Maple Leafs Have a Goalie Problem That Goes Beyond

Toronto Maple Leafs fans have every reason to be frustrated with Sergei Bobrovsky after consecutive losses to Calgary and Seattle. Some of the goals he surrendered were stoppable, and the late winner against the Kraken was particularly difficult to watch. But I wonder whether the bigger issue isn't Bobrovsky's performance. It's what happens next.

Head coach Jim Hiller has a decision to make, and it goes beyond choosing which goaltender gets the next start. He needs to show that performance matters, regardless of a player's reputation or experience. Anthony Stolarz has given Toronto two excellent performances recently, helping the Maple Leafs beat Columbus 6-2 and Edmonton 7-2. Bobrovsky, meanwhile, struggled against Calgary before returning against Seattle and allowing five goals.

We understand why a coach might give an established veteran another opportunity to respond. Nobody wants to lose confidence in a goaltender after a couple of difficult nights. But what message does that send to Stolarz? If a backup plays well, helps the team win, and then sits when the veteran struggles, it's fair to wonder how much opportunity there really is for competition.

Bobrovsky Needs to Respond, But Stolarz Needs an Opportunity.

There's another concern with Bobrovsky. A broadcast graphic during the Seattle game showed that 26 of the 33 goals he had allowed as a Maple Leaf came high, with 16 beating him on the glove side and 10 on the blocker side. That's worth watching. We aren't suggesting every high shot should be stopped. NHL shooters are awfully good at finding openings. But when a pattern becomes noticeable, coaches and goaltenders have to pay attention.

Toronto brought Bobrovsky in because it believes he can help when the games matter most. That doesn't mean he needs to play through every October problem. There's also a positive development worth mentioning. Gavin McKenna's three-point performance against Seattle suggests the young forward may be finding his comfort level. He still has things to learn, but the Maple Leafs need to give him room to make mistakes and develop.

That's really the challenge facing Hiller. Veteran players need confidence, young players need encouragement, and everyone needs to understand that good performances count. We don't think Bobrovsky should be written off after two difficult games. But neither should Stolarz be overlooked after two excellent ones.

For Maple Leafs fans, the question is pretty simple: If this is going to be a competitive team, shouldn't the competition apply to everyone?

[Thanks to Stan Smith for his help with the ideas for this post.]