How the fuck did that happen?
I can't understand how Scott Gomez (10G 30A +2), Marian Hossa (16G 22A -9), or Eric Staal (23G 18A -4) are more worthy of an All-Star roster spot than Sundin's 20G 28A +10. I can't understand it because there is no reasonable excuse for it. Hell, even Mike Richards' 19G 28A +12 is no better than Sundin's totals.
The Hossa selection bothers me in a big, big way. How do you select a guy with 10 fewer points , 19 fewer +/-, and absolutely no leadership skills over Sundin? It's ridonkulous. I mean, even from a league standpoint, isn't it much better to have the classy veteran - thought by many to be the best Swede to ever play hockey - present at the All-Star festivities? Isn't it better to have Sundin's face and well-spoken English on camera rather than that troll Hossa? Every word the guy speaks sounds like he is reading an eye chart.
Make no mistake, this is a kick in the nuts for one of the best players in the game.
Congrats to Kabbie though! It's gotta feel good to be an All-Star based on your worst year in a few years. Hopefully Tommy will attend many more All-Star games.
Raycroft lost his job, and is going on Pogge:
Apparently, the conspiracy theorist in me went too far. Justin Pogge's call-up came as the result of Vesa Toskala tweaking his groin. Or so the Germans would have us believe.
So, I was right when I said that Andrew Raycroft's latest horrible game not only cost the Leafs the game, but could potentially cost the team tonight's game against San Jose. Thinking back, I can't recall a goaltender so bad that his bad play in one game cost his team more than that one game. Raysoft is setting records! Nicely done, Andy, nicely done.
I still don't see the point to the call-up. Why Clemmensen wasn't recalled I don't know. I just can't see know what there is to gain by Pogge playing in the NHL this season. The Leafs have signed Vesa Toskala for two more years at 4 million per year. They didn't sign Toskala at $4M to back-up anyone. When the Leafs signed Toskala, management determined that Pogge was 3 years away from being a #1 starter. He's played well this season, but surely his development isn't being considered 2 years ahead of schedule.
The fact is that no matter how Pogge performs he'll be back in the AHL soon. Toskala is the #1 guy in Toronto. If Pogge plays better than Raycroft or Clemmensen have - not totally tough to do - and is elevated to #2 on the depth chart, he'll still be back with the Marlies, as playing as many games as possible is the best thing for his development.
I think Pogge's call up was more of a side show move than anything else. The team sucks nuts lately, rumours are swirling not only about trading captain and best player Mats Sundin, but about replacing the general manager and coach. Calling up 'the saviour' takes some of the focus off the current state of the team and places it on the future potential of the team.
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