Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Could Vesa Toskala resurrect his career?

Vesa Toskala, Andrew Raycroft

Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Vesa Toskala, left, wearing a camouflage jersey in honor the Canadian armed forces, talks with Vancouver Canucks goalie Andrew Raycroft prior to an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 30, 2010, in Toronto. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Chris Young)

AP

No, he cannot. Oh wait, that’s kind of mean. Let me start this again.

After going 49-17-5 in his last two seasons with the San Jose Sharks, Vesa Toskala received a healthy contract and a chance to be the unquestioned No. 1 goalie with the Toronto Maple Leafs. As you are probably aware, the last three seasons haven’t really gone that well for the Finnish netminder. At all. Seriously, the guy posted a 87% save percentage in Toronto this season and only (barely) hit the decidedly average 90 mark once with the Leafs. (Yikes)

Honestly, at some point I went from looking at Toskala as an average goaltender to viewing him as an expiring contract with arms, legs and a look of bottomless sadness in his eyes. Yet, there was always one hanging excuse for Toskala apologists (if they still existed): he was playing for the Maple Leafs.

Chances are, Toskala won’t get a whole lot of opportunities to prove himself with the Calgary Flames. Since leading the team to a Cinderella run to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals, Miikka Kiprusoff has averaged a staggering 75 games played per season.

Dare I say it, though: Toskala might be the most competent backup the Flames have had in a long time. He’s at least had one good game so far, making 27 saves in a 5-2 win over the Minnesota Wild. One game isn’t an indication that he can save his career, but it would be quite the feel-good story if he could stick around the league next season.