National Hockey League competition against the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night, it is time the Toronto Maple Leafs seriously reassess their goaltending situation, not just presently but over the long term. Through his brief time thus far in the NHL, Pogge has looked exactly the same as he has in the AHL, not very good and certainly nowhere near the “goaltender of the future” moniker that has been placed on his shoulders since he led Team Canada to a gold medal at the World Junior Hockey Championships in 2006.

Earlier in the week, GM Brian Burke indicated that Pogge has not earned the right to be in the NHL but nevertheless the organization wants to take advantage of the fact they are not in contention for a playoff spot and evaluate what they have in Pogge. Despite allowing three goals on his first eight shots against the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night, he rebounded in the final two periods allowing just one goal on twenty two shots, drawing praise from Head Coach Ron Wilson for his ability to bare down and recover after a difficult start.

Let’s be honest though, if that is what we are praising about Justin Pogge, it’s really no different than giving everybody a trophy in house league, regardless of winning or losing, so that nobody feels bad.

Now nearing the end of his third year as a professional, he has shown no indication that he is ready to assume full time duties in the NHL next season. If Pogge is indeed the Maple Leafs’ goaltender of the future, it has to be about wins and losses when he is in the net, not small victories like battling hard after a poor start.

Heading into restricted free agency this summer, Brian Burke has a difficult decision to make as he clearly is not happy with where Pogge is in his development as a professional and I think you could confidently say neither is Pogge himself. But hey, all that was just rigamarole.