Tuukka Rask (the next on)

[BuppY]

I agree Pogge has a lot of work ahead of him before he makes the NHL. Sames goes for Tuukka who needs to work on his rebound control which is one of majore problems otherwise I liked what I saw and he also needs a little work on his positioning. If he figures out those two things and puts it all together, watch out He is going to be special.

 

[Schenn02]

2011 Leafs. Wellwood for the Art Ross. Steen for the Selke. Maurice for the Adams. Colaiacovo for Norris. Pogge and Rask co vezina winners. Ponikarovsky for the Conn Smythe. Stanley 2011 for the Leafs.

hahah me likey.

 

[Metallian*]

I agree Pogge has a lot of work ahead of him before he makes the NHL. Sames goes for Tuukka who needs to work on his rebound control which is one of majore problems otherwise I liked what I saw and he also needs a little work on his positioning. If he figures out those two things and puts it all together, watch out He is going to be special.

His rebound control isn't as bad as Mcguire's made it out to be. He was shakey in the first game against Canada but after that he was no more "rebound prone" than the rest

 

[BuppY]

His rebound control isn't as bad as Mcguire's made it out to be. He was shakey in the first game against Canada but after that he was no more "rebound prone" than the rest

When I say rebound control is his major problem right now that doesn't I think it's horrible like Pierre made it out to be. I think it is a flaw in his game and with good coaching and alot more practice it could be solved and put him in a another level. Young goalies who play similar style at this age, such as M.A Fleury and Roberto Luongo tend to have a rebound control problem because they are such gifted athletes they use more of quick reflexes to make saves rather then positioning themselves properly to play a techincal style such as Justin pogge who positions himself well and is at the right place at the right time. While Rask will be scrambling and movign from side to side to make saves.

 

[Jet]

Congratulations to Rask... a classy Finn and congratulations to Finland, love the way they play, and compete with dignity, especially impressive considering the size of thier country! Definitely my second favorite team to cheer besides Canada

 

[Douggy]

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say the Leafs will move up in the next HF prospects ratings.

 

[nikebauer]

Rask is 6"2 but he appears a lot smaller than that in the net

Maybe its just me sitting far away

 

[Platapie]

Sometimes, you've got to calm down with goalies at the junior level. I've seen better performances by goalies at the tournament, goalies that never went to being stars in the NHL.

I think most Leafs fans are relatively calm over the matter, just very pleased/optimistic about the future of our goaltending. Having not one but two goalies in the WJC's play exceptional hockey is a reason for optimisim. Does it promise anything? Nope. Does it bode well? Yep. Nothing more nothing less

 

[Nihilism]

A week or two ago Cherry blasted John Ferguson Jr. for drafting "some Finn, I dunno his name, when he coulda drafted a good ol' Toronto boy, Coglianooooo!!! I don't know what the Leafs are thinking in these drafts!"

Look look, Cherry is a bigot, isn't it hilarous?

 

[membleypeg]

Pogge got jobbed!

Tuuka Rask played a good tournament, with many more quality chances to stop than Pogge. He still however, let in many more goals, and in head to head match ups with Pogge lost 5-1 and 4-0. Pogge let in only 6 goals all tournament, with a very impressive shutout string (including 35 saves against the Russian power house).

Justin Pogge should have won the top goalie award. Sorry Tuuka, but the only reason you won this award is because the awards committee did not want to give all the accolades to Canada.

 

[Schenn02]

Tuuka Rask played a good tournament, with many more quality chances to stop than Pogge. He still however, let in many more goals, and in head to head match ups with Pogge lost 5-1 and 4-0. Pogge let in only 6 goals all tournament, with a very impressive shutout string (including 35 saves against the Russian power house).

Justin Pogge should have won the top goalie award. Sorry Tuuka, but the only reason you won this award is because the awards committee did not want to give all the accolades to Canada.

If they gave ALL to Canada then Malkin shouldn't have received an award as well! Let it be, jeez whats the point in complaining, I would have given it to Pogge as well but Rask played well this tourney, he was the biggest reason Finland got a medal!

I think most Leafs fans are relatively calm over the matter, just very pleased/optimistic about the future of our goaltending. Having not one but two goalies in the WJC's play exceptional hockey is a reason for optimisim. Does it promise anything? Nope. Does it bode well? Yep. Nothing more nothing less

Yup, the future is bright hopefully their development doesn't slow down, I can't wait for the future.

 

[mooseOAK*]

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say the Leafs will move up in the next HF prospects ratings.

Yeah, right.

 

[Crossroads*]

Luongo didn't win gold. Lethonen has still to prove himself in the big show. As for Theodore, outside from one outstanding season, he's been mediocre.

I know how you must feel, because we were the same way when Theo won gold against the Ruskies in a game Canada shouldn't have won. But believe me, anything can happen. Remember who had the record for shutout minutes before Pogge? You guessed it: Mathieu Garon. He had a solid month of December, granted, but he's still trying to prove he's a legit 1st string goalie in the NHL.

Rask > Price

 

[Panopticon]

Isn't Joensuu 88-born?

No, just late 87.

 

[Joretus]

Tuuka Rask played a good tournament, with many more quality chances to stop than Pogge. He still however, let in many more goals, and in head to head match ups with Pogge lost 5-1 and 4-0. Pogge let in only 6 goals all tournament, with a very impressive shutout string (including 35 saves against the Russian power house).

Justin Pogge should have won the top goalie award. Sorry Tuuka, but the only reason you won this award is because the awards committee did not want to give all the accolades to Canada.

Pogge had only really one game where he actually had some work to do. Ie. against Finland he faced less than 5 real goal scoring chances in 2(!) games! In Semifinal Finland had ONE real opportunity in 60mins! Only Russia tested Pogge. He played pretty solid against them, but still Rask did alone(at least allmost) carry Finland over Switzerland and Sweden.

 

[Panopticon]

Here is a group of Finnish players to WJC07

Tuukka Rask Ilves/Toronto G 87
Niko Hovinen Jokerit G 88
Riku Helenius Ilves G 88

Teemu Laakso HIFK D 87
Joonas Lehtivuori Ilves D 88
Juho Mielonen Ilves D 87
Tommi Leinonen Kärpät D 87
Timo Seppänen HIFK F 87
Mikael Kurki Blues D 87
Eetu Heikkinen Ässät D 88
Henrik Maunula TPS D 87

Perttu Lindgren Ilves F 87 (he is going to be much better next year)
Jesse Joensuu Ässät/NHL F 87
Joonas Enlund HIFK F 87
Mikko Lehtonen Blues F 87
Robert Nyholm HIFK F 88
Leo Komarov Ässät F 87
Teemu Ramstedt HIFK F 87
Tommi Huhtala Ilves F 87
Ville Korhonen Ilves F 87
Miika Lahti JYP F 87
Sami Sandell (WHL) F 87
Oskar Osala (OHL) F 87
Juuso Antonen Ilves F 88
Jan-Mikael Juutilainen Jokerit F 88
Joonas Kemppainen Ässät F 88
Nico Aaltonen HIFK F 88

It seems that the D will be better next year.

Haven't heard of those two guys playing in Canada, are they producing anything over there?

EDIT: Just noticed Mikko Lehtonen there. I didn't know he was 87... he could be great next year.

 

[FINNtastic]

Sami Sandell's (Brandon Wheat Kings WHL) stats this season are quite good:
32 games 6 goals 18 assists 24 points. In his rookie season 04-05 he had 12 points in 56 games, so there's definately been some improvement.
He's third in team scoring and he has the best points per game average in his team.
As I said he's doing quite good, for example Sandell has more points this season than Aki Seitsonen (36games 10g 8a 18p).
Oskar Osala (Mississauga IceDogs OHL) has 6 goals 9 assists in 39 games. I read somewhere that he has been struggling quite a bit as a rookie, but let's hope the big Finn gets his groove on in the second half of the season.

 

[Joe MacMillan]

No, just late 87.

Ok, thanks for clearing that up. I have always thaught he is 88-born because he wasn't eligible for 2005 draft.