[Newsbot]

Title: Pogge not ready for prime time with Maple Leafs
Category: Sports
Posted By: SigPig
Date: 2009-03-29 09:38:25
Canadian

[SigPig]

I know it takes goalies a long time to mature and really be ready for the NHL but it seems like this guy just doesn't have what it takes. Since dominating in the WJC he has been really quiet in the minors and has only won one game in the bigs.
If it were up to me I would give him another year in the AHL before giving him a legitimatae shot at cracking the lineup for real.

[Mustang1]

I'd say after Saturday night's performance, Pogge's career with the Leafs is in serious jeopardy.

[SigPig]

Mustang1 Mustang1:

I'd say after Saturday night's performance, Pogge's career with the Leafs is in serious jeopardy.

I don't know if they are willing to give him the boot quite yet. But he definitely isn't the future of their goaltending thats for sure. They will have to start looking elsewhere for another option to cover them if Pogge completely fails to pan out.

[Ripcat]

Toskala is still their #1 until his performance can be evaluated when he returns next season. I would expect Burke to be on the look out for another goalie that can challenge Toskala for that position. I don't think Gerber is it although with next year being another building year there won't be excess pressure on Gerber to perform well so he may actually perform well...

It would be nice to still have Tuuka Rask maturing with Pogge in the minors and challenging Pogge for call up duty.

[SigPig]

Ripcat Ripcat:

Toskala is still their #1 until his performance can be evaluated when he returns next season. I would expect Burke to be on the look out for another goalie that can challenge Toskala for that position. I don't think Gerber is it although with next year being another building year there won't be excess pressure on Gerber to perform well so he may actually perform well...

It would be nice to still have Tuuka Rask maturing with Pogge in the minors and challenging Pogge for call up duty.

Gerber will never challenge for the #1 spot. Toskala is it and his performance this year was average because he was playing injured for most of it. Gerber was brought in to fill the void while Toskala left for surgery and fill the backup position next year while Pogge develops.

But I will agree that to have Rask down there as well would be really nice right now. Thank you very much JFJ.

[stokes]

Hey dont forget Olaf Kolzig....that wonder of a GM traded for an injured goaltender that wont play til next year.

As for Pogge, this is his 3rd game or something, give the guy a break and give him support. The biggest problem with the Laffs and their fans is that they give up on people very quickly and do something stupid!!

[SigPig]

stokes stokes:

Hey dont forget Olaf Kolzig....that wonder of a GM traded for an injured goaltender that wont play til next year.

As for Pogge, this is his 3rd game or something, give the guy a break and give him support. The biggest problem with the Laffs and their fans is that they give up on people very quickly and do something stupid!!

First of all Kolzig was never meant to be part of the team. The Leafs literally took a bunch of useless players off the payroll, plus a 4th round pick from the Lightning for $500 000. In other words, a rich team rebuilding team bought a 4th round pick for half a million bucks from a team that doesnt even have enough money to pay their hydro bill. Your welcome for the clue on that one.

As for Pogge, we aren't saying we are giving up on him. We are simply stating that he still isn't ready for a full-time job with the big club. He still needs more time to develop and they have the goalies in place to be #1 and #2 (Toskala and Gerber in case you didn't know) while Pogge works in the minors next year developing.

Any other questions?

[Mustang1]

SigPig SigPig:

Mustang1 Mustang1:

I'd say after Saturday night's performance, Pogge's career with the Leafs is in serious jeopardy.

I don't know if they are willing to give him the boot quite yet. But he definitely isn't the future of their goaltending thats for sure. They will have to start looking elsewhere for another option to cover them if Pogge completely fails to pan out.

I'm pretty sure at this point, he's slowly on his way out. It's not as though he was dominating the AHL and he's been pretty disappointing in the NHL, so i'm not sure how many other chances he'll get.

[SigPig]

Mustang1 Mustang1:

I'm pretty sure at this point, he's slowly on his way out. It's not as though he was dominating the AHL and he's been pretty disappointing in the NHL, so i'm not sure how many other chances he'll get.

I hope not because it is still too early to be sure if a goalie has peaked yet. Goalies usually don't mature as players until 22/23 at the earliest, usually by 24 you have a good idea. This kid is 20/21-ish so I would still like to wait and see.

[PENATRATOR]

GO BRUINS!!!!

[SigPig]

PENATRATOR PENATRATOR:

GO BRUINS!!!!

Pfft...just because they are the best team in the conference you automatically think they are "good" or something.

[Mustang1]

SigPig SigPig:

Mustang1 Mustang1:

I'm pretty sure at this point, he's slowly on his way out. It's not as though he was dominating the AHL and he's been pretty disappointing in the NHL, so i'm not sure how many other chances he'll get.

I hope not because it is still too early to be sure if a goalie has peaked yet. Goalies usually don't mature as players until 22/23 at the earliest, usually by 24 you have a good idea. This kid is 20/21-ish so I would still like to wait and see.

Well...that can be true...but look at Mason, Price, Fleury, Luongo, etc., as the potential was seen early in the NHL. This kid is being given a chance and so far, he's looked nothing like a No. 1.

Time will tell, i agree, and it's not as though the Leafs will be done rebuilding anytime soon, but at what point do you start planning for another future goalie?

[SigPig]

Mustang1 Mustang1:

Well...that can be true...but look at Mason, Price, Fleury, Luongo, etc., as the potential was seen early in the NHL. This kid is being given a chance and so far, he's looked nothing like a No. 1.

Time will tell, i agree, and it's not as though the Leafs will be done rebuilding anytime soon, but at what point do you start planning for another future goalie?

Agreed, certain goalies simply step into the League and make an impact. But look at Fleury, the potential was there but it even took him a couple years in the NHL until he was an established consistent goalie. And Price has been far from stellar during the collapse the Canadiens have been going through. He still has some work as well and I think trading Huet was the worst thing the Habs could have done. And Luongo is, well, Luongo. Goalies like him are few and far between. To start comparing Pogge to Luongo is like comparing apples and oranges.

I don't think it is necessarily time to start looking for a goalie to replace Pogge. Yet. There is Toskala who is their starter for the next few years barring a catastrophic injury. Gerber looks to be a good fit for backup for next year so that is secure. But Pogge needs to do two things next year. Both tear it up in the AHL, plus come up for 6ish starts next year and show he can handle playing in the NHL. If not they start looking. If he makes an impact, give him a chance to fight for the backup job in the 2010-2011 season.

[Mustang1]

SigPig SigPig:

Agreed, certain goalies simply step into the League and make an impact. But look at Fleury, the potential was there but it even took him a couple years in the NHL until he was an established consistent goalie. And Price has been far from stellar during the collapse the Canadiens have been going through. He still has some work as well and I think trading Huet was the worst thing the Habs could have done. And Luongo is, well, Luongo. Goalies like him are few and far between. To start comparing Pogge to Luongo is like comparing apples and oranges.

Oh...i'm not comparing Pogge to Luongo, i'm merely suggesting that there are goalies that show potential early and then live up to it. So far, Pogge has the WJHC and that's it. Nothing since and Price, Fluery and Mason have all had legitimate success (perhaps not consistent) in the NHL. Pogge? Not yet.

$1:

I don't think it is necessarily time to start looking for a goalie to replace Pogge. Yet. There is Toskala who is their starter for the next few years barring a catastrophic injury. Gerber looks to be a good fit for backup for next year so that is secure. But Pogge needs to do two things next year. Both tear it up in the AHL, plus come up for 6ish starts next year and show he can handle playing in the NHL. If not they start looking. If he makes an impact, give him a chance to fight for the backup job in the 2010-2011 season.

I'm betting right now that Burke and company don't have Pogge in their future plans. That's not to say that he couldn't still change their minds (it's not as though they don't have some time), but Free Agency or a trade is likely plan A now. Time will indeed tell, but Pogge, so far, hasn't done much to make a case for himself.