Justin Pogge Called Up, Dom Moore Claimed

Interesting.

The Leafs - perhaps after reading about my declining interest in the team due to the lack of roster movement in the face of their own shittiness - have called up Justin Pogge and claimed Dominic Moore from waivers.

The Moore move is an attempt to bring in a defensive presence to the defensively vacuous forwards on the team. Moore comes to the Leafs from Minnesota, far and away the best defensive system in the league. There's a chance he will make an improvement, but he was waived by the Wild for a reason: he is a 4th line player.

The Pogge move really intrigues me. Scott Clemmensen was sent back down to the Marlies on Thursday, so Pogge's addition gives the Leafs 3 active goaltenders. Why call up Pogge now, while halfway done a west coast road trip? Calling him up during a home stand - to play second fiddle to Vesa Toskala - doesn't really make too much sense, nevermind a road trip across the continent. If Pogge isn't going to play on Saturday, why fly him all the way out to California? Why even call him up at all? Is Andrew Raysoft getting the axe? Did Toskala's forced play against Los Angeles last night re-injure his groin?

As a young goaltender, Justin Pogge needs as much playing time as possible. It is for thatreason that Montreal recently sent phenom Carey Price to the minors. It is game experience that matures a young goalie. Being that Justin Pogge isn't currently ready for the NHL - and that he is the Leafs' best (and only decent) goaltending prospect - I don't see how this move makes sense. I suppose time will tell.

Something is up. Something has to be up.

The Raddest Articles of 2008
I haven't linked to any rad articles lately - mostly because I haven't read any - but there were two written recently that deserve mention. Jim Kelley, flat out one of the top hockey writers in the world, talks of trading Sundin. Meanwhile, Eric Duhatschek wrote a novel discussing whether the Leafs need to rebuild. Check them out.

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