Would Tuukka Rask have the same success in Toronto?

[LeafsNation75]

Let's say Toronto never trades Tuukka Rask does he end up having the same success with the Maple Leafs that he has had with the Bruins? I always thought part of the reason he played so well for them was having great teams in front of him and it helped with someone like Zdeno Chara on defense. So let's say the Leafs traded Justin Pogge for Raycroft does Pogge have the same career Rask got in Boston?

 

[BB88]

Rask has been elite everywhere he has played.

So many things would happen differently so difficult to say if he would be a Vezina winner if he stayed in Toronto. But I'd say he'd still be good. I grew up watching him here.

But another point is Rask got Bostons Stanley Cup defense past their prime, it really hasn't been great for 3-4 years now, average at best. I'd say it goes to the time of Seidenbergs major knee injury.
Chara past his prime, Seids past his prime/gone now, Hamilton was traded way before he hit his prime, Boychuk was traded for cap reasons.
Now it's finally looking to improve.

 

[LeafsNation75]

Prior to 2011 I remember Rask was the Bruins #1 Goalie over Tim Thomas. So he did play when their defense wasn't past their prime. If I remember correctly when the 2010-2011 season started Tim Thomas was playing so great they had no choice to start him over Rask who was thought to be the #1 Goalie going into that season.

 

[LeafChief]

I'm not sure if he would have had the same success (impossible to say) but the Leafs would have had greater success during their dark period.

There were 2 or 3 seasons where their goaltending (Raycroft and later, Toskala) could not make a save, meanwhile the rest of the team was playing playoff level hockey (remember the years where Mac-Grab-Kulemin scored 30 each and the Kessel-Bozak-Lupul line was on fire?).

Rask would have undoubtedly bumped the Leafs into the playoffs on a few of those seasons.

 

[LeafsNation75]

I'm not sure if he would have had the same success (impossible to say) but the Leafs would have had greater success during their dark period.

There were 2 or 3 seasons where their goaltending (Raycroft and later, Toskala) could not make a save, meanwhile the rest of the team was playing playoff level hockey (remember the years where Mac-Grab-Kulemin scored 30 each and the Kessel-Bozak-Lupul line was on fire?).

Rask would have undoubtedly bumped the Leafs into the playoffs on a few of those seasons.

If that was to happen I think it would have been during the 2010-2011 season.

 

[tony d]

It was a terrible trade for Toronto, got to think if they had Rask instead of Raycroft they probably would have made the playoffs at least a couple times during their dark times.

 

[Leafsdude7]

Assuming every other move was the same (except maybe not trading for Toskala, for obvious reasons), I'd expect the first 3-4 years of his stint would be great, since the Leafs still had a pretty good team outside of goal during the late 00s, but he'd be like Cam Ward in Carolina by 2011 or so, dealing with a really bad team in front of him and not being able to carry them as far.

Of course, if the Leafs don't trade Rask, a lot of other moves potentially change. Does Sundin leave in 2008? Do we trade Alex Steen, Nik Antropov and Bryan McCabe in 08-09? Ponikarovskya in 09-10? Do we even bring in Brian Burke, or does JFJr stay longer? If not, then the Phaneuf, Kessel, Kaberle and Gardiner trades all potentially go away. Does Nonis ever even get a look to any extent and sign those ridiculous contracts over his short time here? Maybe Rask leads a youth movement in the late 00s instead and the Leafs start to look like they do today in 2010-11 and might have won a Cup or two. It's impossible to know, really.